Alberto Scorfano

* Human
* Sea-Monster

**Alberto Scorfano** is the deuteragonist of Disney/Pixar's Luca franchise, serving as the deuteragonist of the Disney/Pixar animated feature film *Luca* and the main protagonist of its spin-off *Ciao Alberto*.

He is a sea monster who used to live on Isola del Mare with no parental guardian. Alberto helped Luca escape to Portorosso and win the Portorosso Cup so they can both buy a Vespa and see the world together.

## Background

Alberto lived as an orphan on a small island containing an abandoned lighthouse after his father left him. He made the lighthouse his own and lived by himself, collecting objects owned and created by humans; he also left tally marks on the wall, one for each day he lived without his dad. Even before meeting Luca, who later became his best friend, he carried an interest in such items from where the humans lived and stored them in the lighthouse. At the time of his first speaking appearance in the movie, he is still orphaned at the age of 14 years old.

## Physical appearance

### Human Form

In Alberto's human form, he is a tall, tan-skinned boy with a slight suntan and curly light brown hair that is styled upwards. He also has green eyes and freckles. He wears a light yellow tank top, brown shorts that are cuffed at the thighs and a belt made of rope. Like Luca, he is always barefoot.

### Sea Monster Form

In Alberto's sea-monster form, he has periwinkle scales, purple fin-shaped “hair” and green eyes with oval pupils and yellow scleras. He has a long tail with a thin, pointed end and purple caudal fins on his tail, forearms and calves. He wears the same outfit as in his human form.

Though faint, in both forms, Alberto has a scar on his upper left arm. The reason why he has this is currently unknown.

## Personality

Alberto proudly prizes his knowledge of the human world and, in being alone for so many days in the lighthouse, was instantly eager to share it all with Luca. He enjoys having fun, a trait that stays solid within him throughout the entire film. One of his dreams was to ride a Vespa, a special scooter depicted in a poster he had collected and stored in his home.

After meeting Luca, Alberto insisted on taking the lead. Having an opportunity at making a friend gave him the chance to tell the younger sea-monster everything he knew about the humans despite Luca’s dislike of being told what to do.

By the end of the movie, however, he is more considerate of Luca and even sells the Vespa he’s always dreamed of having to give Luca a ticket to Genova. He formed a close bond to Massimo and was willing to stay in Portorosso with him while Luca could be happy in Genova going to school with Giulia.

## Appearances

### *Luca*

During a fishing trip with two fishermen, talking about the existence of sea monsters, Alberto sneaks up on them and starts taking various objects that they have. Once one of the fishermen spot Alberto, and he tries to escape but catches himself in a net. He eventually manages to escape as the fishermen throw a harpoon at him, but misses.

When going to get the objects that have sunk from the boat incident, he plays a prank on a young sea monster named Luca Paguro by wearing a diving suit and scaring him. Once proving to be a sea monster like him, Alberto resumes collecting the objects, and soon brings Luca up to the surface, and he gets mesmerized by the surroundings but immediately leaves to his concern.

Alberto later meets Luca when he convinces himself to go back to the surface, and give him a small lesson on walking before showing him the great offers of the surface, and then his hideout. Alberto then introduces the Vespa, explaining that it is a vehicle that can take you anywhere, and Luca suggests that they should make one. They spend a couple of hours on it before Luca returns home.

The next day, Alberto gets the Vespa down from the tower (by pushing it down and reassembling it) and gets Luca to hold the ramp while he rides it. However, the Vespa ends up breaking in the process, as Alberto and Luca spend the next couple of days rebuilding it. Alberto then convinces Luca to ride it down with him, but he's scared, to which he tells him to say "Silenzio, Bruno!" to cancel the negative thoughts in his head, giving Luca the confidence to ride it down the ramp with him. Later at night, Alberto tells Luca the stars are anchovies that go there to sleep and tells him a bit about the human town. This soon causes Luca to overstay at the island.

After Luca tells Alberto that his parents will send him to the deep, Alberto convinces him to hide away in the human town and ask "Signor Vespa" to build them a Vespa so they can see the world together. They soon sneak into the town, amazed by their surrounding, but soon get disrupted by a self-absorbed teen named Ercole Visconti when Luca almost damaged his Vespa by kicking a ball. Ercole starts to mock and bully them until a local fish delivery girl named Giulia Marcovaldo comes in and saves them.

Giulia tells them that "underdogs" have to look out for each other, and also explains that she wants to compete in the Portorosso Cup to take down Ercole. Alberto seems uninterested in working with her but Luca seems interested, and they soon learn that the prize is money, which they can transfer into a cheap Vespa. So with Alberto claiming that they're runaways, Giulia teams up with them and takes them into her home where they have dinner with her father, who is a one-armed fisherman and sea monster hunter. While his cat, Machiavelli, catches them in their true form at one point and grows suspicious on them. With Massimo conflicted on letting Giulia compete in the race, due to her past experience and the lack of money they have, Luca and Alberto offer to help him with fishing, to which he agrees, as Giulia let's them stay in her treehouse.

In the morning, Luca and Alberto accidentally revert to their sea monster forms due to it raining last night, where they almost got caught by Giulia and Massimo but manage to get away with it. They then go fishing with Massimo where Alberto learns that he was born with one arm. They manage to get a load of fish in their net, which leads them to go sign up at the booth, where Ercole comes in and takes the money off Giulia. Luca gives Giulia words to insult Ercole which leads him to buckle and encourage them to enter so that he can beat them. Alberto takes eating pasta, where he has to eat multiple kinds of pasta with a fork, and assists Luca and Giulia on their training. During Giulia's training, Ercole comes in and almost crashes into them intentionally but leads to Alberto getting splashed with water, where he almost gets caught as a sea monster. While this happens, Massimo soon takes an interest in Alberto and takes him on various fish outings, forming a father-like bond with him.

Over time, the trio begin training more. As they do, Luca begins becoming more interested in school. Alberto leaves briefly to help Massimo bring in the nets one night. During that timeframe, Giulia begins showing Luca things like the solar system via a telescope. Alberto catches them talking and laughing about it. Alberto tells Luca that he’s been looking for him and it’s time to leave. Luca says he going. Giulia then gifts one of her books to Luca. As Luca thanks her, Alberto appears at the window again, saying Luca’s name in a more demanding tone. Alberto then glares at Giulia. He then leaves frustrated much to Luca’s shock.

Alberto says he wants to show Luca something. Luca begins explaining that the “fish” are actually stars. Alberto coldly disagrees however. They both stare in awe at the Vespa, as Alberto pulls out his Vespa drawing, only with more things added to it like gelato, pasta and an umbrella. Luca says that they should add a telescope, with Alberto saying that it should be one that shoots lightning. Luca disagrees and goes on to explain that Giulia has a bigger one at her school, as Alberto just stares at him annoyed. Luca then proposes that they should visit Giulia at her school and maybe even attend, expressing his interest. Alberto then explains that they’re getting a Vespa to live on their own and asks Luca what he thinks will happen when people find out he is a sea monster. Ercole then shows up out of nowhere, commenting that something's fishy about them and that they're hiding something. Alberto steps Luca behind him as he tries to come up with an excuse to leave. Ercole has Ciccio and Guido grab Alberto. Ercole then proceeds to punch Alberto in the stomach, making Alberto wince in pain and cough. Eventually, Alberto breaks Ciccio and Guido’s grip and stares at Ercole coldly as he tells both of the boys to leave. They run right back to Giulia’s house.

The next morning, the trio begin training a lot more. Alberto also accompanies Massimo while he fishes. He gets a scare when he sees a “sea monster” under water. Massimo harpoons it and realizes that it’s just seaweed. Alberto sighs in relief as Massimo put his hand on his shoulder. His shoulder transforms partially. Alberto quickly swipes the water before Massimo could notice.

The next morning, Luca and Alberto are so tired they can’t even walk straight. Giulia introduces them to expresso coffee. They both only stick their tongues in the mugs and groan. The coffee jumpstarts them, with Alberto doing sets using Machiavelli. Later that night at dinner, Alberto has trouble eating pasta with a fork. Massimo shows him how. Alberto tries and succeeds. He tries to show Luca his accomplishment, but sees Luca is busy reading a zoology book with Giulia. Alberto angrily eats his pasta on his fork, jealousy beginning to fill him.

The next day, as Giulia trains Luca for his part in the race with cycling, they have a brief run in with his parents. Giulia and Alberto sit on the back of the bike. Luca, to avoid his parents, takes a different path. Giulia asks Alberto why he isn’t training. Alberto pulls out pasta from his pocket, shoves it in his mouth, and says he is always training. The trio make it to the top. Giulia notices the train and explains it takes her to Genova, with Luca asking if it goes to her school, with Alberto scoffing at the question.

Alberto and Luca wash up on shore. Luca says that it was a horrible idea that Alberto had, with Alberto explaining that he was showing him how to do it the correct way. Luca says that he doesn’t know how to do it the right way and all he did was crash them into the ocean. Luca then tells Alberto what he really wants; he wants to go to school like Giulia. Alberto is shocked. He resists but Luca says that he’s just too afraid. Alberto shoves Luca and the two get into a fight as Giulia approaches them, explaining she’s happy they’re safe and hugs them both. However, Alberto and Luca break off and don't look at each other since they're still mad at each other. Giulia notices something is wrong, so she playfully scratches Alberto’s head, which results in him growling at her. Luca then asks Giulia if they can go to school with her. Giulia is delighted as Luca says the greeting Alberto taught him. Alberto then makes a desperate attempt to keep his friend with him. As casually as he can, Alberto brings up the question if Giulia's school accepts everyone, even to those that aren’t human. Luca notices was Alberto is after and says his name, signaling him to stop. Alberto doesn’t and further asks if some students were sea monsters and states that he doubts the school would accept sea monsters. Luca stops Alberto and says that it was a very good “joke.” Alberto says that it is very hard to imagine, so he’ll just show them. He dives into the water. Giulia approaches Alberto, as Luca tells her to wait. Alberto is face down in the water. Giulia comes near, telling him to quit goofing around as she grabs his arm. As she does, she notices that Alberto’s arm is different, periwinkle and scaled like a fish. Giulia screams and backs up, whimpering, as Alberto rises up from the water, menacingly, crouched with claws ready to attack, fully transformed into his true sea monster self. Giulia screams for help and pleads for him not to hurt them. Alberto tells Luca to see, telling him that he knew that this scenario would happen. Luca, unwilling to give himself up, yells “sea monster” while pointing at Alberto. Alberto gasps and says Luca’s name, sadly. Giulia then grabs a stick and points it at Alberto, telling him to stay back. Alberto backs up as Ercole, Ciccio and Guido run towards the shoreline with harpoons. That’s when Alberto retreats into the water. They throw their harpoons. Luca watches, horrified, as each of the harpoons all miss Alberto. Alberto turns around one last time to see Luca. Heartbroken and betrayed, Alberto disappears in a wave.

Later on, Luca sets out to find Alberto. He swims to the island and finds the ladder tipped over and broken. Luca scales the wall with the protruding bricks. He calls for Alberto, as he sees that the place has been trashed, almost every item is destroyed. It looked as if Alberto was in a rage. The Vespa drawing Alberto drew was found on the floor, ripped in two. Alberto, back in his human form, calls from the top of the tower, asking Luca what he’s doing there. Luca apologizes to Alberto, saying he wished he could take it back. Alberto, still angry at Luca’s betrayal, tells Luca coldly that he got the message and to get out and leave him alone. As Alberto walks out of view, Luca notices the Vespa poster is on the ground, and in its place,  there are tally marks on the wall, 385 of them. Luca goes up to question his friend about the marks. Alberto is reluctant, curling himself up. After Luca asks again, Alberto explains that he started counting when his dad left but he never seemed to come back. Therefore, he left it, saying that his dad was better off without him, including Luca. Alberto, with tears in his eyes, states that Luca is always the good kid everyone loves and all he does is ruin everything. Luca comforts Alberto, telling him to remember the “silenzio Bruno” thing he taught him. He also reminds Alberto about their dream of having a Vespa, but Alberto angrily tells him to drop it, adding in that they should’ve never become friends in the first place. Luca touches Alberto’s shoulder, but Alberto slaps his hand away, telling him once again to leave him alone. Luca agrees and re-enacts when Alberto showed him gravity, by jumping off into the tree. Alberto asks what he’s doing, with Luca responding that he was gonna fix everything.

It is now the day of the race. Luca, makes it through the swimming part of the race using Alberto’s tactic with the old fashioned swimming gear to avoid transforming into his sea monster form in the water. Luca eats his pasta and begins riding his bike. Thunder is heard as clouds begin to cover the sky. Luca is stuck under a awning in the rain. As he looks on, he hears his name called in the distance and notices a blue umbrella in the rain. The person lifts up the umbrella and it is revealed to be Alberto, running back for Luca. Luca is happy to see his friend. Ercole pesters Luca, but when Alberto catches his attention, he side kicks him in the cheek, causing his umbrella to go flying. Alberto, soaked in the rain, transforms back into his sea monster self. Ercole immediately stops, screaming “sea monster.” Alberto looks up as people scream in fear and a mother picks up her child. Not wanting Luca to come and risk himself getting caught too, Alberto tells Luca to stay right where he is, and that he’s still okay. Alberto then starts screaming happily while flailing his arms around, running towards Ercole. Ercole throws a net over Alberto and he falls hard on the ground. The people gasp. Ercole begins getting a harpoon, readying himself to land the fatal blow and kill Alberto. Luca, angered by what they did to Alberto and seeing his friend helpless, races towards him in the rain, transforming in front of everyone into his sea monster self. Everyone turns and Alberto lifts the net up his face as Luca gut wrenchingly reaches for Alberto’s hand. Alberto reaches for Luca and the two manage to hold each other. Luca manages to land Alberto on his bike. The two ride through town. Ercole catches up to them, harpoon in hand, screaming that he was going to kill him self some sea monsters, while laughing evilly. Giulia, who is right behind Ercole rams her bike into Ercole’s, knocking him and her off their bikes. Luca and Alberto notice. Alberto yells Giulia’s name as Luca halts the bike. They both run to her, with Giulia’s dad getting a harpoon to kill the sea monsters. However, as he gets nearer to them, he notices that their faces aren’t unfamiliar to him. Massimo notices that the sea monsters he was readying to kill were actually Luca and Alberto. Everyone surrounds them with harpoons. Ercole comes out of nowhere saying he saw them first so he gets to kill them. Luca firmly states that he’s not afraid of them, with Alberto stiffening up in response. Ercole says that they might not be afraid but that the people are afraid, horrified and disgusted by Luca and Alberto because they are “monsters.” Giulia screams to stop and that they are not monsters, with Ercole asking who they are then. Massimo comes out, claiming he knows. He looks at the kids, first at Luca, then at his daughter, and then Alberto, before proclaiming them as the winners of the race. Ercole says that it doesn’t matter, saying that they’re aren’t people. Massimo has Signora Marssegliese determine if so or not. The bike that Luca and Alberto abandoned is across the finish line. She proclaims that technically and legally, they won. The three look at each other, happy, as Ercole says that it doesn’t matter and they’re sea monsters. Fisherman get close with harpoons. However, Massimo comes behind the trio, causing everyone to drop their harpoons. As Ercole stares in disbelief, Luca, Alberto and Giulia grab and destroy his harpoon. Ercole orders for Ciccio and Guido to grab him another and do something good for once. Fed up with Ercole, Ciccio and Guido throw him and his wool sweater into the fountain. Giulia declares the reign of terror over. Luca’s parents come out and transform in front of the crowd. Daniela loads on Luca saying that he had them scared, but he did so well in the race, saying that she’s so happy but still mad at him for sneaking off. In the end, Daniela cries, relieved that her son is okay. Luca proclaims he loves her and embraces his mother, as his father hugs him. Daniela looks at Alberto and Giulia. Alberto just shrugs and dorkishly smiles. Finally, the Underdogs are given their reward, a trophy as winners of the Portorosso Cup. The three begin rejoicing, happy to have won. Meanwhile, they receive applause from the crowd. Many kids begin running up to them congratulating them. One of the kids, a little girl, gently pulls Alberto’s arm. He notices and gets down to her level. The girl then high fives Alberto’s hand, while he smiles happily.

Later on, the three have fun on the Vespa, with Alberto messing around with the cat, Marchivelli, making it look like he’s driving. Giulia asks where they’ll go first. Alberto explains that Luca and he will stay to repair it in order for it to take them around the whole earth. Giulia says to them to not forget to pack for it, but then remembers she forgot to pack to go to school, where Luca sadly stated that she’ll learn so much. Alberto listens quietly. Giulia says that she’ll lend Luca some books, Luca excited to hear so. As Luca and Giulia leave, Alberto looks down at the Vespa and smiles. He then follows Luca and Giulia.

It is now time for Giulia to leave. They hug her goodbye. Luca then asks Alberto if he’s ready to fix the Vespa, but Alberto says that he’s sold it while handing Luca a train ticket. Luca’s family come and they tell Luca that if he writes to them everyday and stays safer than safe, he can go to school. It was revealed that Alberto talked them into it. Luca happily accepts, telling Alberto to come, but Alberto isn’t going. He tells Luca that it was the only ticket he could buy and that Massimo wants him to stay behind and help with fish, probably even move in. Luca is unsure, saying he can’t do it without him. Alberto say that he already has been doing it and hands Luca the Vespa drawing they made, taped back together. Alberto tells Luca that whenever he jumps off a cliff or tells Bruno to stop bothering him, that will be him. Luca asks Alberto how he’ll know he’s okay. Alberto has no answer. Instead he hugs Luca, tears streaming down his face. Alberto comforts Luca, telling him that he got him off the island and he’ll be okay. Luca boards the train. Alberto then says the greeting he taught him one last time. Luca asks what is seriously means and Alberto tells Luca he doesn’t know and to find out for him. They both hold hands as the train departs. They eventually let go. Alberto follows the train, running, and as he makes it into the rain, he transforms. Alberto begins screaming and cheering for Luca, waving goodbye with his hat to his best friend.

## Trivia

* Alberto's last name, Scorfano, is Italian for "scorpion fish".
* Alberto is inspired by Enrico Casarossa's friend, who shares his name.
* In a Twitter post Enrico Casrosa wrote, it confirms that Alberto is 14 years old.
	+ This make him the oldest of The Underdogs.
* A running gag features Alberto getting covered in water the running to hide and change back.
* The exact number of days Alberto was alone waiting for his dad is 383.
	+ This means he had been living on Isola del Mare for over a year. While he mentions he had stopped counting eventually, the tally marks mean that he had been living there for at least one year and 18 days.
	+ This also means his dad has declared he was old enough to be on his own at about 12 and a half years old.
* Alberto has the last speaking line in the film.
	+ Though, if counting the post-credits scene, Uncle Ugo has the last line.
* At the beginning and end of the film, Alberto tells Luca: "Piacere, Girolamo Trombetta.", despite not knowing what it means. It is an Italian play-on-words, in which the first name Girolamo sounds a bit like "giro la mano" ("I twist my hand") whereas the surname Trombetta means "trumpet", and while pronouncing the name there's a handshake that involves twisting the hands and pulling back like playing a trumpet.
* His green eyes can possibly be alluded to his personality, as it is a representation of his jealousy. The color green also symbolizes renewal (getting off the island and reforming his identity), hope (possibly for his dad to come back), nature (love of the land), and safety as he's there to protect his friend Luca before himself.
* His voice actor, Jack Dylan Grazer, stated in an interview that Luca and Alberto are "just friends". He added that it would "be cool if [they] got back together and fell in love".
	+ Coincidentally, Luca and Alberto's sea monster colour schemes match the gay MLM (vincian) flag.
	+ Ironically, Grazer himself is bisexual.
	+ When asked about a sequel, Grazer did indicate that Alberto would most likely get married to someone else.

## References

1. ↑ https://lgbta.wikia.org/wiki/Vincian
2. ↑ https://people.com/human-interest/jack-dylan-grazer-comes-out-as-bisexual-uses-he-they-pronouns-luca/