Do we like them?

Do we like Tico?

A character from Dora the Explorer (2000–2019)

Our score: 8 out of 10. Yes, we'd back him. He's loyal, cheerful and brave, and he shows up with a vehicle when it counts. He's cute, and he's nowhere near as annoying as Swiper's rival fans claim.

Tico is a four-year-old squirrel with purple fur and a stripy vest. He's one of Dora's friends in Dora the Explorer, a preschool adventure series where Dora and her monkey pal Boots travel across jungles, rivers and mountains. Along the way they ask viewers at home to help solve puzzles and learn Spanish.

Tico mostly speaks Spanish, and that's a big part of his job in the show. Dora asks the audience to say words like "faster" or "look out" in Spanish so they can pass the message on to him. He's playful and a bit cheeky, but he can be genuinely brave. He also has a real talent for building cars and flying planes.

That's why he scores so well. He's a reliable friend who turns up when needed, with no ulterior motives, and he does no harm. He doesn't get the big heroic moments that Dora does, and he's more of a helper than a leader, so he stops short of a perfect ten.