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The silhouette that launched a thousand fits has become the doll that will launch millions of hits.
Dora Links, Mattel's new doll that's a "tween," computer-centric version of Dora the Explorer, has finally come fully unveiled.
When news of a new, older Dora the Explorer doll came out last March, only a silhouette was revealed -- a silhouette that made it appear as if the pudgy, plucky tyke had taken to wearing mini-skirts on a now-willowy, inappropriately sexual form for a supposed 12-year-old girl. Cue the Internet outrage.
However, several weeks later, Mattel put parents concerns to rest by revealing that actual concept art, not just the silhouette. It revealed an outfit that's more akin to tunic and leggings than anything suggestive. We've known that the Dora Links doll would sport snazzy innovations involving plugging into a home computer for interactive activity via the www.doralinks.com Web site. We've also known that Dora Links' computer-based adventures would center more around community, friendship, and mystery rather than outdoor adventures with talking animals.
But we've been waiting to see how the Hispanic heroine would look in three dimensions.
At last, Mattel has revealed the actual look of the doll (see below). Of course, Dora Links, through the online play, can change her hair length, eye color and jewelry color, so the look is somewhat malleable (as is her speech, according to the company's news release). But here's the out-of-the-box Dora Links doll -- aka "Tween Dora" -- finally revealed in full:
