There are quite a few differences between the new live-action movieDora and the Search for Sol Doradoand the original animatedDora the Explorerseries.Sol Doradois the second feature to adapt the iconic cartoon into live-action, though it is a standalone following Dora (Samantha Lorraine) and her cousin Diego (Jacob Rodriguez) on a brand-new adventure.
There are a number of major changes beyond the obvious adjustments to the premise, which included making Dora and Diego teenagers and adding original live-action characters to theDora and the Search for Sol Doradocast, such as the villainous henchman Beetle (Christian Gnecco Quintero), Diego’s girlfriend Naiya (Mariana Garzón Toro), and Naiya’s younger brother Sonny (Acston Luca Porto).
1Dora Doesn’t Sing As Much In Dora And The Search For Sol Dorado
Only One Of Dora’s Iconic Songs Remains
One element of theoriginalDora the Explorercharacterthat is not retained inSol Doradois the fact that she sings frequently in the cartoon show. In addition to the show’s theme song,the character performed a variety of songs to indicate various recurring actions, including leaving on an adventure, consulting Map, and opening Backpack.
It seems that the songs were removed so the live-actionSol Doradowould feel more realistic. However,young Dora is seen singing “I’m the Map” to herself in flashbacks, both because it makes more sense for a child to sing and because Map and Dora’s belief in its powers are major elements of her character arc in the movie.
2Dora Rarely Speaks To The Camera
The Cartoon Frequently Involves Direct Address
In the original cartoon series,the viewer is as much of a character as Dora, Diego, and Boots. This is because Dora frequently asks the audience for help with finding various objects, because the show was designed to directly engage children in the narrative while teaching them Spanish words.
The previous live-action movie, 2019’sDora and the Lost City of Gold, had a recurring gag where Dora (Isabela Merced) addressed the camera, baffling the other characters around her.
However,Dora rarely speaks directly to the audience in the new movie. While she does address the camera periodically throughout her adventure, particularly in theending ofDora and the Search for Sol Dorado, these moments are played as brief throwback references rather than anything integral to the storyline.
3Dora And The Search For Sol Dorado Changes Diego’s Personality
The Live-Action Character Feels Completely Different
One of the core components of Diego’s character inDora the Explorerand the spinoffGo, Diego, Go!is the fact that he is brave and adventurous, just like his cousin. While certain elements of his character were maintained inSol Dorado, including his use of the versatile Rescue Pack,he is presented as much more of a coward in the new movie.
While Diego still accompanies Dora on her adventures in the movie,Sol Doradoextrapolates his overall personality from his position as Dora’s rescuer. This means that he has been changed into a more cautious and nervous character, who isconstantly calculating risks and expressing fear that Dora might endanger herself.
4Boots Technically Doesn’t Speak English In Dora And The Search For Sol Dorado
One Brief Moment Changes Everything
The originalDora the Explorershowtakes place in a cartoon universe where animals can speak, andit is never questioned. This includes Dora’s best friend, Boots, who is a periwinkle monkey that wears red boots. Boots accompanies Dora on the majority of her adventures in the show. He also does so inSol Dorado, though his speech is limited.
Dora and Boots chatter to one another in monkey language…
Although the beginning of the movie depicts him speaking to Dora without her being shocked by his abilities, a later scene reveals thatthe other characters around her cannot hear Boots speaking English. Instead, Dora and Boots chatter to one another in monkey language. When Boots is depicted speaking English, it is being translated from monkey language for the audience.
This may explain whyBoots is used as more of a comic relief supporting characterin the movie rather than being a co-lead, as he is in the series. Because he does not possess the ability to speak to the rest of the cast of characters, it would not make sense for him to play a major role in the same way.
5Swiper Doesn’t Speak At All
The Character Has Multiple Catchphrases In The Show
Another character whose ability to speak is curtailed in the live-action universe ofDora and the Search for Sol Doradois Swiper. In the cartoon,Swiper is an orange fox who loves to sneak around and steal things. He is typically thwarted when he is caught by the audience and Dora says “Swiper, no swiping!” three times.
Although Swiper has a number of catchphrases in the original series, including “oh, man,” another way thatSol Doradomakes the world around Dora more realistic is thathe does not speak at all during the movie. This makes sense in-universe because Dora has not met him before, so she has not had a reason to learn fox language.
6Swiper Looks Completely Different In Dora And The Search For Sol Dorado
He Received A Significant Redesign
Swiper losing the ability to speak is far from the only major change that was made to the character in the new movie. While2019’sDora and the Lost City of Golddepicts Swiper in a more cartoon-accurate way, making him a bipedal fox in a bandanna,this is not the case inThe Search for Sol Dorado.
Swiper was voiced by Benicio del Toro inDora and the Lost City of Gold.
InSol Dorado, Swiper looks almost completely unrecognizable, becausehe is depicted as a fox who looks more or less realand is only slightly anthropomorphized in his behavior. This is very different from the movie’s depiction of Boots, who retains a slightly cartoonish colorization and is allowed to keep the footwear that gives him his name.
7Map Is Not Sentient In Dora And The Search For Sol Dorado
Map Is A Major Character In The Show
Another one of the more cartoonish elements in the originalDora the Exploreris the fact thatmany inanimate objects that Dora brings along on her adventures are sentient, have eyes, and can speak. This includes Map, who can not only speak but sings the song “I’m the Map,” which makes multiple appearances in the movie, as sung by Dora.
While Map does not speak inSol Dorado,it is depicted in a slightly magical realist way. This is because Dora fervently believes that Map is magic, which leads to her feeling lost and aimless when it is accidentally burned in a fire. However, over the course of the movie, she learns that Map’s magic always came from within her.
8Backpack Is Not Sentient Either
The Character Is Reduced To An Object
InDora the Explorer, Backpack is another character, like Map, who proves useful to Dora on her adventures. When Backpack comes into play,she also has a signature song. Read the lyrics of her song below:
Backpack, backpack
I’m the backpack loaded up with things and knickknacks too
Anything that you might need, I got inside for you
Unlike Map,Backpack does not play a major role inDora and the Search for Sol Dorado. Although Dora does wear a purple backpack that looks similar to Backpack from the original show, it does not rise to the level of narrative significance that Map does, and it is only infrequently referred to.
9Camila Is An Entirely Different Character In Dora And The Search For Sol Dorado
There Seems To Be No Connection Between The Two Camilas
InDora and the Search for Sol Dorado,Cowboy BebopandJurassic World Dominion’s Daniella Pineda portrays the main antagonist, Camila. Camila is a former television star who went on adventures using the moniker Camila the Crusader and whowants to use the power of the titular Incan artifact Sol Dorado for selfish reasons.
Sol Dorado is said to grant one wish to the person who discovers it.
While there is a character named Camila in theoriginalDora the Explorershow, she seems to have no connection to the live-action Camila. In the cartoon,Camila is a classmate from Guatemala who is Dora’s age, whereas Camila is much older in the movie. Additionally, the animated Camila is best friends with Tomás the Turtle.
However, the Camila ofDora and the Search for Sol Doradohas Swiper as her animal companion. The animated Camila only appears in a handful of episodes, so it is ultimately unclear if the two characters having the same name is intentional or coincidental, though their differences make the latter seem more likely.
