birth_date: 1935-10-27 00:00:00
avg_rating: 3.95
name: Mauricio de Sousa
about: Mauricio de Sousa is a Brazilian cartoonist who has created over 200 characters for his popular series of children's comic books.At 17 years of age, he worked for a daily newspaper called Folha da Manhã as a crime reporter. In 1959 Sousa quit that job and began his comic book career. He created Turma da Mônica ("Monica's Gang"). Sousa's characters were inspired by children he knew from his childhood and by his own children. His later style is slightly reminiscent of that of Osamu Tezuka, a famous Japanese manga artist and personal friend.His father, Antonio Maurício de Sousa, was a poet and a barber, and his mother, Petronilha Araújo de Sousa, also delved into poetry. Mauricio developed an interest in cartooning at a young age, and began to Mauricio de Sousa is a Brazilian cartoonist who has created over 200 characters for his popular series of children's comic books.At 17 years of age, he worked for a daily newspaper called Folha da Manhã as a crime reporter. In 1959 Sousa quit that job and began his comic book career. He created Turma da Mônica ("Monica's Gang"). Sousa's characters were inspired by children he knew from his childhood and by his own children. His later style is slightly reminiscent of that of Osamu Tezuka, a famous Japanese manga artist and personal friend.His father, Antonio Maurício de Sousa, was a poet and a barber, and his mother, Petronilha Araújo de Sousa, also delved into poetry. Mauricio developed an interest in cartooning at a young age, and began to draw posters and illustrations for periodicals of Mogi das Cruzes, where he lived. He sought penciling work in São Paulo, but instead took a job writing the police blotter for Folha de São Paulo, but he soon quit and focused on his budding comic book career. This led to the creation of his first character, Bidu, who later became the symbol of his company, Maurício de Sousa Productions, where he employs a great team of tracers and scriptwriters to complement his illustrations.Today, he is the father of ten children, and drew inspiration from them for new characters such as Monica, Maggy, Marina, Mary Angela. Nimbus and Nick Nope. Three of his children are even employed at his studio: Mônica handles licensing duties, Magali works as a scriptwriter, and Marina is a storyline developer.The comics of Mauricio de Sousa have gained international fame, been featured on licensed merchandise, and have even been adapted for movies, television, video games, and even a São Paulo amusement park, the Parque da Mônica ("Monica's Park"). Two other Parque da Mônica facilities were also located in Curitiba and Rio de Janeiro, but they both closed in 2000 and 2005, respectively.Mauricio's public service work has earned him international recognition. Among the honors he has received are a Brazilian presidential medal of honor for his promotion of human rights; an honorary doctorate in public service from La Roche College of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Brazilian International Press Association._____Mauricio de Sousa é um dos mais famosos cartunistas do Brasil, criador da "Turma da Mônica" e membro da Academia Paulista de Letras.Filho de Antônio Mauricio de Sousa (poeta e barbeiro) e de Petronilha Araújo de Sousa (poetisa). Mauricio de Sousa começou a desenhar cartazes e ilustrações para rádios e jornais de Mogi das Cruzes, onde viveu. Procurou emprego em São Paulo, como desenhista, mas só conseguiu uma vaga de repórter policial na Folha da Manhã. Passou cinco anos escrevendo esse tipo de reportagem, que ilustrava com desenhos bem aceitos pelos leitores.Mauricio de Sousa começou a desenhar histórias em quadrinhos em 18 de julho de 1959, quando uma história do Bidu, sua primeira personagem foi aprovada pelo jornal. As tiras em quadrinhos com o cãozinho Bidu e seu dono, Franjinha, deram origem aos primeiros personagens conhecidos da era Mônica.Atualmente Bidu, que é o animal de estimação de Franjinha, participa tanto com seu dono como em historinhas em que é o astro principal, dialogando com outros cães e até com pedras(!). Bidu é o símbolo da empresa de Mauricio, a Mauricio de Sousa Produções. Na revistas Lostinho-Perdidinhos nos Quadrinhos e no primeiro número da revista Saiba Mais, no entanto, é revelado que a primeira criação do Mauricio foi um personagem super-herói chamado "Capitão Picolé".Sua personagem Mônica foi criada neste ano. Em 1987, passou a ilustrar o recém-criado suplemento infantil d'O Estado de S. Paulo, o Estadinho, que até hoje publica tiras da Turma da Mônica.Mauricio montou uma grande equipe de desenhistas e roteiristas e depois de algum tempo passou a desenhar ...more