Dora's back in a brand new CG-animated series, streaming now on Paramount+, and to celebrate the return of Nickelodeon's iconic heroine, NickALive! had the wonderful opportunity to interview Bobby Villarreal, who serves as a composer on the new series of Dora!
Bobby's work on the Paramount+ reboot of the iconic children’s series is among the most innovative and dynamic musicianship in TV today. His work features several authentic Latin styles of music, ranging from reggaeton to bachata to salsa to banda and cumbia. Like the show itself, the score is filled with action, humor, and heart.
A Houston native, Bobby graduated from Berklee College of Music in 2013. He is no stranger to the children’s entertainment space, as he also writes additional music for Netflix’s Gabby’s Dollhouse and Nickelodeon’s Blues Clues & You.
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| Bobby Villarreal |
In addition to scoring to picture, Bobby has produced songs for such iconic artists as Post Malone, Sirah, and 24hrs. His score for Dora marks undoubtedly the most personal project of his career, incorporating his Latin roots and establishing a forward-thinking vision for the entirety of the series.
Aside from its traditional Latin influences, Bobby’s Dora score draws inspiration from several modern Latin artists taking over the music industry today. Elements of Bad Bunny, Peso Pluma, Karol G, and J. Balvin can be heard throughout Bobby’s many themes. The LA-based composer utilized organic Latin instruments such as the Puerto Rican Cuatro, Timbales, Congas, and more, while also blending in Latin pop beats programmed with 808’s, trap drums, and modern synths. Fans of Dora the Explorer will recognize longstanding elements of the show’s musical palette, but will also be treated to the entirely new themes that Bobby wrote for the show’s colorful cast of characters.
Check out NickALive!'s exclusive interview with Bobby below!:
NickALive!: What was the collaboration process like with the showrunners and directors on Dora? Do they give you any interesting instructions or feedback to help you create the show’s musical palette?
Bobby Villarreal: Yes! I find myself incredibly lucky to be part of such a collaborative team on Dora! When I was first brought on board the new series, I met with the creators, and co-executive producers Chris Gifford and Valerie Walsh Valdes, who spoke to the heart and central themes that embody who Dora is as a character: loving, brave, heroic, empowering, a leader, friend to all. Getting to hear from the creators of the iconic and beloved series themselves was incredibly inspiring!
Before scoring each episode, I’ll sit down with music supervisor Holly Gregory where we discuss themes, and creatively brainstorm ways we can make the most authentic and intentional choices with the Latin underscore that best support the story. It might be a region in the rainforest Dora and her friends find themselves in that inspire a specific Latin genre, or perhaps they meet an Alebrije (a folkloric Mexican animal often carved out of wood) where I might want to use regional Mexican instruments with added magical layers to plant some organic roots in the musical storytelling. Discovering creative and intentional ways to honor Latin cultures and traditions through the music of Dora is one of my favorite parts of crafting the score.
NickALive!: Was there a particular scene you felt was musically key in your work?
Bobby: There’s a couple scenes in episode 7 “Big Red Chicken Wake Up!” that will forever be close to my heart as they were the first scenes I scored. When I first watched those scenes without music, I imagined what Dora might sound like in today’s most diversified and musically colorful world. I thought, what if Dora’s rainforest included the vibrant colors and modern palette of today’s Top Billboard Latin artists? I approached those scenes more as a producer might approach a hit Latin Pop / R&B record and included sounds you might not expect in a preschool show: 808s, trap snare drums, and Reggaeton beats. I had a blast… I’m still pinching myself that it worked!
NickALive!: Were there any character or emotional themes that you created and reused throughout the show?
Bobby: Yes! I composed new character themes for Swiper, Benny, Tico, Isa, Val, The Grumpy Old Troll, and used signature solo instruments for Boots (harmonica) and The Big Red Chicken (trumpet) that you’ll often hear on screen moments. Dora's theme is based on her brand new theme song, “¡Exploradora!”
NickALive!: Your Dora score seems to draw inspiration from Reggaeton and other popular Latin music genres. Did you have any specific artists in mind while composing for the show, and how did they inform your approach?
Bobby: As a third-generation Latino who grew up in Houston, Texas, my house was filled with music from Juan Gabriel, Luis Miguel, Rocío Dúrcal, Elvis Crespo, and Celia Cruz to name a few. At the time, this was just music in my house. I wasn’t thinking, “Gosh, I’m going to grow up and become a film composer,” much less reimagine the score to Dora, but these became sounds in my DNA.
Now I’m married with a wife and two kids, and we often listen to current crossover Latin artists. We listen to Bad Bunny, J Balvin, Natalia Lafourcade, Karol G… I enjoy so many different Latin genres and I found creative freedom in allowing myself to get inspired from all the different sounds that shaped me in my childhood and the modern Latin music that inspires me today. Bad Bunny inspired reggaeton beats might not be something you envision for a pre-school show, but it’s the unexpected that makes the score feel fresh!
NickALive!: Did you use any interesting or unusual instrumentation on the show?
Bobby: The score includes a variety of regional Latin American instruments such as the Puerto Rican Cuatro, a 10-stringed guitar that’s also the national instrument of Puerto Rico. Every two strings are tuned to unison pitches an octave apart from one another, that give the guitar a gorgeous melodic richness in tone. I also had the privilege of working with Lorena Perez Batista, a Venezuelan percussionist and additional composer on my team who recorded incredible performances on Timbales and Dominican Tambora to the score.
NickALive!: Were you familiar with the original Dora the Explorer series? How did the original series influence your work on the new series?
Bobby: Yes! I grew up a huge fan of the original Dora the Explorer series. Understanding Dora, the fearless leader who’s a friend to all, and a champion of empowerment really gave me a solid foundation when first approaching the score on the new series. I wanted to make sure I kept the spirit of the original Dora character and her friends strong in the new series, while also bringing a fresh Latin musical perspective with the new stories being told in the new show.
NickALive!: Do you have a favorite character on the show?
Bobby: I’ve already become bonded to all the characters and their fun and unique personality traits, it would be really difficult to choose just one favorite, but I will say, Boots definitely has a silliness and approaches his world with a childlike wonder I can definitely relate to!
About Dora:
Produced by Nickelodeon Animation, Dora made a triumph return on Friday, April 12 on Paramount+. In the U.S., the first season of Dora (26 x 11-minute episodes) streams exclusively on Paramount+, with select episodes also available to stream on the official Dora & Friends YouTube channel. Internationally, the series streams on Paramount+ in most regions the service is available and also airs on Nick Jr. channels and branded programming blocks. A second season of Dora was ordered shortly after the show's debut.
With all-new CG animation and imaginative character-driven storylines, the new Dora series follows everyone’s favorite bilingual explorer, Dora (Diana Zermeño), and her best monkey friend, Boots (Asher Colton Spence), as they embark on epic adventures in a fantastical rainforest. Guided by trustworthy Map (Anairis Quiñones), Dora and her friends must work together to overcome many obstacles while being challenged by the sneakiest fox, Swiper (Marc Weiner). Kathleen Herles, the original voice of Dora the Explorer, returns to the new series as Mami, and Mike Smith Rivera joins the cast as Papi.
In addition to Zermeño’s breakout role as Dora, previously announced cast members joining Dora include Maria Canals-Barrera as Abuela; Danny Burstein as Grumpy Old Troll and The Fiesta Trio’s Frog and Marmoset; Katarina Sky as Backpack; Donovan Monzon-Sanders as Tico; Tandi Fomukong as Isa; Quintún Muñoz as Benny; Chris Gifford as Big Red Chicken; and Quiñones as The Fiesta Trio’s Armadillo. Featured guest stars this season are Taboo as Quickatoo and Kate del Castillo as Ale the Alebrije.
Dora is produced by Nickelodeon Animation in Burbank, California, and created by Chris Gifford and Valerie Walsh Valdes. Chris Gifford, Valerie Walsh Valdes and Rich Magallanes serve as executive producers. Henry Lenardin-Madden serves as co-executive producer, and Alejandro Bien-Willner serves as story editor. Marielle Kaar is Nickelodeon's Executive in Charge of Production for the series. Dora the Explorer was created by Chris Gifford, Valerie Walsh Valdes and Eric Weiner.
Leading up to the debut of her all-new series, Dora made her big screen debut with the launch of the all-new animated short film, Dora and the Fantastical Creatures, which was available to watch exclusively in theatres screening next to PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie. A special, titled Dora: Say Hola to Adventure, also debuted on Paramount+.
In addition to the new series, Nickelodeon has also launched Dora’s Recipe for Adventure, a brand-new podcast for preschoolers and families, which centers on Dora and celebrates culture, food, family and the importance of embracing oneself. Featuring all-new music, the 10-episode audio series follows Dora and Boots on their exciting expeditions through the rainforest as they search for the missing ingredients for some of her family’s favorite dishes, such as caldo de piedra (stone soup), arroz con huevos (rice with eggs) and maduros (fried sweet plantains). Dora’s Recipe for Adventure is available today wherever listeners get their podcasts.
Since its launch on Nickelodeon on August 14, 2000, Dora the Explorer quickly emerged as a global pop culture phenomenon, and nearly 25 years later, it’s still one of the most-watched preschool shows of all time. Dora has crossed social, racial and language boundaries and stands as a hero and friend to millions of children around the world. The series currently is seen in more than 150 countries and territories and translated in 32 languages through Nickelodeon channels, Paramount+ around the globe and syndication. Over its eight-season run, which is currently available to stream in full on Paramount+, Dora the Explorer received countless accolades, including Emmy, Peabody, NAACP, Alma, Imagen, Latino Spirit, Gracie Allen, Parents’ Choice, Common Sense Media and Television Critics Association awards.
A very special thanks to Bobby Villarreal for taking the time to chat with NickALive!, and to Nickelodeon and Paramount+ for this fantastic opportunity!
You find out more about Bobby by visiting his official website, bobby-villarreal.com.
Make sure to catch Bobby's work on all-new Dora, streaming now on Paramount+! Visit ParamountPlus.com for a free trial!
Join your favorite explorer in NEW and EXCITING adventures on YouTube! Play games, dive into adventures, sing along to songs, solve puzzles and so much more! Subscribe to the OFFICIAL Dora & Friends YouTube Channel! Ready? ¡Vámonos! Let’s go! https://at.nick.com/DoraSubscribe
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