Dora the Explorer gets new makeover!

[stargirl]

Source: http://www.parentdish.com/2009/02/17/dora-the-explorer-grows-up-and-gets-a-makeover/


(http://www.parentdish.com/2009/02/17/dora-the-explorer-grows-up-and-gets-a-makeover/)Dora the Explorer Grows Up and Gets a Makeover (http://www.parentdish.com/2009/02/17/dora-the-explorer-grows-up-and-gets-a-makeover/) (http://www.parentdish.com/2009/02/17/dora-the-explorer-grows-up-and-gets-a-makeover/)
by (http://www.parentdish.com/2009/02/17/dora-the-explorer-grows-up-and-gets-a-makeover/)Bethany Sanders (http://www.parentdish.com/bloggers/bethany-sanders/) Feb 17th 2009 11:00AM (http://www.parentdish.com/2009/02/17/dora-the-explorer-grows-up-and-gets-a-makeover/) (http://www.parentdish.com/2009/02/17/dora-the-explorer-grows-up-and-gets-a-makeover/)
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.parentdish.com/media/2009/02/dora_silhouette_final.jpg
Dora the Explorer is a spunky, kind-hearted, bilingual kid who spends all of her time outdoors having adventures with her dearly loved friends. Until she grows up, that is. (http://www.parentdish.com/2009/02/17/dora-the-explorer-grows-up-and-gets-a-makeover/)Nickelodeon and Mattel announced their new Dora Explorer Girls line (http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20090213005672&newsLang=en) yesterday, marketed to kids 5 and way over. That's right...Dora is now a a tween.

The new Dora, who will be revealed in the fall, lives in the big city and goes to middle school. She still solves mysteries but she's abandoned outdoor adventure for shopping, jewelry and fashion. She's also computer savvy; her new fans -- other tween girls -- will be able to plug into virtual Dora playtime on a new site.

"(The Dora's Explorer Girls brand) empowers girls to influence and change the lives of Dora and her new friends," (http://www.parentdish.com/2009/02/17/dora-the-explorer-grows-up-and-gets-a-makeover/)says a press release from Mattel and Nickelodeon (http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20090213005672&newsLang=en). What I wish that doll makers understood is that power shopping is not empowering. We've got a market full of Barbie, Bratz and Polly Pockets that already do a fine job of teaching girls about lip gloss, heels and consumerism. (http://www.parentdish.com/2009/02/17/dora-the-explorer-grows-up-and-gets-a-makeover/)

Dora has always offered girls something different. I hope that tween Dora is still brave, active and doesn't mind setting herself apart from the crowd. I mean, her best friend is (or was -- no word on what's happening to Boots) a talking monkey. Can Barbie say that?

Maybe I'm judging the new Dora too quickly. After all, all we've only seen her silhouette. But that flowing hair and those long, skinny legs give me great pause. My three-year-old adores Dora just the way she is. But she also loves "big girls." The minute she sees Tween Dora, will her devotion to that spunky little adventurer fade for a fashionista middle schooler?

It's like this: When Dora first showed up on the scene, she was an adventurer. But then her cousin Diego came along and suddenly Dora's toys were offering girls two options: princess or babysitter (to Dora's twin baby brother and sister). My hope for Dora's Explorer Girls is that they open up a whole new world of choices for girls 5 and up, not box them in even further.
(http://www.parentdish.com/2009/02/17/dora-the-explorer-grows-up-and-gets-a-makeover/)


That's right folks. Dora's going to be a tween. :eek:

You know what? I'm older, and I don't really care for kiddie shows a lot. But still, can't these toymakers for once think of the well-beings of the little girls?!

Your thoughts?

[DarthGonzo]

Oh good lord.

[PC!]

Way to destroy everything Dora ever stood for and make her another generic tween, Nick.

So is this just for merchandise, or is she getting a new show, too?

[CyberCubed]

I have never been so horrified by a silhouette of a cartoon character before.

Oh god, this is going to be a disaster.

[Racattack!Force]

I had this on Friday morning while watching CNN at the college cafeteria. I was half-asleep, but this jerked me awake. I'm kinda shocked that Nick and Mattel are doing this. At least keep her in the jungle...

[Silverstar]

This is a joke, right?

Right??

Way to shamelessly pander to the wannabe-cool, crowd, Nick.

I don't really care, but Dora was one of the few non-tweenybopper kid franchises out there, now she's going to be just like everybody else.

[Dr.Pepper]

I actually saw this news a week or so ago, and it terrified me so much, I dared not to speak of it again.
EDIT: Shouldn't this be in the Nick section?

[Blackstar]

This is the most pointless move the Dora franchise has made since the addition of those baby twins. Honestly, why age Dora? If Dora's producers just want to try to appeal to the tween crowd, why not just create a new character for that instead of of jumping on the "magically changing kid characters to teens" bandwagon? Nick didn't turn Dora into a boy when they wanted to attract more boy viewers, they just created a new character, Diego. They (the shows' producers) could have just as easily given Dora a cool tween girl cousin. Or else, build a new franchise around Diego's older sister. She's a tween, right? I don't watch the show, so I'm not really sure.

[Harukuro]

Wow. I never thought Dora would be updated especially to a tween. I mean I don't watch the show put still...it's just...wow. What's gonna happen to Boots? It seems like he's just been replaced by a bunch of new 'girlfriends'. If they just forget about him then that would be just plain cold. :sad:

[Ed Liu]

Taking the liberty of moving this to the Nick forum, where it belongs.

[rattis1]

Well, considering Dora has been around for like nine years, and the 3 year old girls who watched the show when it first came on are now around 12, i guess this is a way to try to keep them interested in the character.

I wonder, if they turn this into a show, it cant very well be "talk-directly-to-the-audience"-interactive show fit only for minds under 4 years of age anymore. So what will it be? A kinda Rugrats: All grown up style tween comedy-drama perhapes?

[Marinite]

The new Dora, who will be revealed in the fall, lives in the big city and goes to middle school. She still solves mysteries but she's abandoned outdoor adventure for shopping, jewelry and fashion. So, in other words, she's not Dora the Explorer anymore. I might have been slightly interested if she kept her tomboy look and attitude, if only because that would have been fairly unique in the over-saturated 'material girl' scene, but... :shrug:

[chdr]

What was the point of calling this Dora in the first place?

[J!!!]

Beside's the fact that she's already a popular kid's character.

[Gonzales]

I think I'm going to be sick...

EDIT: For some reason, the silhouette reminds me of Atomic Betty.

[John Dorian]

{Looks at title}...


(Facepalm)

Uh huh, yeah. Y'know, that reminds me of that crappy ill-fated tween remake of The Powerpuff Girls toys and apparel Mattel (I think) was also inolved in from 2004-2005.

And Nick's pretty hellbent on actually doing this...well, more power to them. I'm gonna laugh my butt off when Nick's Dora remake actually fails and bite them hard in the hine quarters big time.

What's next, tween Backyardigans? Tween Wonder Pets? Tween Little Einsteins? Oh God, the horror.

[judyindisguise]

I guess after Dora ripped off everything from fairies to princesses, the Disney well has run dry. So now she's gonna rip off Bratz. Hai chihuahua~~~! :eek:

[EinBebop]

I'm looking forward to Dora 3.0 where they move her show to MTV, have her start experimenting with drugs, and pose for Playboy.

[Ghostbuster Man]

Aye Carumba!!!!!!

[Gonzales]

I'm no so much bothered by Dora's new look as I am by the whole middle school setting thing. Reminds me way too much of All Grown Up.

[Neo Yi]

So, is Diego gonna end up as the older teen who tries to strive for popularity and acceptance, but instead gets ridiculed by bullies, then learns a valuable lessons about friendship and such in the end?

[Gonzales]

So, is Diego gonna end up as the older teen who tries to strive for popularity and acceptance, but instead gets ridiculed by bullies, then learns a valuable lessons about friendship and such in the end?
I sure hope not...

But honestly, who knows?

[Jave]

Hey, Nickelodeon:

No.

[Daxdiv]

O_o

Did I read this right?

[Mr. Wednesday]

I saw something about it last night on the local news. Like everyone else said, this is kind of weird.

[Gorbash]

Am I the only one who is disturbed by the silhouette of her head?

[garfield15]

O_o

Did I read this right?
I so wish I was reading it horribly wrong.

[PC!]

Am I the only one who is disturbed by the silhouette of her head?

I'm fairly certain that part jutting out is part of her hair, not her face.

[Megaman X]

Wow.. this is.. going to be strange.

So what? Does Swiper steals kid's lunch money now or something?

[Gonzales]

Wow.. this is.. going to be strange.

So what? Does Swiper steals kid's lunch money now or something?
If I had to venture a guess, I think this will be some kind of junior kidcom sort of deal. Not like the original show at all.

[J. B. Warner]

As if the DeviantArt drawings weren't creepy enough before...

[Dudley]

I think this is just the for the toys. They're not going to make a spin-off of her as a teen.
At least I hope not anyway.

Now in terms of the toys, I think this is stupid. Maybe I should watch the show more, but it seems like the toys are making her into a Disney Princess wannabe, and now they want to make her into a young Barbie. Wth?

[Mini Garbonzo]

My question is, would Dora even be bothering to teach children how to speak Spanish anymore?

[TomatoSpud]

The dolls pretty much all look older now anyway. It was only a matter of time before they changed the setting.

You gotta hate how they do this to every franchise now...

[Blackstar]

The dolls pretty much all look older now anyway. It was only a matter of time before they changed the setting.

You gotta hate how they do this to every franchise now...


Agreed. I'm really not digging Hollywood's current frame of mind that kid characters are only interesting when they're turned into teenagers. It's this mode of thinking that eventually led to Rugrats becoming All Grown Up, which was basically a carbon copy of every other tween show that was on at the time, only with the Rugrats' names stuck on it. At least when the Rugrats were babies the show had some originality to it.

[peterg14]

Nothing like changing a franchise, unneeded at that, to a generic carbon copy of all the other tween shows.

I can't say much is, but this is incredibly stupid.

[Mickialla]

Haha, this is the most hilarious thing I've ever heard Nick do.

I don't care about Dora, but I absolutely see no point in doing this. If it's doing fine right now, what's the point in changing it, especially if the change is most likely going to kill the show. Terrible decision from a business standpoint. Probably one of the top 5 rules of making a TV show is don't alienate your audience. Your audience is preschoolers who have always known Dora to be a kid, like them. All of a sudden she grows 6 or 7 years and your audience isn't going to notice a difference and get turned off?

Good luck with trying to be cool, Nick.

[Plague Rat]

Once again, Nick tries to focus in on glamorizing the tween life, when it really isn't considered anything much. It bothers me mostly because it's as if they wanna show little kids that being a tween/teen is 'totally awesome!!11' so they can give up their childhood and focus on acting older than they are... and considering that it's already happened, I can't say I approve.

Indulge in your childhood, kids, you'll miss it when you're older. :C

[Hordesman]

I guess after Dora ripped off everything from fairies to princesses, the Disney well has run dry. So now she's gonna rip off Bratz. Hai chihuahua~~~! :eek:

Actually, isn't more that she's going to take over? Mattel managed to get Bratz discontinued in court.

[warnerbroman]

As if the DeviantArt drawings weren't creepy enough before...as if rule 34 was not creepy enough
Actually, isn't more that she's going to take over? Mattel managed to get Bratz discontinued in court. yet I saw a recent commercial

[Racattack!Force]

They (the shows' producers) could have just as easily given Dora a cool tween girl cousin. Or else, build a new franchise around Diego's older sister. She's a tween, right? I don't watch the show, so I'm not really sure.I doubt the show's producers have little power over merchandise, and yes, Dora's girl cousin (Diego's older sister) is a tween. But Nick and Mattel doesn't care about that. :sweat:

[J!!!]

The court has alowwed the Bratz to be sold until the end of 2009 no more no less.

[Martianinvader]

How dumb can they be? Making Blue or Elmo into tweens wouldn't erase the fact that they were created for preschoolers, and WON'T be appealing to anyone above that age in any form. There is no demand for a Dora show for older kids!

[Light Lucario]

Let me see if I got this right. So they made Dora into a tween, took her out of the forest/jungle, into a city, where she'll be in middle school, right? I still can't believe it honestly.

Okay, this is just so weird it isn't even funny. I definitely agree that it feels like a wrong move, and a bad one at that, for Nick to make since it really does just take away the original concept of the show and turn it into another tween-like show.

[The Wolverine]

Actually, isn't more that she's going to take over? Mattel managed to get Bratz discontinued in court.
Actually they're not only still being sold, new ones are still being made.

[J!!!]

Actually they're not only still being sold, new ones are still being made.
Again they can sell them until the end of 2009 no more no less.

[Mek]

As if the DeviantArt drawings weren't creepy enough before...

Bleedman doesn't need any more ammo.

[Gonzales]

Bleedman doesn't need any more ammo.
Oh God, you just put images into my head...

[Jayngfet]

Bleedman doesn't need any more ammo.

Oh lord no. I already have to listen to my friend go fangirl over his stuff, please don't tell bleadman about this.

[Plague Rat]

Bleedman doesn't need any more ammo.
Please don't jinx that... he might make a comic series for it. ):

[DeanBurrito25]

Hoo boy. :sweat:
I know where this is going.

[Racattack!Force]

Bleedman doesn't need any more ammo.Thank you. :shrug: Thank you for jinxing it...

[J!!!]

I kinda like bleedman's fan works...............

[Mini Garbonzo]

Sorry to ask, but who's Bleedman?

[Gonzales]

Sorry to ask, but who's Bleedman?
He's a guy who has a website where he makes comics based off of Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network characters. His work isn't at all bad, but it's..."suggestive" and lets leave it at that.

[J!!!]

Sorry to ask, but who's Bleedman?
A comic writer I could PM you a link if you want it

[Mini Garbonzo]

He's a guy who has a website where he makes comics based off of Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network characters. His work isn't at all bad, but it's..."suggestive" and lets leave it at that.
Huh, well I guess it can't be too bad...

*looks at link*

...Why'd you have to jinx it Mek?

[Plague Rat]

Huh, well I guess it can't be too bad...

*looks at link*

...Why'd you have to jinx it Mek?
^Typical reaction to Bleedman's works.

Next we'll end up seeing an epic romance/adventure of preteen Dora going through the jungle as she meets up with Tarzan and Jane, who tell her how she's a powerful being who can command the forces of nature, as some sort of explanation of how she talks to animals. But Swiper tries to swipe away her powers so he can have them for himself. Subplot of Dora having romance with [insert crossover character here]. All by Bleedman.

[Gonzales]

My main complaint with Bleedman is that he never finishes anything.

Oh, and I forsee Dora hooking up with Timmy Turner. Maybe.;)

[Jayngfet]

DoraxOrel forever.

Though of course Diego will have romantic subtext and Dora will start wearing incredibly short skirts.

[Lychii]

I don't like where this thread went, although it wasn't good to begin with. Long flowing hair and a miniskirt? Sure this isn't a Bratz doll or something? If they were going to make Dora into a preteen they could atleast keep her hair short and in shorts/pants.

This reminds me of that PPG in Style thing that came out a while ago. We all know how well that fared. Lets just hope this goes the same way.

[Racattack!Force]

My main complaint with Bleedman is that he never finishes anything.I think he's getting close to finishing the first arc of that Grim comic, and he did finish the first part of that PPG one.

[Marvin Tikvah]

So is this repackaging coming with a show or will it simply be a specialized toyline? The article doesn't say a thing about this.

Either way, this is a terrible idea and I hope they realize there is absolutely no reason Dora needed to be modernized. I'm not a fan of the show, but it is definitely unique and doesn't need to abandon the exploration concept for technology and fashion.

But honestly, did you guys have to bring up Bleedman? Now I'm sure he'll get his hands on this, ruin it further with his art, and get 10,000+ views with comments ranging from worship to people saying "omg i cant believe dis lol".

[Daxdiv]

But honestly, did you guys have to bring up Bleedman? Now I'm sure he'll get his hands on this, ruin it further with his art, and get 10,000+ views with comments ranging from worship to people saying "omg i cant believe dis lol".


I'll laugh if the older Dora almost looks like his Dora. After all he was angry when he saw Fusion Fall's Dexter.

[Gonzales]

But honestly, did you guys have to bring up Bleedman? Now I'm sure he'll get his hands on this, ruin it further with his art, and get 10,000+ views with comments ranging from worship to people saying "omg i cant believe dis lol".
As if he needed our help to get a hold of it.

[MasterofRoku]

Now mind you, I wouldn't mind Dora being a tween as long as she was an explorer. But abandoning her concept just so she can be your typical tween girl is dumb.

I wonder if Boots is going to be with Diego or just be left in the jungle.

[Blackstar]

Now mind you, I wouldn't mind Dora being a tween as long as she was an explorer. But abandoning her concept just so she can be your typical tween girl is dumb.

I wonder if Boots is going to be with Diego or just be left in the jungle.

This is assuming that Diego won't be chasing after girls by then. :sweat:

[Racattack!Force]

So is this repackaging coming with a show or will it simply be a specialized toyline? The article doesn't say a thing about this.Unless the toyline does incredibly well, it should stay as such.

[Plague Rat]

I'll laugh if the older Dora almost looks like his Dora. After all he was angry when he saw Fusion Fall's Dexter.
At first I was only joking when I compared the designs, but I didn't think he'd actually feel copied off of. XD

[The Cartoon]

You know, this would be even funnier if I didn't see it coming.

[NewcomerDC]

With all of this complaining, I'm surprised that Nick haven't tried to stop themselves by going ahead with this little project of theirs. Sure I can see Dora as 13 in a one-shot episode but making a new season, let alone a new series with her, that's not good. It's desperation, it's jumping the shark, it's 'All Grown Up' all over again.

[Blackstar]

With all of this complaining, I'm surprised that Nick haven't tried to stop themselves by going ahead with this little project of theirs. Sure I can see Dora as 13 in a one-shot episode but making a new season, let alone a new series with her, that's not good. It's desperation, it's jumping the shark, it's 'All Grown Up' all over again.

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only person who feels that way about All Grown Up. Seeing the Rugrats babies as tweens might have been fun to see once in a one-time-only special event, but I did then (and still do now) think that turning AGU into an endless series was pushing it.

[Lavenderpaw]

I am really looking forward to this. Dora the Explorer has always been one of my most favorite shows, I'm surprised most of you aren't excited over this. This has got to be the greatest idea since The Naked Brothers. :D

[stargirl]

UPDATE! More information on what we can expect from tween Dora here. (http://www.babble.com/CS/blogs/strollerderby/archive/2009/02/17/liveblogging-toy-fair-part-2-everything-you-need-to-know-about-tween-dora.aspx)

Liveblogging Toy Fair, Part 2: Everything You Need to Know About Tween Dora
Posted by editors (http://www.babble.com/CS/members/editors.aspx)
http://www.babble.com/CS/blogs/strollerderby/2009/02/Dora-the-explorer-large.jpg (http://www.babble.com/CS/blogs/strollerderby/2009/02/Dora-the-explorer-large.jpg)

Much has been made in the media of the fact that Bratz knocked Barbie off their long-held pedestal as the bestselling fashion dolls in the world. Those of you who were discouraged by this news will be pleased to know that Mattel is preparing a counter-attack, and she goes by the name of Dora the Explorer.

Wait, Dora? You mean the mushroom-shaped little bilingual girl who urges you to jump up and down until you wish she'd shove that monkey sidekick down her throat? No. Tween Dora.

Unfortunately, we have no photos of Tween Dora, because photography was expressly forbidden in the Dora zone. When we arrived at the Fisher Price/Mattel galleria, we were immediately ushered into a tiny room furnished with fuzzy hot pink butterfly chairs. We were told that what we were about to see would “revolutionize the way girls play with dolls.” And then they unveiled her.http://www.babble.com/CS/blogs/strollerderby/2009/02/chair.jpg (http://www.babble.com/CS/blogs/strollerderby/2009/02/chair.jpg)

The good news is that Tween Dora is actually quite cute. Our photo editor Lauren saw a resemblance to America Ferrara. She is, yes, somewhat Bratz-like, especially in head-to-body ratio. However, unlike the Bratz, she wears charm bracelets, ruffly tunic tops, embroidered pants , with no Lycra, platform boots or liquid eyeliner in site. Even Dora’s bathing suits look like something totally appropriate for a middle school kid.

And that’s what Tween Dora is – a middle school kid, of ambiguous age and ethnicity, who lives in the ambiguous “city by the sea” with a gaggle of racially diverse gal pals named Alana, Naiya, Kate and Emma, a.k.a. the “Explorer Girls.”

After all these characters were introduced, the Dora rep told us that Dora Explorer Girl now solves mysteries instead of going exploring. How does she do this?

First, you plug her in.

Dora, while she looks like a normal fashion doll, is actually wired into an online world that your kid accesses via USB port. We watched the PR lady bring the Dora avatar up onscreen, then walk her into the first place we saw: a beauty salon. “Now she can get a makeover!” PR lady chirped. (Not sure what happened to solving mysteries.) Then she selected a new, longer haircut for Onscreen Dora – and in real-life, two inches of hair mechanically descended from the Dora doll’s head.

Lauren and I, simultaneously, let out an alarmed shriek. Which may or may not have been the reaction they were looking for.

The PR lady then proceeded to change the color of the Dora doll’s lips, eyes, and cheeks via the online beauty salon. Then we entered a boutique, where we could switch up Dora’s light-up necklace and earrings. (Which are not unlike Jem’s blinking earrings, if you’ll allow me a moment of nostalgia...)

At this point, Dora had still solved no mysteries.

The PR lady showed us an assortment of fashion and accessory sets, each of which unlocks a new location for Virtual Dora to explore. And playing with her earns you points, which you can use, in turn, to shop for new stuff online.

“Does she do things besides shop?” I asked.

Why, yes. She plays electric guitar at a charity show (there’s a cute little guitar). And goes to art class (there’s a cute little art room with paints). And solves mysteries… allegedly.

Tween Dora will be unveiled to the public (in August, I believe) and retail for around $60. Her friends and accessories, which don’t plug in, will be notably cheaper.



Okay, now I'm really worried. That's all I have to say.

[garfield15]

^^^^

Anyone want to? No one does?

Okay, I'll just do it.

http://i350.photobucket.com/albums/q422/j_reader/facepalm.png

[Jayngfet]

That post sent me into sheer terror. At this point I'm hoping this is a parody. A shopping obsessed aged directly from kindergardern girl from an ethnicaly diverse group who solves mysteries? If this isn't a parody I'm going to build a ballista just for the occasion.

[Marinite]

And that’s what Tween Dora is – a middle school kid, of ambiguous age and ethnicity It's not very ambiguous if she's speaking Spanish all the time... unless that was just a phase.

[hobbyfan]

Didn't Nick learn anything from Rugrats: All Grown Up? Apparently not.

The Nick suits, along with Mattel, are trying to crash the tween market dominated by Disney's assembly line of tweencoms (i.e. Hannah Montana, Suite Life), but don't take into account the most important factor in these decisions, and that is feedback from parents of their target audience. Such short-sighted business decision making is where the networks make their biggest mistakes.

BTW, FWIW, PBS' attempt at a tween toon for the Latin audience, Maya & Miguel, didn't exactly work too well, did it?

[Gonzales]

PBS' attempt at a tween toon for the Latin audience, Maya & Miguel, didn't exactly work too well, did it?
It's still being produced, so it must have done something right.

[Mek]

Huh, well I guess it can't be too bad...

*looks at link*

...Why'd you have to jinx it Mek?

Hey, I only said what some people were thinking.

To get back on topic -and I apologize for derailing it, but J.B's post got me started-, I'd have to say this is pretty sad. I actually don't care about Dora leaving the jungle or what have you, it's the fact the whole thing, based off of a toyline no less, just SCREAMS a desperate last-ditch effort for attention.

[John Dorian]

It's still being produced, so it must have done something right.


That show's done as dirt as of October 2007, as it was replaced by its awesome spin-off Word Girl in September 2007, and I'm very happy about that.

BTW, that atrocious show still hangs on at 7:00AM on my PBS station.

[Gonzales]

That show's done as dirt as of October 2007, as it was replaced by its awesome spin-off Word Girl in September 2007, and I'm very happy about that.

BTW, that atrocious show still hangs on at 7:00AM on my PBS station.
No, they're still making new episodes. Maybe your station dropped it, but PBS hasn't yet.

[Racattack!Force]

Wait, WordGirl is a spinoff from Maya & Miguel? :confused: Anyway, to set the record straight, Tween Dora isn't going to be a series.

[Gonzales]

No it isn't a spin-off.

[Burdette25159]

I'm offended a little, but here is my suggestion Mattel: give her a Reebok pump-esque version of her sneakers. Other then that, I'm curious when her Tween look is unveiled this fall

[PeppeRaskell1]

In case any of you haven't noticed, some of the Dora fairy-tale dolls I've seen have her looking a little more mature-looking than she's looked in recent years.

And weren't you all crying "Sacrilege!" when you saw teenage-looking PowerPuff Girls and pix and videos of the Demashita! PowerPuff Girls Z
anime? (Wonder how those concerned Soccer Moms will react when that show really does come to US TV?)

[Blackstar]

In case any of you haven't noticed, some of the Dora fairy-tale dolls I've seen have her looking a little more mature-looking than she's looked in recent years.

And weren't you all crying "Sacrilege!" when you saw teenage-looking PowerPuff Girls and pix and videos of the Demashita! PowerPuff Girls Z
anime? (Wonder how those concerned Soccer Moms will react when that show really does come to US TV?)

No, not at all. I can only speak for myself, but I didn't complain when I saw PPG Style at all. And the reason why I don't care for PPGZ is because it's not as good as it's USAnimated counterpart. the fact that the Girls are teens has nothing to do with it. I actually like the girls' desings on PPGZ, but that's all that I like about it.

I wouldn't have a problem with teenage Powerpuffs, provided that the stories were still entertaining and if the plots still involved the PPGs using their ultra super powers to beat up bad guys and didn't just adhere to the usual "girls shop 'til they drop and get makeovers and try to be pretty so that boys will like them" rhetoric. As long as it didn't become a Bratz retread, I'd be fine with it.

[garfield15]

And weren't you all crying "Sacrilege!" when you saw teenage-looking PowerPuff Girls and pix and videos of the Demashita! PowerPuff Girls Z
anime? (Wonder how those concerned Soccer Moms will react when that show really does come to US TV?)
Hmm...I remember being worried but I wasn't screaming "SACRILEGE" when I first saw the designs. I ended up liking it though.

I kinda like bleedman's fan works...............
Me too, I love them no matter what people say.

(I just had to keep reminding myself "SUSPEND DISBELIEF" over and over again due to the insanity cameos in his PPG one but I truly loved it.)

[Marinite]

And weren't you all crying "Sacrilege!" when you saw teenage-looking PowerPuff Girls and pix and videos of the Demashita! PowerPuff Girls Z anime? (Wonder how those concerned Soccer Moms will react when that show really does come to US TV?) It's not the age (well, not for me) just the fact they're taking away everything the character stands for. PPGZ also took away everything the original PPG stood for. If Dora continued advtures and didn't delve into stereotypical girly make-up, clothes, and jewelery, it would be just fine for me.

[The Wolverine]

Wait, WordGirl is a spinoff from Maya & Miguel? :confused:

Not technically, but the original 2-minute shorts were (and sometimes still are) aired after Maya and Miguel is over.

[Plague Rat]

No, not at all. I can only speak for myself, but I didn't complain when I saw PPG Style at all. And the reason why I don't care for PPGZ is because it's not as good as it's USAnimated counterpart. the fact that the Girls are teens has nothing to do with it. I actually like the girls' desings on PPGZ, but that's all that I like about it.

I wouldn't have a problem with teenage Powerpuffs, provided that the stories were still entertaining and if the plots still involved the PPGs using their ultra super powers to beat up bad guys and didn't just adhere to the usual "girls shop 'til they drop and get makeovers and try to be pretty so that boys will like them" rhetoric. As long as it didn't become a Bratz retread, I'd be fine with it.
Agreed completely. I actually wasn't bothered when PPGZ introduced the girls as slightly older, I just found seeing it in anime was a total lolwhut moment. Although it's kind of just funny of a concept to me.

But yeah, on that note, who decided to sell a stereotype of girl-related things being about shopping? I mean, I like buying new clothes but I'm not obsessed with shopping. Most of my friends aren't, in fact my best friend hates shopping. xD I don't wanna sound like I'm pulling the feminist switch here, but I think we can do something a little more empowering then giving children role models that are brainless shopaholics.

[AdamYJ]

I wonder if they'll still do the "play along" thing with older Dora.

Dora: I can't decide which top to wear to the party? Which one do you think will match these shoes. [holds up a red top and a blue top].

Fake Audience Voices: Blue! The blue one!

Dora: The blue one? You're right! It does match better! Muchas gracias!

:p :D

[Marvin Tikvah]

That sounds hilariously awesome.

I wonder if it ever happened, would Nick restrict it to Teenick or try to push it as much as they do iCarly?

[The Huntsman]

Has it actually been said that anything animated is going to be done with this? Everything that I’ve read just seems to be about toys. I believe it has also been mentioned that there will be games and interactive websites, but I haven’t read anything about a new cartoon. Did I miss an article or something? If it’s not going to be a cartoon, I have to say that I’m surprised about all of the hubbub. If parents don’t want their child to see the new Dora, then they just shouldn’t buy them the toys or let them go to the website.

[danreyes1]

Dora the Explorer: Young girls! You can be explorers, have fun adventures and learn to speak multiple languages and about the natural world!

Dora the "Tweenager" (Gods I hate that word): Girls! You don't need an education, just the right wardrobe! Don't forget to buy the Dora doll, the walk-in-closet model with 20 different dresses, and the mall play set with 5 clothing stores, a jacuzzi, and food court with successful male characters to sponge off of for the rest of Dora's life! Just $399.99

Seriously, what kind of role model are they trying to make here?

[John Dorian]

No, they're still making new episodes. Maybe your station dropped it, but PBS hasn't yet.


Note: my PBS station hasn't dropped it.

Did you check TV.com? Because the last episode was in October 2007. 65 episodes in all.


Who knows? Maybe I'm wrong.

[Gonzales]

Note: my PBS station hasn't dropped it.

Did you check TV.com? Because the last episode was in October 2007. 65 episodes in all.


Who knows? Maybe I'm wrong.
No, you were right. That show is indeed over. I could have sworn though that my on-screen guide said an episode was new a few weeks ago. Must have been an error.

[Blackstar]

Has it actually been said that anything animated is going to be done with this? Everything that I’ve read just seems to be about toys. I believe it has also been mentioned that there will be games and interactive websites, but I haven’t read anything about a new cartoon. Did I miss an article or something? If it’s not going to be a cartoon, I have to say that I’m surprised about all of the hubbub. If parents don’t want their child to see the new Dora, then they just shouldn’t buy them the toys or let them go to the website.

I think that Tween Dora will just be a line of toys and a website. The changes aren't supposed to happen on TV. There's no spinoff series in the works, as far as I know.

[Mek]

I think that Tween Dora will just be a line of toys and a website. The changes aren't supposed to happen on TV. There's no spinoff series in the works, as far as I know.

If that's the case, then why are people getting so upset?

I mean yeah, I'm not hot on the 'tween' thing (simply because it's old hat to me by now), but if it's not outright replacing the original Dora stuff, well...

@ PeppeRaskell: I thought I was the only one who noticed the slightly 'older' Dora on the fantasy stuff. Especially with the Princess and Snow Queen stuff, she looks a little taller and skinnier than normal.

[Blackstar]

Originally Posted by Me http://forums.toonzone.net/images/buttons/buttons_tvc/viewpost.gif (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?p=3182900#post3182900)
I think that Tween Dora will just be a line of toys and a website. The changes aren't supposed to happen on TV. There's no spinoff series in the works, as far as I know.
If that's the case, then why are people getting so upset?

Because it's the internet. The internet and complaints go together like peanut butter and jelly.:shrug: Besides, I don't think anyone here really cares about this. We're just remarking on it.

[Ed Liu]

The internet and complaints go together like peanut butter and jelly.:shrug:
The Internet and misinformed complaints from people that don't click the link and read the article for themselves or have astonishingly poor reading comprehension skills go together like peanut butter and jelly ;).

As has been mentioned many times already, this is not a show. It's just toys for the moment. The only explanation I have for why they would do this is that it's easier to latch onto existing brand awareness than it is to build new brand awareness. Unfortunately "easy" != "good idea." The whole point of building a brand is to associate qualities with it. "Let's leverage this brand to sell something completely different!" is a classic pinheaded MBA decision because all you will accomplish is to break the association you spent all that time building in the first place. This is why Disney started making more mature films under the Miramax label rather than attempting to sell them as Disney films.

[Plague Rat]

I think that Tween Dora will just be a line of toys and a website. The changes aren't supposed to happen on TV. There's no spinoff series in the works, as far as I know.
If the dolls sell well though, a spinoff is likely. I mean, there not only were Bratz movies, but a TV show on 4Kids as well. Who could say it wouldn't happen, it seems to be a popular idea in the kiddy entertainment business. Bratz, Transformers, My Little Pony, G.I. Joe...

IT COULD HAPPEN.

Yeah, dolls aren't harming the original character, but I still find that the idea it promotes to be bothersome, although not slutty like Bratz at least, it still rubs off the 'act older than you are' syndrome.

[AdamYJ]

Y'know, even if there were a spin-off TV show, there's nothing saying that it wouldn't be made into something positive rather than something shallow, materialistic and cliche. Honestly, I think it would be cool if they went kind of "Nancy Drew" with the idea. Have Dora and her friends solving mysteries and helping people and having different sorts of adventures.

The one character I'd worry most about is poor Backpack. Have you seen how much crap middle school kids cram into their backpacks. Poor guy'll be stuffed to the gills (I couldn't leave without throwing that little joke in).

[Neo Yi]

I didn't see this anywhere in the link, but with the announcement of Dora hosting dolls that are tween-centric, what will happen to beloved characters like Boots and Swiper? Are talking animals considered too "immature" for a preteen mind? Will they be canned out or also get different transformations to fit within the tween demographic?

[Daxdiv]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090316/ap_en_ot/dora_for_tweens

Here the pic of what Teen Dora will look like.

She looks different.

[Racattack!Force]

She looks like a normal tweenager. A bit dressed-up, but I suppose that's what happens when you move from the wilderness to the big city. Anyway, she looks better (and by better, and mean less...you know :sweat:) than I expected.

[chdr]

That face isn't exactly what I expected from Dora...

[Blackstar]

She's not even a teen. The article said that this Dora is about 10. The "tween" ages are between 10 and 12, IIRC.

In any case, that's not a bad depiction of a preteen Dora (she could have looked a lot trampier), and since this is just going to be an interactive doll and will not be replacing the original TV series, maybe the outraged soccer moms can relax a little.

[Plague Rat]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090316/ap_en_ot/dora_for_tweens

Here the pic of what Teen Dora will look like.

She looks different.
.... whut. I don't see any resemblance to the old Dora. D; Is it me, or are her eyes shinier than usual? Why is that amusing to me?

I'm not upset about the change I just find it... well humorous. And a little pointless too.

She's not even a teen. The article said that this Dora is about 10. The "tween" ages are between 10 and 12, IIRC.
Well apparently the age of 10 is made a bigger deal out of than it used to be. I remember when being 11-12 was considered pre-teen age, not 10. But I digress.

[PC!]

Aww, she's cute. ^__^ Nick could've definitely done a lot worse.

[Marvin Tikvah]

lol damage control.

I had no idea the moms were up in arms this much about older Dora. But at least that image is a little more than reassuring for those that care.

[Light Lucario]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090316/ap_en_ot/dora_for_tweens

Here the pic of what Teen Dora will look like.

She looks different.

Wow, Dora kind of looks more like twelve than ten to me, but maybe that has something to do with the clothes. I agree that it doesn't look as older as I thought that she would. I think it was a good call for them to release an image now in order to calm down the parents since I could understand why they thought that the new Dora was replacing the old one.

Now I just feel silly for not reading the article of this thread first. :sweat:

[Plague Rat]

Wow, Dora kind of looks more like twelve than ten to me, but maybe that has something to do with the clothes.
Yeah I know, I don't remember dressing like that when I was 10. XD

[johnny139]

Though I'm not inherently against the idea, the redesign is a few shades too close to "Dora the Sexy Teen Explorer" than I'm comfortable with.

...admittantly, though, the wordplay would write itself...

[Old Guy]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090316/ap_en_ot/dora_for_tweens


I don't see what the big deal is to be honest. Only a pervert would see sex appeal in this:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3457/3360534979_69158e0362_o.jpg

[Blackstar]

If people can find sex appeal in female anthropomorphic animals, they'll find sex appeal in anything.

[Daxdiv]

Wow, Dora kind of looks more like twelve than ten to me, but maybe that has something to do with the clothes. I agree that it doesn't look as older as I thought that she would. I think it was a good call for them to release an image now in order to calm down the parents since I could understand why they thought that the new Dora was replacing the old one.

Now I just feel silly for not reading the article of this thread first. :sweat:

Yeah that image is less suggestive than that silhouette in the first news bit. Though it not like a character hasn't look like their age before. At least she isn't like Pokemon girl level with her looks.

[stargirl]

Now I'm calmer about this. Tween Dora looks appropriate and cute! :D

[garfield15]

I don't see what the big deal is to be honest. Only a pervert would see sex appeal in this:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3457/3360534979_69158e0362_o.jpg

You do realize that this is the Internet right?

You know, the place where Rule 34 was invented?

Well, its not so bad anyway. Honestly, shrink her eyes a tiny bit and I think that's how I would have seen it if she got older. She still somewhat looks like the character anyway.

[Old Guy]

You do realize that this is the Internet right?

You know, the place where Rule 34 was invented?

I'm not talking about the Internet though. I'm talking about the soccer moms who have been complaining about this stuff. I guess this says a lot about them. They are sicker than us.

[Dr.Pepper]

Yeah I know, I don't remember dressing like that when I was 10. XD
I don't even dress like that now:p

Off-topic: I don't know why, but I thought you were a guy:o

[The Wolverine]

I'm not talking about the Internet though. I'm talking about the soccer moms who have been complaining about this stuff. I guess this says a lot about them. They are sicker than us.
Haha.

Wow.

[Ed Liu]

I'm talking about the soccer moms who have been complaining about this stuff. I guess this says a lot about them. They are sicker than us.

You did pass through all those posts in this thread of people saying that they thought it was a stupid idea and complaining about it in concept, right? I'm pretty sure not all of us, if any of us, are soccer moms and I certainly wouldn't call any of us sick (well, not in THAT way ;)). I know people like targeting soccer moms and blaming them for everything, but you're taking it a bit far.

I think it was a mistake to release the silhouette first before the full image. You can't tell anything from the silhouette, and it wasn't hard to envision a super-skinny, waif-like Dora with tons of makeup and bling.

[Mek]

I don't see what the big deal is to be honest. Only a pervert would see sex appeal in this:



In before Blee...

Never mind. Just... never mind.

In all seriousness, she looks really cute. If I was the mother of a young girl, I'd think that looks just fine.

[Dudley]

I don't see what the big deal is to be honest. Only a pervert would see sex appeal in this:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3457/3360534979_69158e0362_o.jpg

Holy crap.

She is so CUTE!!!!!!

[tb4000]

She really looks more anime now.

[Jacques]

I think she looks like an average 10-year-old girl. I don't think the idea of a tweenager Dora will sell, though.

[Neo Yi]

Is it really weird for me to say I like her eyes? They're so...sparkly.

[Jacques]

They're so...sparkly.

Her eyes are big.

[D.Shaffer]

Watching the reaction change from total outrage to 'Ah, she's so cute' through the reveal of one picture? This amuses me. :D

The Rule34 people are going to have a FIELD DAY with 'Dora and the Explorer Girls'.

[Jayngfet]

Watching the reaction change from total outrage to 'Ah, she's so cute' through the reveal of one picture? This amuses me. :D

The Rule34 people are going to have a FIELD DAY with 'Dora and the Explorer Girls'.

Please don't, your only encouraging them. Not that they need it but still...

[Racattack!Force]

Watching the reaction change from total outrage to 'Ah, she's so cute' through the reveal of one picture? This amuses me. :D

The Rule34 people are going to have a FIELD DAY with 'Dora and the Explorer Girls'.Eh, this is the internet, so anything can happen (come on, she is cute). But I'm sure some people will have a field day with this idea...

[The Wolverine]

Please don't, your only encouraging them. Not that they need it but still...
They would do it anyway.

[Marvin Tikvah]

Is it just me or does she look like she's wearing lipstick?

I'm also not sure if that bracelet she's wearing is the same one the younger design had. I think it was a bit thicker and lacked that flower print.

[Gonzales]

Yeah, she's wearing makeup.

[Dudley]

Is it just me or does she look like she's wearing lipstick?

I'm also not sure if that bracelet she's wearing is the same one the younger design had. I think it was a bit thicker and lacked that flower print.

I think her lips are just more prominent.

[Jayngfet]

Am I seriously seeing this? Did you all just reverse your opinions after one image? Throw some color on a silhouette and everyone is appeased? What happened to those pages of hatered I just saw? She's wearing makeup and fake trendy clothes for vecena's sake! She looks like a damned Moe blob!

[Gonzales]

Am I seriously seeing this? Did you all just reverse your opinions after one image? Throw some color on a silhouette and everyone is appeased? What happened to those pages of hatered I just saw? She's wearing makeup and fake trendy clothes for vecena's sake! She looks like a damned Moe blob!
Ever since they found out that it's just a doll, it doesn't seem like such a big deal. Although I'd be surprised if they didn't make a show using this new Dora.

[Vyse]

If people can find sex appeal in female anthropomorphic animals, they'll find sex appeal in anything.
QFT.

Now, on-topic, it's Hannah Montana Dora! [first thing that came to my mind]

Seriously, it's not that bad. And, since we are dealing with Nickelodeon, a network that aged the Rugrats into pre-teens, I could see this evolve from interactive doll to actual tv show.

[Mesousa]

This looks pretty cool, actually.

I'm definatly even more curious how it'll actually be executed.

[warnerbroman]

I don't see what the big deal is to be honest. Only a pervert would see sex appeal in this:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3457/3360534979_69158e0362_o.jpg
awwww.....

[Light Lucario]

Yeah I know, I don't remember dressing like that when I was 10. XD

Me neither. I never really liked the idea of dressing up when I was ten. I actually still don't like dressing up now either.

Yeah that image is less suggestive than that silhouette in the first news bit. Though it not like a character hasn't look like their age before. At least she isn't like Pokemon girl level with her looks.

That's true. That silhouette made a lot of people, not just here but in generally, upset since it could have been a lot worse than it actually turned out to be. Even though I love Pokemon, I'm glad that they didn't make her Pokemon girl level with her looks. It would just be so weird and I could see a lot more people getting upset.

Though, in all honesty, Dora does look kind of cute. Since it is just for a toy line, not for a show, I think more people would be okay with that. I'm wondering now if my school will write something about this since I read an article how they were so upset with Dora growing up, which was funny since I had seen the image revealed the night before. Obviously, it was too late to change the article, but I still wonder if they'll do anything with this image in another article.

[Plague Rat]

Off-topic: I don't know why, but I thought you were a guy:o
Probably my icon. XD I was gonna make a sig that would probably cancel it out though but I've been... lazy. I digress.

Am I seriously seeing this? Did you all just reverse your opinions after one image? Throw some color on a silhouette and everyone is appeased? What happened to those pages of hatered I just saw? She's wearing makeup and fake trendy clothes for vecena's sake! She looks like a damned Moe blob!
Specifically, my opinion went from annoyed to amused. It basically looks like Dora got a gig with Disney.

[Ooze33]

You know, when i cover up her eyelashes, she looks more like a 10 year old. The normal image looks more like 12.

[Racattack!Force]

Lauren Frost is kinda pissed that tweenage Dora looks like this. (http://www.milkywayandthegalaxygirls.com/solarsisterhoodblog/?p=283) And I have to agree...Dora does look pretty boring now. :sweat:

[Mini Garbonzo]

Lauren Frost is kinda pissed that tweenage Dora looks like this. (http://www.milkywayandthegalaxygirls.com/solarsisterhoodblog/?p=283) And I have to agree...Dora does look pretty boring now. :sweat:

I guess that's how most girl's dolls are these days, but what can you do?

[Silverstar]

The 'tween thing is being done to death right now, but at least Tween Dora doesn't look bad. She doesn't look and dress like a streetwalker, there's at least that.

[Blackstar]

Lauren Frost is kinda pissed that tweenage Dora looks like this. (http://www.milkywayandthegalaxygirls.com/solarsisterhoodblog/?p=283) And I have to agree...Dora does look pretty boring now. :sweat:

When tween girl icons dress provocatively, people complain that they look trampy and slutty, but when they dress conservatively, people say that they look boring and bland. The tween girl figure just can't win.

I personally think that tween Dora looks cute. When her image was silhouetted, I expected her to look at lot worse.

[Lavenderpaw]

The 'tween thing is being done to death right now, but at least Tween Dora doesn't look bad. She doesn't look and dress like a streetwalker, there's at least that.

Fo' shame. I wanted to see streetwalker Dora. XD JK

[The Wolverine]

When tween girl icons dress provocatively, people complain that they look trampy and slutty, but when they dress conservatively, people say that they look boring and bland. The tween girl figure just can't win.

I personally think that tween Dora looks cute. When her image was silhouetted, I expected her to look at lot worse.

This. I expected the new Dora to look like a Bratz doll, but thankfully that didn't happen.

I'll have to respectfully disagree with Lauren on this one.

[Plague Rat]

Lauren Frost is kinda pissed that tweenage Dora looks like this. (http://www.milkywayandthegalaxygirls.com/solarsisterhoodblog/?p=283) And I have to agree...Dora does look pretty boring now. :sweat:
Give Ms. Frost a medal plz. <3

Seriously, wasn't Dora pretty much a tomboy to begin with? What was wrong with making her still slightly like that in her tween years? You can be a tomboy and still like girly things, ya know. :/

[HellCat]

It's a single outfit. Whilst it'll say alot by apparently being the iconic status quo for this version of the character, it doesn't mean it's the only version we'd see. That's how doll lines work.

As for saying this means the character has lost a tomboy angle- I disagree that's necessarily the case, but would point out that lots of girls genuinely do lose such a streak as they get older to various degrees.

Personally, I think that tween aimed version of the Powerpuff Girls from a few years ago was far more poor and insulting.

[Mesousa]

Lauren Frost is kinda pissed that tweenage Dora looks like this. (http://www.milkywayandthegalaxygirls.com/solarsisterhoodblog/?p=283) And I have to agree...Dora does look pretty boring now. :sweat:

I usually respect Lauren, but she's overreacting a bit here.

[SuperMegaHyper]

http://specials.msn.com/Search.aspx?cp-documentid=18776489&imageindex=1&cp-searchtext=Dora's+makeover&gt1=46001 Wow for once I agree with them.:shrug:

[peterg14]

Meh, I still think that they could have done worst. It's not really all that bad, but was there a need to jump on the tween/teen bandwagon?

[Plague Rat]

Personally, I think that tween aimed version of the Powerpuff Girls from a few years ago was far more poor and insulting.
... well no use arguing with that.

And lol at the MSN news thing.

"And don't forget, Dora isn't the only doll trying to enter the modern world.

An ageless Barbie celebrated her 50th by getting tattoos."

... That's not SO bad. Fake tattoos are nothing new to kids and at least Barbie appears old enough to be wearing tattoos. Plus this is not a new concept.

[Foxface321]

Wow just wow is this what happened to dora I cant even explain what happened to her. P.S Her Identity is gone now

[Silverstar]

Wow just wow is this what happened to dora I cant even explain what happened to her. P.S Her Identity is gone now

Come on. All they did was age her slightly and change her clothes. It's really not that big a deal.

I was more worried when I thought they were going to make Dora look like a Bratz doll. But :^:this:^: looks like a natural progression for Dora at age 10 or 11. Anyway, tween-age Dora isn't going to be replacing the younger version on the show, or even going to be a show, just a website and a line of toys, so I don't get why so many people are up in arms about this?

[AlgeaX]

I don't see what the big deal is to be honest. Only a pervert would see sex appeal in this:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3457/3360534979_69158e0362_o.jpg

LOOK UPON THE FACE OF SATAN!

Seriously though, other then the slightly collegenised lips I don't see anything wrong with this.

[AdamYJ]

It's not so bad. It is easy to understand the outcry, though. I mean, what are parents more afraid of than kids growing up too fast? And when they hear that a character who's been five or six their entire existence is suddenly going to be in middle school, they freak out a little bit. As for the commentary on these boards, animation fans have long been critical of "teenification" as well as its reverse phenomenon the "babyfication". There are so many more ways to do either move wrong than there are to do it right.

[Plague Rat]

Wow just wow is this what happened to dora I cant even explain what happened to her. P.S Her Identity is gone now
OH TRAGEDY!

I don't think it's that big of a deal, I just think it's hilarious of how EVERYTHING is on the tween bandwagon now. Wonder what'll join in next?