Da Monica: A Turma

Mônica was a radical departure from the docile heroines of the era. She is famously strong—able to lift a giant stuffed rabbit named Sansão (Samson) and thump anyone who crosses her with the force of a small earthquake. Her iconic catchphrase is not a whisper, but a roar: "Caaaaaalm down, folks!" (usually yelled at the top of her lungs).

In the 1980s, he introduced , a prehistoric caveman living in “Lem-Lem Land,” who faced issues of environmental conservation. He later created Tina , a teenager tackling acne, first love, and self-esteem. But the most revolutionary addition was the Turma da Mônica Jovem (Monica’s Gang: Youth), launched in 2008. Suddenly, the five-year-olds were 15. Cebolinha’s hair was cool, Mônica was self-conscious about her strength, and they faced modern problems: bullying, climate change, and the internet. a turma da monica

For over six decades, this franchise, created by the cartoonist Mauricio de Sousa, has done more than sell comics. It has functioned as a second pair of eyeglasses for Brazil, teaching generations how to see their own country—its quirks, its diversity, its humor, and its heart. The story begins not with Mônica, but with a dog. In 1959, Mauricio de Sousa, a fledgling journalist working for the newspaper Folha da Manhã , began drawing comic strips based on the real children in his neighborhood. The first star was a stray, mutt named Bidu (based on his own dog, Cuíca). Then came a bossy, gap-toothed girl named Mônica, inspired by de Sousa’s own daughter, who was notorious for her stubbornness and strength. Mônica was a radical departure from the docile