Tico (originally known as Tico the Skunk in the 1998 pilot) is a dark purple squirrel and a friend of Dora's who lives in the forest. Spanish is his first language and he speaks very little English. He wears a colorful striped vest and is usually seen driving his little yellow car, although he has been known to travel in a variety of vehicles, from helicopters to boats to a bicycle plane. He has purple fur, a round body, and small triangular stumps for arms and legs, He is also Benny's best friend (revealed in Best Friends).
Description
A four-year-old Spanish-speaking squirrel and a good friend to Dora. While Tico is young and playful, he can also be brave and heroic. Since Tico can operate any vehicle--everything from a bicycle-powered plane to a Super Spy boat-car--he has been known to save the day in a crisis. He is often found driving in his little yellow car or in his tree at the Nutty Forest.
Tico's function on the show is to help Dora teach the audience words and phrases in Spanish; Dora has to tell Tico something in Spanish, such as "Faster", "Stop", "Wait", or "Look out", and she asks the viewers at home to say it along with her. In some episodes, a different Spanish-speaking character (such as Señor Tucán) appears instead of Tico.
In the episode "Dora's First Trip", it was established that Boots had been friends with Tico before Dora met either of them, despite the fact that Boots and Tico speak two different languages.
Looks
Tico has purple fur, white eyes, magenta irises, a pink nose, black pupils, and a long tail. He wears a colorful striped vest consisting of colors orange, magenta, dark violet, lime, and blue.
Before he became a squirrel, in the pilot, Tico was originally a dark blue skunk with red hair and a yellow belly.
Gallery
Merchandise images
Production art
Screenshots
Appearances
Tico has appeared in most episodes of Dora the Explorer. He never appeared in Diego’s own show since it has already has squirrels. However, in Journey to Jaguar Mountain, he made a cameo appearance in a picture of Dora and her friends sailing on a pirate ship from the Pirate Adventure in Diego’s photo album. The episodes where he was absent were Pinto, the Pony Express and Boots' Banana Wish.
Season 1
- Lost and Found (character find only)
- Hic-Boom-Ohhh! (official first appearance)
- Three Little Piggies
- Beaches
- Big River
- Wizzle Wishes
- Surprise!
- Grandma's House (character find only)
- Sticky Tape
- Fish Out of Water (character find only)
- Call Me Mr. Riddles
- To the Treehouse
- Little Star
Season 2
- Lost Squeaky
- The Missing Piece
- The Big Storm
- Rojo the Fire Truck
- El Día De Las Madres
- The Golden Explorers
- The Happy Old Troll
- A Letter for Swiper
- Click!
- ¡Rápido, Tico!
- A Present For Santa
- Super Map!
- Lost Map
- Dora, La Músico
- Egg Hunt
- To the Monkey Bars
- Hide and Go Seek
- School Pet
- Whose Birthday is It?
- Super Spies
Season 3
- The Lost City
- Roberto the Robot
- Rescue, Rescue, Rescue!
- The Fix-it Machine
- Baseball Boots
- Boots' Special Day
- Dora Saves the Game
- Job Day
- Louder!
- Dora's Pirate Adventure
- Best Friends
Season 4
- Dora's Fairytale Adventure
- Big Sister Dora
- Super Babies (cameo)
- The Mixed-Up Seasons (cameo)
- Dora's Dance to the Rescue
- Dora's First Trip
- Dora's World Adventure!
- La Maestra de Música
- Dora Saves the Mermaids
- The Shy Rainbow (cameo)
- Super Spies 2: The Swiping Machine
- We're a Team!
Season 5
- The Backpack Parade
- Dora Saves the Snow Princess
- The Big Red Chicken's Magic Show
- Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure
- The Super Babies Dream Adventure
- Pirate Treasure Hunt (mentioned)
- First Day of School
Season 6
- Happy Birthday, Super Babies!
- ¡Vacaciones!
- Halloween Parade
- Dora in Troll Land
- The Big Red Chicken’s Magic Wand
- Pepe's School Day Adventure
- Dora's Royal Rescue
Season 7
- A Ribbon For Pinto (cameo)
- Dora's Rescue in Mermaid Kingdom (cameo)
- Dora's Easter Adventure
- Feliz Dia De Los Padres
- Dora's Fantastic Gymnastics Adventure
- School Science Fair
- Dora's Moonlight Adventure (cameo)
- Perrito's Big Surprise
- Dora & Diego's Amazing Animal Circus Adventure
- Benny the Castaway (cameo)
- Dora's Thanksgiving Day Parade
- ¡Vamos a Pintar! (cameo in mural)
- Dora Rocks!
- The Butterfly Ball
Season 8
- Dora and Perrito to the Rescue!
- Dora's Great Roller Skate Adventure (cameo)
- Verde's Birthday Party
- Dora's Rainforest Talent Show
- Dora & Diego in the Time of Dinosaurs
- Dora in Wonderland (as Tweedledee)
- Dora's Super Soccer Showdown
- Dora's Night Light Adventure (cameo)
- Dora's Animalito Adventure (cameo)
Go, Diego, Go!
- Journey to Jaguar Mountain (picture only)
Dora and Friends: Into the City!
Trivia
- Tico has his own leitmotif that plays whenever he appears or is mentioned (A-C-G-A-C-G-A-C).
- Tico first spoke English in Beaches with "Swiper, no swiping!", and later again in We're a Team!. It is possible this is the only English phrase he has learned, or he could simply be saying it phonetically without knowing its actual meaning.
- When Tico appeared on "Dora In Wonderland," his role was Tweedledee.
- Tico appeared in the Dora and Friends: Into the City! episodes "Return to the Rainforest" and "Dora's Rainforest Reunion".
- Although a native Spanish-speaker throughout the series, Tico tries learning some English. Boots mentions that he will teach Tico English in First Day of School.
- Tico can turn his vest into a lifejacket (just like Diego and Alicia).
- In real life, Tico cannot drive cars because he has to be 16 or older to drive (although it does not apply here due to cartoon logic).
- Aside from the Pirate Adventure photo in Journey to Jaguar Mountain, Tico, along with Isa and Benny, never makes an appearance in Go, Diego, Go!.