Smudge (Monica and Friends)
| Smudge | |
|---|---|
| Monica and Friends character | |
Smudge 7 years in Monica and Friends (top) and Smudge 15 years in Monica Adventures (bottom) | |
| First appearance | Removable Newspaper strips of 1961 |
| Created by | Maurício de Sousa |
| Portrayed by | Gabriel Moreira (Monica and Friends: Bonds) |
| Voiced by | Isaura Gomes Feliz Natal pra Todos - As Aventuras da Turma da Mônica) Paulo Cavalcante (A Turma da Mônica em A Princesa e o Robô-present) James Carter Cathcart (English Dub, 90s) Roly Gutierrez (English Dub, 2019-present) |
| In-universe information | |
| Full name | Cascão Araújo |
| Species | Human |
| Gender | Male |
| Family | Mrs. Lurdinha (mother), Mr. Antenor (father), Captain Fray (uncle), Chauvy (pet pig), Dustine (girlfriend) |
| Origin | Mogi das Cruzes – SP, Brazil |
Smudge, known as Cascão in Portuguese, is a fictional character of Monica and Friends comic series created by Mauricio de Sousa. He is a 7-year-old boy who lives on the fictional Lemon Tree Street (Rua do Limoeiro), located in São Paulo, characterized by being a dirty child and having a strong fear of water. Originally introduced as just a random friend to Jimmy Five in newspaper strips published in 1961, the character became popular enough to become one of the most relevant and popular characters over the years appearing in several products, animations, films, in addition to becoming the protagonist of his own comic book released in 1982, which has remained in publication ever since.
Mauricio says he based the character on a child he knew while growing up in Mogi das Cruzes. The child was a friend of his brother Márcio, and was also not too hygienic. Since the friendship did not last, Mauricio never recalled his real name. His characterization has been both praised and criticized, becoming one of the best-known characters in the series.