Rich Magallanes, Executive Producer, Nickelodeon Dora!

Welcome back to our podcast, where we delve into the fascinating world of animation, specifically kids' show animation, covering everything from branding and production to streaming channels.

Today, we have the pleasure of talking with the talented Rich Magallanes, executive producer at Nickelodeon. Rich is currently working on an exciting new project, bringing Dora back in a fresh CG reboot.

**1. Dora's Comeback:**

- "Dora's coming back. We're doing the CG reboot. She's been away for a couple of years, but she's always been beloved by families and the industry worldwide. It's something that's never really lost its steam."

**2. A Refreshed Approach:**

- "We're reintroducing her in a brand new way. CG animation with a whole new look, updated music, much more entertaining and engaging for today's audience. We're stretching our stories, taking her into new areas we haven't explored before."

**3. The Evolution of Characters:**

- "When you executive produce, you've got the one show on your mind all the time. It's a constant evolution, experimenting, and executing character development and story development."

**4. Challenges in Rebooting Dora:**

- "There's so much content out there nowadays. In brainstorming about Dora and how to take it to the next level, the important part is asking, 'What is new about this? What's exciting? What's the next step?'"

**5. Principles of Creativity:**

- "You have to ask yourself, what is new about this? What's exciting about this? What is the next step? It can't just be, 'Oh, she's in CG.' It's all about storytelling, relationships, interactions, and staying true to the character's identity."

**6. Leadership and Team Building:**

- "I had to allow myself to be myself. If I'm not having fun doing something, I don't want to do it. Be open-minded, and when someone's saying stuff to you that you don't like, try to break down that wall and have a good creative conversation."

- "I'm a big advocate of helping people today. You got to get out there in the world, get into communities, and build your own profile on LinkedIn. That's how you connect and network."

Rich Magallanes shares insights into the intricate world of animation, storytelling, and leadership, leaving us with valuable lessons on creativity, team building, and the delicate balance of crafting content for kids.