Cátia Mariline, known in the comic book world as Kachisou, will become the new illustrator for the children’s book series ‘Uma Aventura’ following the death last January of Arlindo Fagundes, who crafted the visual representation of all the characters, settings, and covers since the inaugural volume.
‘Uma Aventura na Curva do Rio’ marks the 68th installment in a literary series first introduced in 1982. The characters, including the twins Teresa and Luísa, were inspired by students of authors Ana Maria Magalhães and Isabel Alçada.
Arlindo Fagundes, who passed away in January at the age of 79, played a pivotal role in shaping the characters’ visual identities across all volumes for more than four decades. This legacy now continues with the work of Kachisou.
In a video shared on social media platforms Instagram and TikTok, where Magalhães and Alçada maintain an official account dedicated to the series, Ana Maria Magalhães explained that finding a replacement for Arlindo Fagundes was a complex task due to both emotional and practical reasons. She emphasized that the selected illustrator had to create artwork closely resembling the long-established character appearances.
“We are collaborating with a very talented young illustrator who offers a different style but shares many similarities with what Arlindo Fagundes accomplished over so many years,” highlighted Isabel Alçada in early March.
Born in Faro in 1994, Cátia Mariline Sousa, also known as Kachisou, is a comic book author whose work is influenced by Japanese manga. Her previous projects include the anthology ‘Weak’ and the graphic novel ‘Quero Voar.’
In ‘Uma Aventura na Curva do Rio,’ the five friends head to Ribatejo, embarking on an inter-term vacation in November. This involves a “camping trip by the river, visits to surprise locations, and a trip to the renowned Horse Fair in Golegã,” according to Editorial Caminho.
The publisher notes that this latest volume will have a print run of 15,000 copies and will be introduced by the authors on May 14 in Golegã, within the district of Santarém.
Ana Maria Magalhães, now 78, and Isabel Alçada, 74, first met in 1976 while teaching at a Lisbon school. They started crafting stories to engage students with reading, ultimately deciding in 1982 to publish “Uma aventura na Cidade.”
The duo is among the most recognized in Portuguese children’s and young adult literature. While they have published other stories, their best-known creation remains the “Uma Aventura” series.
Every story, some featuring themes and locations suggested by readers, follows the adventures of friends Teresa and Luísa—the twins—alongside Pedro, João, Chico, and the dogs Caracol and Faial.
In 2022, the collection celebrated its 40th anniversary, during which Ana Maria Magalhães recalled to the Lusa agency the “bonds of affection” maintained by both authors over decades. This includes relationships with the sisters who inspired the twins, readers who continue to write to them, and students encountered during school presentations.
