| Smudge | |
| Series: | Monica's Gang's |
| First: | Removable Newspaper strips of 1961 |
| Creator: | Maurício de Sousa |
| Portrayer: | Gabriel Moreira (Monica and Friends: Bonds) |
| Voice: | 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) |
| Gender: | Male |
| Family: | Mrs. Lurdinha (mother), Mr. Antenor (father), Captain Fray (uncle), Chauvy (pet pig), Dustine (girlfriend) |
| Species: | Human |
| Full Name: | Cascão Araújo[1] |
| Origin: | Mogi das Cruzes – SP, Brazil |
Smudge (originally Cascão – Portuguese for a dirt layer that may appear on the human skin when not washed frequently - in the Brazilian version) is one of the main characters of Monica's Gang. He was created in 1961[2] and since 1982 has his own printed comics appearing weekly on the newsagents.[2] Mauricio de Sousa, his creator, says he based the character on a child he knew while growing up in Mogi das Cruzes.[3] 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.[4]
The reason why he is called Smudge or Cascão is because he never takes a bath. Smudge hates water and never, ever touches it. Smudge is well known for being creative and having interesting ideas. He assists Jimmy Five in his 'Infallible Plans', even if against his own will.
He received his own comic book in 1982 and is being published today.
Smudge is best known for his great fear of water, and because of that, has never taken a bath throughout the entire series.[5] However, he was once illegally portrayed taking a shower in a TV commercial for a Brazilian showerhead manufacturer.[6] He was once also drawn carrying a bundle of clothes and cookies under heavy rain and in water up to his waist for a short story in a time when Southern Brazil was suffering a heavy rain season.[7] The drawing was reproduced again in 2024 amidst the Rio Grande do Sul floods.[8] He fears rain, bodies of water, showers and taps. He also doesn't drink pure water, although he drinks juices and eats soup. To protect himself, he always carries an umbrella with him, for any possible emergency. In some strips, Smudge is even able to fly to run from water.
Smudge's personality was, initially, of a "garbage addict" ; however, since the late 90s, due to politically correctness, he became a person who recycles old stuff in order to make new toys to play with. He used to visit the garbage dump everyday, but in recent stories, he doesn't go there anymore. He is the gang's handyman, often fixing the other kids' broken toys.
He also happens to be Jimmy Five's best friend, he is always convinced or even blackmailed to participate in his "infallible plans", even though in the end he is always the one to mess everything up because he always lets the cat out of the bag. He dates Dustine (Cascuda) - a girl who hates water just like him but takes a bath every few stories, unlike Smudge.
In Monica Adventure's Teen, Smudge is known to take a bath occasionally.[9]
Smudge loves soccer, a recurring theme in his strips. A supporter of Corinthians,[10] he is the only character who supports the same club in every strip. Jimmy Five, for example, has been described both as a São Paulo or a Palmeiras supporter, despite recent descriptions now preferring Palmeiras, with São Paulo becoming Monica's team.
In 2002 the football player Ronaldo made a haircut inspired by Smudge playing well during the 2002 FIFA World Cup.[15] The hairstyle consisted of the hair Smudge cut in the forehead region player format while the rest of the hair was all shaved, became popular among fans at the time. This was acknowledged in an advertisement for Guaraná Antarctica aired shortly after the World Cup, in which Smudge and Ronaldo interact with each other.
n 2020 a Graphic Novel focused only on Smudge entitled "Cascão: Temporal" was published being part of Graphic MSP, having been made by the artist Camilo Solano.