So in hindsight, I’m just a wee bit embarrassed at how horrified I felt upon hearing that all the voice-over artists on Dora had been replaced. It’s not as big a deal as that big Simpsons contract dispute a few years ago when all the artists were allegedly on the verge of being swapped out. But it’s still, well, jarring. And what was the reason? Was Backpack being rewritten to talk like one of the characters in Gossip Girl? (“Ohmigod, delicioso!”) What if Dora was now going to be voiced by some big-name tween star like Demi Lovato? My mind reeled at all the horrible possibilities.

Fortunately, Nickelodeon’s PR people very patiently responded to my email which (again, embarrassingly) included a few too many exclamation marks. Not to worry, I was soothed. The change came about only because the current voice-over artists had aged out of their roles. All the characters sounded the same. No one would be able to tell the difference. Really.

To prove it, they even sent over a screener of the Dora season premiere (which, for mere mortals, airs Sept. 15 on Nickelodeon.) And I watched it. Skeptically. And listened. Critically. And scrutinized (intensely) the pictures of the impossibly cute and super-young new voice-over cast.

And yeah, so. It’s all good.

You never would have known if I hadn’t told you. But check it out for yourself on Monday, Sept. 15.

–Posted by Stephanie Booth

Filed under Six and Under, Up Next...

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