Do we like them?

Do we like Swiper?

A character from Dora the Explorer (2000–2019)

Our score: 4 out of 10. He's a persistent petty thief, but he's harmless and easily beaten. We wouldn't trust him with the backpack, and we'd still wave him off with a smile.

Swiper is the best-known recurring troublemaker in Dora the Explorer, the Nick Jr. series where Dora, her monkey friend Boots and the viewers at home travel to a goal by solving puzzles. Swiper is a fox with orange and yellow fur, a blue mask and gloves. He usually turns up at the worst moment to grab something the group needs, often Dora's backpack.

What makes him memorable is the ritual. Dora and Boots, with the audience, say "Swiper, no swiping!" three times. If they do it in time, he snaps his fingers and slinks off muttering "Oh, man!" If they miss it, he takes the item, and the gang has to get it back. That makes him a villain who is more nuisance than menace.

We score him a 4. He's persistent and sneaky, and he does cause trouble, but he never really threatens anyone. He's also a bit endearing, because he's so easily stopped and so cheerfully defeated. Some later episodes and spin-offs show him in a friendlier light. We still wouldn't back him, but he's hard to dislike.