If you ever imagined Boots, Dora the Explorer's wide-eyed, monkey sidekick, sounding like a stand-up comic with impeccable timing, a booming laugh, and a hint of mariachi bravado—your dream is coming true. Gabriel Iglesias, the beloved comedian known to millions as "Fluffy," is lending his unmistakable voice to the iconic blue-booted monkey in Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado, Paramount and Nickelodeon's latest animated feature that reboots the adventurous spirit of the hit preschool series for a new generation.
"I didn't audition. I didn't campaign. I didn't even post anything on Instagram," Iglesias tells in an exclusive interview with The Latin Times, half-serious, half-humble. "I just got a call. They were like, 'Do you remember Dora the Explorer?' I'm like, 'Yes, of course.' 'Do you remember Boots?' I'm like, 'Yes. He's a monkey. Wears boots. Kinda obvious.' And then they go, 'Well, we want you to be him.' And I just said, 'I'm so in.'"
And just like that, Iglesias swung into one of the most beloved children's franchises in history—though, as he's quick to note with a laugh, he might not have been the first call. "They never tell you if you're the first choice," he teases. "They just say, 'You're perfect!' Meanwhile, they probably called four other people who said no or wanted more money."
In Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado, the stakes are higher than ever. The July 2 release in Paramount+ kicks off "The Great Dora Fiesta," Paramount's 25th anniversary celebration for "Dora," which will also include the debut of "Dora" Season 3 on Paramount+, along with a new hour-long special "Dora & Diego: Rainforest Rescues." And while Paramount strives to keep Dora the same character for its preschool audience, they've also adjusted for certain differences between nowadays' kid and the one watching the original 25 years ago.
But the heart of it all is the friendship between Dora and Boots—brought to life this time not with chirpy kiddie voices, but with warmth, comedy, and (thanks to Iglesias) a whole lot of swagger.
Hola Dorita amada
"I'm not doing some high-pitched cartoon thing," Iglesias says about his Boots. "It's just me. It's what I sound like when I'm excited, energized. When I go, 'Dora, we gotta move!'—that's all me."
What makes Iglesias's casting especially poignant is that Dora has always had a deep connection to Latino families, and Boots has been her joyful co-conspirator in exploration and resilience. Having a proudly Mexican-American voice behind Boots adds another layer of cultural resonance to the film's core message about curiosity and courage.
"You know, people always talk about cultural appropriation, about making sure characters are voiced by the right people," Iglesias says, his tone dipping briefly into the sincere. "But at the end of the day, I'm good at what I do. So I should have been the first call."
He's joking—mostly. But there's truth in the sentiment. Iglesias brings not just laughs, but heart. And, as he reveals, he wasn't content to just read his lines and cash a check.
"They let me improvise!" he beams. "That never happens in animation. Usually they're like, 'Stick to the script, don't breathe too loud.' But with Dora, they said, 'Add your flavor.' So I did. I added the salsa, the tortillas, the hot sauce—everything."
While most of the audience will hear Iglesias's familiar voice, there is a Spanish-language version, and no, he didn't voice that one. He jokes that they probably went with someone "cheaper" or more romantic:
"They needed someone to say, 'Hola, Dorita amada' in a way that melts hearts. I could do it, but I guess they wanted telenovela-level smooth."
Still, there's no denying that Iglesias's English-language Boots will steal scenes—and possibly hearts.
"It's my voice, my energy. People are gonna be like, 'Wait... is that Fluffy?'" he says with a grin.
Behind the animated monkey, though, is a real person still riding high on a career that has spanned two decades, multiple Netflix specials, sold-out stadium tours, and voice roles in films like Coco and Ferdinand. But Boots? That's a new kind of milestone.
"There's something magical about being part of people's childhoods," he says, pausing. "You don't realize it when you're just reading lines in a booth. But when you go to the premiere and see a bunch of little kids laughing and cheering, it hits you. Like—yo, I'm part of something big."
Outside the jungle, Iglesias is gearing up for back-to-back shows in Las Vegas this summer, and a new comedy tour in the fall. But don't expect him to dress like a monkey.
"Boots doesn't wear a shirt. I don't either, sometimes," he cracks. "But I draw the line at the tail."
So how does it feel to bring Boots to life? Iglesias doesn't hesitate.
"This one's for the culture," he says proudly. "For every Latino kid who grew up with Dora. For every parent who sat through the songs and maps and backpacks. Now, you get a Boots that sounds like your tío at the barbecue—funny, loyal, a little loud. That's me."
And that's Boots, reimagined not just with fur and boots, but with soul.
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