Dora The Explorer co-creator Chris Gifford’s kids are his toughest critics

SINGAPORE — Ever wondered what it’s like to live with Dora and her best friend Boots the Monkey?

Chris Gifford would know. After all, co-creator of the children’s phenomenon Dora The Explorer was inspired by his own children.

“When we were developing Dora, (my children) Katie was five and Henry was three, just about the same ages of Dora and Boots. They loved playing these CD-ROM adventure games, which was how we conceived Dora’s world of being inside a computer,” said Gifford.

Your children can catch the precocious girl and her friends’ adventures on the small screen, but this week, they’re also taking to the stage with Nickelodeon’s Dora The Explorer Live! Dora’s Pirate Adventure.

Presented in Singapore by MediaCorp VizPro International and Resorts World Sentosa, the touring show features all the characters from the popular series as they go off on an adventure involving, erm, a dancing mountain, a bit of map-reading and a pirate ship. Oh, and Diego’s dropping by, too.

Q: How do you feel about Dora’s phenomenal success all over the world?

A: Humbling. To now have Dora The Explorer be seen in over 150 countries and territories, and translated in more than 30 languages around the world… we never ever expected this kind of global appeal and success. When we started, we just wanted to make a show that kids liked and learned from. Dora was originally conceived as a Latina heroine and she’s now seen as an adventurer, a good friend and a problem-solver – an inspirational role model for pre-schoolers around the world. I’d like to think that we have set a new standard through innovative active viewing.

Q: Children are obsessed with Dora. What are some of the most extreme fan stories you’ve heard?

A: There are so many delightful stories I have heard. A friend of our daughter’s wouldn’t take her backpack off and insisted on wearing it to sleep!

Q: What about from Singapore fans?

A: The other day we did a TV taping and everyone in the audience was chanting “Dora, Dora, Dora”! It was amazing to see that kind of appeal in Singapore! A dad also asked me for my autograph and a little boy gave me a hug.

Q: What’s the weirdest unauthorised Dora merchandise you’ve seen?

A: Nothing really. I’m mostly surprised at how off-model most of the pirated stuff are. It’s really important that, universally, our young fans can recognise Dora.

Q: What do your own children or other family members think of Dora?

A: Well, my kids are both in college now so they don’t watch Dora every day the way they used to. But they always listen to my ideas for stories, although they can be very tough critics and always have been. My son used to ask why, “With such a big head? Did she need so much help seeing things?”

Q: In Singapore, kids learn two languages in school. Do you think it’s important to know more than one language?

A: I think it’s becoming more important (given) how much people travel these days or live across borders. It’s impressive that there is so much bilingualism and diversity in Singapore. I’m ashamed to say that I still have only a limited understanding of Spanish. It’s been difficult for me but I always try to pick up a few words and customs from any country that I visit.

Nickelodeon’s Dora the Explorer Live! Dora’s Pirate Adventure is from June 4 to 8, 3pm and 6.30pm, Resorts World Theatre, Resorts World Sentosa. With additional 11am shows on weekends. Tickets from S$38 to S$108 at Sistic.

Dora The Explorer airs every weekdays, 9.30am on Nickelodeon (SingTel mio TV Ch 240 and StarHub TV Ch 314), and 8.25am, 11.35am, 1.30pm on Nick Jr (SingTel mio TV Ch 238 and StarHub TV Ch 304).