Dora Saves Fairytale Land

Episode Info

Transcript

Gallery

Credits

For the special podcast of the reboot, see: Dora Saves Fairytale Land! (Dora '24).

Dora Saves Fairytale Land (also known as "Dora's Fairytale Adventure III: Save the Fairytale Land!") is the last TV special and the series finale of Dora the Explorer prior to Dora and Friends being made and "Let's Go to Music School" got produced and broadcasted in the United States. It is also the 19^th episode (14^th in the US) of Season 8. This is the 13th double-length episode and the second sequel to the double-length episode "Dora's Fairytale Adventure" (the first being "Dora Saves the Three Little Pigs").

Characters present[]

Dora
- Princesa Dora
Boots
- Sleeping Boots (flashback only)
Backpack (singing voice by Breanna Lakatos)
Map
Swiper as Sir Swiper
Fiesta Trio
Witch of Fairytale Land
Silly Broomstick and Wand (Silly Wand no longer anthropomorphic)
El Mago
Mean Giant (debut)
Big Bad Wolf
King Lion
Queen Lioness
Seven Dwarves
- Worried Dwarf
- Cheerful Dwarf
- Bookish Dwarf
- Scowly Dwarf
- Oldest Dwarf
- Youngest Dwarf
- Skinny Dwarf (credited as the "Skinny But Deep-Voiced Dwarf")
Ivy Vine Wall
Jack
Little Red Riding Hood
Hansel and Gretel
Cinderella
Frog Prince
Aladdin
Fairy Godmother
Frog Princess
Gingerbread Man
Mami Red Bird
Baby Red Bird
Swiper's Horse
Goose
The Three Little Pigs
Sun (non-speaking)
Fairytale Land Gate (no longer anthropomorphic)

Summary[]

A few years after the events of both "Dora's Fairytale Adventure" and "Dora Saves the Three Little Pigs", our heroes return to Fairytale Land once more; this time when all the magic in there starts to vanish, they're tasked to get magical water from the center of Sparkling Lake, which is hidden deep in the Never-to-be-Seen-Again Forest.

Places[]

Windy Trees
Giant Caves
Dragon Flowers
Sparkling Lake

Songs[]

Items in Backpack (clockwise from the top right)[]

The Magic Hairbrush (1st correct item in Windy Forest)
The Musical Box (2nd correct item in Giant's Cave)
The Red Ring (3rd correct item in Dragon Flowers)
The bag of Sun (4th correct item in Sparkling Lake)

Trivia[]

The storybook "Fairytale Magic" is based on this episode.
This episode, like Dora in Wonderland, was divided into 2 parts when released internationally, and was edited at the end of the 1st part to show the Map telling viewers to see them in Part 2, before saying goodbye, prior to the ending credits.
This is the last episode of the series to be written by co-creator Valerie Walsh Valdes.
This is the only double length special to use the normal Dora the Explorer intro instead of a specific special intro.
This is actually the 19^th and final episode (as well as the series finale) of Dora the Explorer in production order.
The is the second sequel to "Dora's Fairytale Adventure". The first was "Dora Saves the Three Little Pigs".
This is the second episode when Dora transforms into a princess and the last episode when Dora wears a dress for the entire episode after Dora’s Christmas Carol Adventure, The Grumpy Old Troll Gets Married, Dora’s Royal Rescue, and Dora’s Knighthood Adventure. Except for the Favorite Part segment.
- This episode contains some similarities and differences to/from both the original and/or the first sequel:
  - Similarities to the both episodes:
    - The episode is of course set in Fairytale Land.
    - This episode uses the standard opening sequence as opposed to a custom opening sequence.
      - This is the first double-length episode since Dora Saves the Mermaids (and the only post-Season 4 double-length episode) to use the standard opening sequence.
  - Similarities to the original only:
    - Dora mentions a time about saving Sleeping Boots in "Dora's Fairytale Adventure".
      - This episode also features a reanimated flashback resembling a scene featuring Sleeping Boots from the aforementioned episode.
      - The items used on the adventure (consisting of the Red Ring, the Musical Box, the Bag of Sunshine, and the Magic Hairbrush) are the same items Dora used to save Sleeping Boots. Furthermore, just like in the aforementioned episode, each object could only be used once.
    - At the end of the adventure, Dora returns to where she started after reaching the final destination on the map.
      - This is the 30^th instance where Dora returns to where she started, something that even predates the events "Dora's Fairytale Adventure" and first occurred in "Three Little Piggies".
    - The late guest star Chita Rivera reprised her role as the Witch of Fairytale Land.
    - This episode uses the Seven Dwarves's respective character models from "Dora's Fairytale Adventure", and not those from "Dora Saves the Three Little Pigs".
  - Similarities to the first sequel only:
    - This is the second episode that Swiper is in Fairytale Land. The first time was in "Dora Saves the Three Little Pigs".
      - It’s unknown how Swiper got into Fairytale Land, as well as the Fiesta Trio.
    - Dora is in her casual outfit upon exiting Fairytale Land in the Favorite Parts segment.
    - Benny, Isa, Tico and the Explorer Stars (especially Fairy Star) don't appear in this episode to help Dora and Boots.
  - Differences from both the original and/or the first sequel:
    - Both the Fairytale Land Gate and Silly Wand are no longer anthropomorphic.
      - Coincidentally, both characters were voiced by Jackie Hoffman in "Dora's Fairytale Adventure".
    - Silly Broomstick's buck teeth does not always stick out when he's mute.
    - Jack And The Beanstalk, Hansel and Gretel, and (to a smaller extent) Little Red Riding Hood all have new character models.
    - King Lion and Queen Lioness's respective eyes are noticeably bigger.
    - Both of King Lion and the Oldest Dwarf are voiced by Erik Bergmann instead of Oscar Colón.
    - This episode introduces the Frog Prince, the Frog Princess, Aladdin, the Fairy Godmother (who originally debuted in "What Happens Next?"), and El Mago (who originally debuted in "Te Amo") to Fairytale Land, after they were absent from both the original and the first sequel.
      - On the contrary however, ten characters that appeared in either the original and/or the first sequel, namely the Prince of Fairytale Land (original only), the Magic Mirror (original only), the Pied Piper (first sequel only), Peter Pan (first sequel only), Tinker Bell (first sequel only), the Giant-Giant (both original and first sequel), the Giant-Giant's Puppy (original only), the Giant Rocks (original only), Puss N Boots (first sequel only), and a witch who resembles the Witch of Fairytale Land (first sequel only) are all absent in this sequel.
        On the Giant-Giant's end, the antagonistic Mean Giant appears in his place.
        
        On the unknown witch's end, the Witch of Fairytale Land proper appears in her place.
    - In light of the minor CG effects and animation introduced back in Season 7, the Ivy Vine Wall has a more realistic appearance.
    - Originally in "Dora's Fairytale Adventure", after the effects of the magic hairbrush wore off, Dora's hair was still longer than usual. But in this episode, her hair completely shortens back to normal.
    - Originally, both "Dora's Fairytale Adventure" and "Dora Saves the Three Little Pigs" featured the standard version of the "We Did It!" song. This episode however features the extended version of the said song.
    - Originally, "Dora's Fairytale Adventure" featured Dora in her princess outfit near the end of the episode (including in the Favorite Parts segment), while "Dora Saves the Three Little Pigs" featured her in her casual outfit through the entire episode. This episode however features her in her casual in the beginning, then changing into her princess outfit for the duration of her journey before reverting back to her causal upon exiting Fairytale Land in the Favorite Parts segment.
    - Originally, Swiper was completely absent in "Dora's Fairytale Adventure", while he acted out of character and was on his good side in "Dora Saves the Three Little Pigs". But in this episode, Swiper appears on his traditional bad side, teaming up with the legion of fairy tale villains.
      - However, Swiper was also an antagonist in the Storytime Live! stage show, which adapted the original special.
      - Dora and Boots stop Swiper twice in this episode.
      - This is the final Dora the Explorer episode in which Dora and Boots successfully stop Swiper since they were unable to stop him in the previous episode "Dora's Night Light Adventure", they finally had their chance in this episode.
      - Teoritical it is possible that the Witch hired Swiper to swipe the magic tools to stop them for them help on the travel.
    - Changes made to Dora's princess outfit:
      - She has Backpack on her.
      - Instead of long hair with a princess headdress, she has her standard short hair with a hot pink headband.
      - The red ring does not rest on her index finger.
    - Changes made to the Seven Dwarves:
      - As a result of the decade-long gap since the production and premiere of "Dora's Fairytale Adventure", all of the Dwarves have new voice actors that lead to some of their voices sounding noticeably different from before.
        Most noticeably, three of the Dwarves, namely the Skinny Dwarf, the Scowly Dwarf, and the Worried Dwarf, all have younger voices than before (all three are voiced by Oscar Hutarra). When they first appeared in "Dora's Fairytale Adventure", they each had adult voices (originally provided by Leslie Valdes, Adam Sietz, and Marc Weiner). But in this episode, their respective voices are now similar to that of a preteen.
        
        Unknow how did Swiper know that Dora and Boots were going to save the spells and had magic supplies.
      - However, it is possible that the witch hired Swiper to swipe their magical equipment to stop them.
      - While this episode does uses the respective character models for each of the Seven Dwarves from "Dora's Fairytale Adventure", their character models are still altered a bit.
        Both the Cheerful Dwarf and (to a slightly smaller extent) the Bookish Dwarf have their respective brown skin tones slightly lighter than before, similar to that of the Scowly Dwarf, the Worried Dwarf, and the Oldest Dwarf.
        Speaking of the Worried Dwarf, he originally had wrinkles on his face, making him look a bit older (though not to the extent of the Oldest Dwarf). But in this episode, his wrinkles on his face are gone, making him look more younger.
      - The Skinny Dwarf is now credited in the end credits as the "Skinny But Deep-Voiced Dwarf".
This episode was initially released as a DVD exclusive in June 2015, but was held back on television in the United States until July 7, 2019 in Dora's Magical Movie Night on Nickelodeon, over four years after its premiere, to commemorate the release of Dora and the Lost City of Gold.
Colombian musician and singer-songwriter Juanes and former American football wide receiver Victor Cruz are guest voice actors for El Mago and the Mean Giant respectively.
- Additionally, as mentioned earlier, the late guest star Chita Rivera reprised her role as the Witch of Fairytale Land.
Although it premiered on DVD in 2015 and on TV in 2019, it was actually produced in 2014 according to the credits.
- Speaking of its production year, this is the first and only Dora the Explorer episode to be produced in 2014, as well as the first episode in the franchise to be produced in the same year.
The Travel Song is not featured in this episode. Dora and Boots will no longer sing it again until the Dora and Friends: Into the City! episode "Return to the Rainforest" with new lyrics and different instrumentals.
The Mean Giant's wearing a shirt with the number 80 on it, with 80 being the number of his voice actor.
Aside from Swiper, there are several other different antagonists in this episode such as the Witch of Fairytale Land, El Mago, the Big Bad Wolf, and the Mean Giant.
- This is the the second and last episode featuring both the Witch of Fairytale Land from “Dora's Fairytale Adventure”, and El Mago from "Te Amo", both of which were technically Swiper's replacement antagonists in those respective episodes, however, all three of them appear in this episode (but never all three of them together).
This is the only episode in which Dora and Boots' life jackets are dark orange that look like Diego's from Dora Saves the Mermaids and of Diego Saves Baby Humpback Whale instead of orange or yellow.
This is the last episode of the series by initial release date.
This is the final Dora the Explorer episode in which Dora and Boots sing "We Did It!". They’ll later sing a new version of it with elements from "All for One" in Dora and Friends: Into the City! episodes Return to the Rainforest and Dora's Rainforest Reunion.
This is the first episode to premiere in 2019 (in the US).
This is the 177th episode (172nd in US airings) of the show.
In the YouTube version, there’s no intro. The credits open with a jump cut when the music in the episode had barely finished, and play at warp speed along with the cloud scenes and the Nickelodeon logo, all with the beginning of the credit music.

Goofs/Errors[]

A major inconsistency in this episode is that back in "Dora's Fairytale Adventure", the Witch of Fairytale Land ended up loosing her powers and was deemed never to be seen in Fairytale Land again. But in this episode, even after moving to the Never-To-Be-Seen-Again Forest, she has returned to Fairytale Land with her powers restored, with no backstory on how that happened.
When Dora wound up the music box prior to do the Giant Dance, Dora forgot to open it, nor did it open by itself, so everyone ended up dancing it with the box closed, but with the music still coming out of it.
- Also, this is the third time that the Fiesta Trio somehow got to Fairytale Land, first two being "Dora's Fairytale Adventure" and "Dora Saves the Three Little Pigs".
El Mago is seen with the same major inconsistency as the witch and he is seen to be outside of the book with no backstory on how that happened. (Perhaps this is a different version of him).

Dora the Explorer Season 8