Have You Noticed A Difference in Dora The Explorer's Voice?
- Written by Stephanie
- 2:20 PM
- Add Your Comments (22)
This September, voice actress Caitlin Sanchez, took on the role of Dora the Explorer.
Have you noticed any differences?
1 Month
It's now been 1 month since a new "Dora" voice has been gracing broadcast television and DVDs.
Season five of "Dora the Explorer" premiered on Monday, September 15, at 10:30 a.m.
Kathleen Herles (click on her name to watch an interview on YouTube), the original voice of Dora, graduated from high school and subsequently outgrew her role. Talented newcomer Caitlin Sanchez, 12, was cast to replace Herles on the bilingual educational cartoon series to maintain a youthful continuum from Dora to Dora, in English and in Spanish.
While it's obvious that child voice actors do grow up and sometimes their roles need to be re-cast (it's happened on Arthur for the title role, too), how consistent are the voice overs and does it make a smidgen of difference?
Dueling Doras : Can You Tell The Difference?
For those of you who have watched the program or have young children who do, you may have picked up on subtle vocal and performance disparities that differentiate the two voice actresses.
I personally have not yet had the chance to compare the two and listen to the voice match but am looking forward to an opportunity to do so.
That being said, there are other people who have heard the new Dora voice overs and chose to comment on an article referenced on Voice Over Times via the New York Times.
What Some Parents Are Saying
One parent, Ramon Ng, shares, "My daughter owns all of Dora's videos, she has autism. Dora has been a big part of her life (since she was 2 years old). We got her the new Dora Saves the Snow Princess and she is not as excited about the new video, she definitely feels that there are some changes."
From another perspective, Elissa Sullivan, noted, "We did notice the new voices. Our child did not, but we did. I feel a little sad about it."
What Do You Think? Does Dora Sound Different?
Leave a comment with your thoughts. Also if you know of a video online where we can compare the Dora voices, please include the link as I've yet to discover one :)
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Stephanie
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Comments
My 2 year old daughter doesn't seem to notice too much.
P.J.
Definitely something I would've noticed and commented on, had I watched episodes spanning the change. My boys don't watch Dora, but I think my older boy might've also picked up on that if he had been watching.
I could understand a child being disappointed or confused, but a parent? They've got to know that people grow up. Ron Howard could not play Opi if they decided to make another Andy Griffith Movie!
What an awesome opportunity for yet another up and coming VO artist!
I have noticed. It seems obvious I've seen so many. But it seems like other voices have changed too. Do you know about that?
Hi there,
Thanks for commenting :)
From what I read, this has been the first alteration to the original cast, so all the other voices have remained the same.
Cheers,
Stephanie
Hey guys, my name is Yalitza from American Latino TV! Just wanted to let you know that Caitlin Sanchez will be featured on the show this weekend October 25-26!! Don't miss it! For more information, visit www.americanlatino.tv/wheretowatch
I am really sad about the ORIGINAL Dora leaving. I also did notice that Dora's voice changed. I asked my mom," Hey. Did you notice that Dora's voice changed?" I think the new voice of Dora is high and squeaky. I don't really like it.
I just caught the end of the new Dora Snow Princess video. I had to jump online and check if there was a change in the cast. Because i noticed a diffrence with in seconds of hearing the voice of Dora and Boots. Boots sounds way diffrent and Dora is also not there. Kids will notice the diffence. But hope fully the new generation of kids will still be attracted to the show.
Celia cries because she liked the old Dora's voice much better/ I like them both, and try to explain that it is actresses, but because Dora doesn't really age, it is difficult to explain that the actresses do. She loves Dora and has been a faithful fan of the old Dora, and I am sure she will soon adjust to the new voice, but since we have many videos and dvd's of the old voice it wont be too soon forgotten. I never would have thought it would affect her so much, but she literally cries when she hears the new voice.
Several actors have changed. See http://www.voiceovertimes.com/index.php?s=dora
"Sanchez will be joined by Regan Mizrahi as Boots, Alexandria Suarez as Backpack, Jean Carlos Celi as Tico, Matthew Gumley as Benny and Lenique Vincent as Isa."
I really like the new voice of Dora she has a much more entertaining voice.
My kids haven't heard the new voice yet, so I can't say for sure. This is a real gamble for sure, especially if they did change up the voice so much. I think it's a mistake. Just get a voice actor who can copy the original and be done with it.
I definitely noticed the different voice. I'm not sure if they have a new person for Boots, but he sounds a little different too. My kids didn't seem to notice the change though.
We have just started seeing the new series in Australia this week. My family noticed the difference in all of the voices. My daughter, who is 4, doesn't seem to mind. It is quite obvious that Caitlin (new Dora) is trying to mimic Kathleen Herles' voiceover. The new voice of Boots is the most obvious change. My daughter isn't quite sure about his new voice!
I think it's no big deal, my 3 yr old daughter still loves her Dora, and I don't see why anybody should even have a problem with that.
My daughter is 5 and still loves Dora, she is very mature in some ways but for some reason refuses to let go of Dora, which I am thankful. I certainly don't want her growing up too fast. Anyway, she has not even noticed the difference in voices. I myself, noticed immediately. I think that she is so in love with the concept of Dora and the show that it is not important to her. The characters are the same and that is all that matters. Good luck to the new girl....
I noticed the difference in the characters voices but I don't find it distracting - I think they sound very similar and they did a really good job in the casting. I used to often think the voices sound different in the very early episodes. The only thing on Dora I found really bad was when Diego's voice changed. I really liked the first Diego's voice much more.
My kids wouldn't have a clue the voices have changed
i hate it! I miss old dora. This is ripping apart my childhood. I am very upset. I am afraid i will never be the same.
I miss old boots. His voice definitely changed. I am so sad.
To adults and older children the voice change is very obvious. Most obvious is boots. To me he sound nothing link he did before. He evens looks a little different to me. Like they made him look younger or something. My kids don't notice. When the new season started I looked at my daughter and said "Does Dora sound different to You". She said "Dora's the same momma". I think children 6 and older would notice. I don't see most of them not wanting to watch because of it.
I really haven't noticed the change in dora voice but my daughter loves dora and I think as long as dora look the same to her she really don't care
Human's don't like change; but it's a necessary and inevitable part of life - embrace it.