# Cloned Kid Cartoon Icons Mattel and Nick Add Tween “Dora the Explorer” Doll to Lineup By Marissa Brassfield | Published 2009-03-16 | Life-Stages Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tween-dora-the-explorer References: [wibw](http://www.wibw.com/nationalnews/headlines/41333677.html) & [doratheexplorertvshow](http://www.doratheexplorertvshow.com/) Over the past week, we’ve seen a wave of backlash against [Mattel](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/little-mermaid-doll) and Nickelodeon following their announcement of a tween “[Dora the Explorer](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spin-master-2)” character. Petitions from concerned parents accuse both companies of creating a sexed-up version of the beloved character that tarnishes the family-friendly “Dora the Explorer” image. Mattel and Nickelodeon are fighting back against these allegations, however, and told the AP that the tween version of “Dora the Explorer” is not a replacement of the childlike Dora, but a brand new doll that will appeal to other girls. “The Dora that we all know and love is not going away,” says Leigh Anne Brodsky, president of [Nickelodeon Viacom Consumer Products](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mattel). And Gina Sirard, Mattel’s vice president of marketing, addressed the petitions and outpouring of vitriol following the tween “Dora the Explorer” announcement: “I think there was just a misconception in terms of where we were going with this. Pretty much the moms who are petitioning aging Dora up certainly don’t understand. [...] I think they’re going to be pleasantly happy once this is available in October, and once they understand this certainly isn’t what they are conjuring up.” ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.4/10 - Popularity: 66% | Activity: 57% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Gen Alpha - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Life-Stages](https://www.trendhunter.com/life-stages) > [Youth](https://www.trendhunter.com/youth) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Backlash Against Character Update:** The controversy surrounding the tween version of 'Dora the Explorer' highlights the importance of staying true to a beloved character's image when making updates. - **Reimagining Characters for New Audiences:** By creating a tween version of 'Dora the Explorer,' Mattel and Nickelodeon are targeting a different demographic and expanding the appeal of the character. - **Navigating Parental Concerns in Branding:** The negative response from parents to the tween 'Dora the Explorer' doll shows the need for a balance between appealing to new audiences and maintaining the trust of existing customers. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Toy Manufacturing:** The release of the tween 'Dora the Explorer' doll presents an opportunity for toy manufacturers to explore new versions or iterations of popular characters to appeal to different age groups. - **Entertainment and Media:** The controversy surrounding the character update demonstrates the importance for entertainment and media companies to carefully consider the impact of reimagining beloved characters on their audience's perception and brand loyalty. - **Consumer Products:** The introduction of a tween 'Dora the Explorer' doll highlights the potential for companies in the consumer products industry to target niche markets and expand their product offerings based on existing brand recognition. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Anniversary Doll Capsules](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spin-master-2.md) - [Gen Alpha Barbie Launches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gen-z-barbie.md) - [Empowering Tween Dolls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bff-by-cry-babies.md) - [Nostalgic Twin Dolls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/american-girl-twin.md) - [Film-Resembling Mermaid Dolls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/little-mermaid-doll.md) - [Retro Film-Inspired Dolls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bratz-x-clueless-doll.md) - [Toy-Branded Media Content](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mattel.md) - [Filmic Fashion Dolls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bratz-x-clueless.md) - [Two-Sided Paper Dolls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/megadolls.md)