DORA ID
Our Nick Jr. team created a Dora ID to celebrate the launch of the new Dora series. The goal was to introduce Dora through character-led storytelling that feels energetic, joyful, and instantly engaging, while staying aligned with the colorful, playful language of the 3D Nick Jr. rebrand world. The concept highlights Dora’s adventurous spirit and the vibrant world she leads audiences into.
I led the visual concept development and directed the design team from look development through execution. I collaborated closely with the team to define the overall visual direction, including 3D character design, icons, and environments, ensuring cohesion across texture, color, shape, and motion. I also contributed directly to 3D character modeling.
Mood Board
This mood board explores a joyful, parade-driven world where Dora leads with confidence, energy, and curiosity. Set within a vibrant jungle, the visual direction blends celebration, movement, and togetherness to support the launch of the new Dora series. Inspired by the colorful language of the 3D Nick Jr. rebrand, the look emphasizes inflatable textures, bold color, and stylized characters designed to support playful, dynamic motion.
Storyboard
Set in a vibrant jungle, the storyboard follows Dora as she leads a joyful parade alongside her friends, guided by a magical baton. As the celebration unfolds, Swiper quietly sneaks forward with the intent to steal it. Dora senses the moment and activates the baton’s powers, transforming Swiper into an oversized parade float. Playfully squished against the camera, he rises into the sky, revealing the Nick Jr. logo behind him.
Character Design & Sketchs
Style Frames
The style frames established the visual foundation for the Dora ID, defining overall scale, color, shape, and motion potential across the world. The frames explored a whimsical color palette, playful environments, and stylized character proportions to support expressive, energetic movement.
Visual Development
Visual development focused on maintaining visual cohesion across environment, characters, and materials, while naturally integrating elements that support Dora’s story and cultural context. The process emphasized building a clear and consistent visual language grounded in textures that are realistic and production-ready.
Environment & Character Visual Direction
Due to a tight production timeline, the environment and overall forms were designed with simple, geometric shapes that could scale efficiently across shots. The texture approach focused on tactile yet render-friendly materials, balancing visual richness with production feasibility.
The mood board explores toy-like, semi-gloss surfaces paired with subtle detailing, alongside furry grass, fabric, and soft-touch accents. Textures were developed with gentle shading and skin-toned gradients to maintain warmth, depth, and a preschool-friendly feel.
Final Character Looks
For this ID, the Dora characters and environment were reimagined through simplified forms and proportions to support more dynamic and exaggerated movement than in the series. This approach allowed the animation to feel playful, bouncy, and energetic, amplifying the sense of celebration and spectacle. While embracing stylization to enhance motion and expressiveness, the designs were carefully refined to ensure the characters remained recognizable and true to their original identities.
Character Sketches
Character Modeling
Character Stylization & Environment Development
Final Environment Look
Instrument Development
The instruments were designed to function as both visual storytelling tools and motion drivers within the ID. Beyond fitting the overall visual style, their forms, patterns, and color palettes were inspired by instruments and cultural motifs rooted in Dora’s Hispanic and Latin American background. This approach allowed the instruments to feel playful and expressive while reinforcing cultural authenticity and narrative meaning throughout the parade sequence.
Instrument Cultural Research
Final Instrument Looks
Credits
Senior Motion Designer Designer & 3D modeling : Jimin Lee
Design Director: JungIn Yun Designer & Illustrator: Marissa Klick Illustrator & 3D Modeler: Yazhi Zheng
Animation Director: Rob Kohr
Animation Supervisor: Michelle Acuna
3D Modeling: Annie Chien, Jennah Park, Jason Willman, Andrew Noh, Jimin Lee, Seulgi Kim,
Minha Kim, Brandon Wang