Dora the Explorer has been a consistent presence in children's edutainment from its television debut over 20 years ago all the way through to its latest iteration. The show and its colorful characters have helped introduce generations of young viewers to problem-solving and discovery through positivity. Now, Dora is back for a new feature-length adventure–this time with some slightly older themes being discovered.

Nickelodeon Studios' Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado, streaming July 2 on Paramount+, is a fun romp through the jungle for teens who grew up with these characters, and who feel like they may be on the cusp of something new.

This isn't a direct sequel to 2019's Dora and the Lost City of Gold. It's a brand-new family adventure with a new cast. This film, directed by Alberto Belli (Disney's The Naughty Nine) features a 16-year-old Dora (Samantha Lorraine) and her 17-year-old cousin Diego ( Jacob Rodriguez) embarking on a perilous journey through the Amazonian jungle.

After hearing tales of the ancient Incan city of Sol Dorado form their abuelo, Dora and Diego have dedicated years of adventures in search of it. But they soon find out they aren't the only ones on the hunt. There are those driven by greed to find the city and the treasure it holds. Now, Dora, Diego, and their new friends are on a race to find Sol Dorado to prevent it from falling into enemy hands.

The cast also includes Daniella Pineda, Mariana Garzón, Acston Luca Porto, and Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias as the voice of Boots. The movie is written by JT Billings (Are You Afraid of the Dark?) and executive produced by Adam Bonnett (Monster High: The Movie), Chris Gifford, and Valerie Walsh Valdes (Dora the Explorer).

If you saw the previous Dora movie and are expecting more of the same, this isn't it. Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado is a more straightforward narrative, minus the meta humor from the previous film and less of the talking animal characters. But it still has plenty of humor, action, and great displays of teamwork. Most of all, it captures the optimistic charm of the TV series and the characters' zeal for adventure.

We spoke with director Alberto Belli about the path he mapped out for this movie and what families should connect with.

While watching the movie, I quickly noticed how having a slightly older Dora on screen gave the character a noticeable sense of newness while still managing to feel familiar. Similar to watching a teen get behind the wheel for the first time. According to Belli that was intentional, to honor the "iconic" parts of Dora that are positive and adventurous as you lay some fresh ground.

"People expect [certain things from these characters], like Dora looking into the camera and seeing Boots wearing his boots," Belli tells Parents. "But we also wanted to make it fresh–because when you go from a cartoon to live-action, you have to go a little bit deeper. [Dora] is 16 in this version, which means she's going through [some different things.]"

One fairly big event that happens early on in the movie is Dora looses her map. For non-traditional Dora fans, that's the equivalent of Indiana Jones losing his hat. It's a big source of identity and direction that Dora is forced to be without. And the movie raises the idea of putting down those comforts for something new.

"She loses her map and she doesn't know who she is," says Belli. "I think it's a very [relevant] message for people who are on social media all the time, trying to figure out who they are and waiting to be told who they're supposed to be. But you should be free to [discover] yourself without those things. That's what makes this iteration fresh."

The importance of family shines through greatly in this movie. With Dora and Diego being cousins (or primos) who are more like siblings, their shifting dynamic is a key driver in the plot. Belli, who's from Mexico, says his family is everything to him, and it was important to make the connections and cultural representation have real weight here.

"[Dora and Diego] have a really strong bond, so it was really important to show that you can be separated but still remain connected through shared values."

He goes on to describe the Peruvian and Cuban aspects of the family, saying, "Dinner time is a little bit chaotic. Everyone is grabbing food, abuela is cooking for everyone...All that stuff was very important to show their authenticity. So there was food that it was very Cuban, but also Peruvian, but also Mexican. It was a lot of fun to to use all of that to to the story."

During the adventure the characters find themselves on, they are forced to sacrifice things like comfort and even routine. In turn, they need to lean on new strengths and build confidence in forging a new path while they're on it. It's a concept that may feel exciting for an adventurer, but it can be daunting for a kid who's growing up or an adult facing a new experience.

Belli was away from his family for four months while he was shooting the movie in Columbia. He says he had to overcome not being able to lean on them for comfort, but he still drew confidence through the creative process.

"A new movie is like a new challenge," he notes. "There were so many big sets and so many extras...I had to become more confident that we could pull this off [each day]."

Belli talks further about the research that went into making the film, and how the Incan concepts of selflessness and togetherness fit right in with the positive mindset of the Dora characters.

"[The idea that] 'not every individual is important, but as a whole, we're more powerful' is one we wanted to include, and communicate that to get the the bigger goal, you have to sacrifice," he says. "I hope my kids will feel confident that they can come to me when they have difficulties, [and not fear the sacrifice] that comes with being loved and and supported."

Another theme of the movie involves the apprehension around taking on new experiences–or at least some uncharted ones. As Dora, Diego and the other characters grow older, they face choices that will take them into the unknown. To families watching this movie who may be anticipating some new, scary adventures on the horizon, Belli says he hopes the movie reminds them to take things step by step.

"What I like about this movie is that Dora doesn't change in like two seconds," he says. "Little by little, she has realizations here and there that make her feel more more confident. I think every day is an opportunity to teach something."

He adds that celebrating progress can also be fuel for our kids. "Little progress is better than no progress. I think that's the best thing about being a parent: seeing how your kids experience the world, how they open up to it, and then how they explore it. And I hope they get that sense of exploration [through watching the film]."

Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado is streaming now on Paramount+.