Artist creates project that brings Brazilian folklore to life using famous children’s movie posters as a reference

We Brazilians are used to knowing more about the folk culture of other countries than our own. We are also always impressed with the fantastic stories that animation studios out there provide us.

With that in mind, designer and illustrator Anderson “Awvas” reimagined posters of well-known children’s films in his project “Folklore BR: Uma Nova Visão”, which aims to provoke thinking that we could promote our culture, just as we promote those of the outside.

O incredible.club gathered these works and placed them against the reference posters, showing that, when it comes to content, Brazil does not lose out. Check it out.

Yara, Uiara or Mãe-d’água is, according to Brazilian folklore, a beautiful mermaid who lives in the Amazon River. Fishermen from all over Brazil, freshwater or saltwater, tell stories of young men who gave in to the charms of the beautiful Yara and ended up drowning in passion.

The Indians of the Amazon region say that Yara was an excellent Indian warrior. The brothers were jealous of her, as she was her father’s favorite. Her brothers then decided to kill her. She, having heard her plans, decided to kill them first, as a form of defense. Having done so, Yara fled into the woods. Her father chased her and managed to capture her. As punishment, she was thrown into the Solimões River. The fish in the river saved her and, as it was a full moon night, she was transformed into a beautiful mermaid.

In an indigenous tribe, it was said that the Moon was a goddess who kissed and filled the faces of the most beautiful Indian virgins in the village with light. A beautiful young woman from the tribe, the warrior Naiá, lived dreaming of this meeting and couldn’t wait for the day she would be called. The tribal elders warned that after meeting the seductive goddess, the girls lost their blood and flesh, becoming light, turning stars. But Naiá would not give up.

On a beautiful, bright night, Naiá saw the reflection of the moon in the lake. Believing that the goddess was approaching to take her away, she threw herself into the waters and disappeared.

The Moon was impressed with what happened and decided to transform India into a beautiful aquatic plant: the water lily. That is why, explains the indigenous legend, that this plant has beautiful flowers that only open at night, exhaling an incredible perfume.

According to some myths, Anhangá was the protector of hunting in the forests and protected animals against hunters. When game managed to escape, the Indians said that Anhangá had protected it and helped it to escape.

Anhá-Angá, “anhang” from the Tupi-Guarani language. “Ang” meaning Soul and “Anhá”, running, meaning a wandering soul. Since the soul is invisible, however, it can take many forms. The ways in which it presents itself differ for each person.

Its most common form of appearance is as a white deer, with fur-covered horns, fiery eyes and a cross on its forehead.

The legend of Teiniaguá, also known as Salamanca do Jarau, is a gaucho legend that tells the story of a Moorish princess transformed into a lizard, or salamander, by the Red Devil of the Indians, Anhangá-Pitã.

Centuries ago, when the last Arab stronghold in Spain fell, she came on the run and turned into an old woman so she wouldn’t be recognized and imprisoned. She has a sparkling ruby-colored gemstone on her head, which fascinates and attracts men. She is destined to live in a lagoon on Cerro do Jarau.

Sacy, also known as Sacy-Pererê, is a well-known character in Brazilian folklore. Considered a playful figure, who has fun with animals and people, doing small pranks that create domestic difficulties, or scaring nocturnal travelers with his whistles.

He usually runs after animals to scare them away, likes to ride horses and tie their manes. The Saci-pererê can also mysteriously appear and disappear, it is very restless and never stops for a moment, jumping from one place to another. Every time he gets up to his pranks, he gives a high-pitched, merry laugh.

In the latter, he tells the story of a boy named Ubirajara and his friend Yateré, a Sacy, on an adventure to put an end to the evil plans of Cuca and Jurupari. In the story, he joins other characters from his other works.

The author provokes: “All the arguments of this project are real and are also under development for some adaptation, but for now that’s all I can say…” So we keep waiting, anxious for the result of this project that promises to ennoble the culture of the our Brazil.

And you, do you know much about the stories and legends of our folklore? Were you excited about Anderson’s project? Comment with us.