Backpack. Designed by Helena Giersz.

Usually a backpack is just a backpack… but in Dora the Explorer case that Backpack is a very important character that has everything in it . My first design of the backpack was with a mouth that was a zipper, but it looked kind of weird and a bit scary:). Also, I remember we were debating if backpacks should always be on the backpack or not… . I think Valerie Walsh was saying that it would be kind of weird to see the face on Dora’s back always throughout the show and we decided to only have that face when it was needed, which was during the song “back back back back… I’m the back loaded up with things and knickknacks too”. I love this song…. And I guess if I was a kid, I would love to have that kind of a backpack with everything that was needed at the moment:) At the beginning of the show backpack had regular two pockets on both sides and then at some point when stars were introduced, it had a star pocket.

20 years later, I had to design another backpack this time it was in 3-D. It was during the pandemic and I was working remotely with my very good friends from FUMI studio in Poland and we were able to create this really lovable character in 3-D.