Ziraldo, creator of “Menino Maluquinho”, dies at 91

Creator of successful characters such as “O Menino Maluquinho” and “Turma do Pererê”, Ziraldo died in his sleep this Saturday afternoon (6) at around 3 pm, in his apartment located in Lagoa, a neighborhood in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro, according to family information

Childhood and early career

Ziraldo Alves Pinto was born in Caratinga (MG) on October 24, 1932, the place where he lived as a child. Eldest son in a family of seven siblings. Ziraldo, since his childhood, was always interested in reading, and became an avid reader, and at just six years old in 1939, he had his first drawing published in the newspaper “Folha de Minas”.

He began his career in 1950, in the magazine “Era uma vez”, and in 1954, in the newspaper “Folha de Minas”, creating a humor page in the newspaper that he debuted at just six years old. Ziraldo always wanted to become a comic book author, and during this period he fulfilled this dream, where he published the first Brazilian magazine with a single author, which was about the “Turma do Pererê” which focused its story on a small Indian, with animals that form Brazilian folklore. However, with the military dictatorship in 1954, the magazine was no longer published.

_{Ziraldo when he was younger (Photo: reproduction/ Instagram/@instituto_ziraldo)}

In 1957, Ziraldo completed his law degree at the Faculty of Law of Minas Gerais, in Belo Horizonte. Still in 1957, he joined the magazine “Cigarras” and then “Cruzeiro”. And it was in 1958 that Ziraldo married Vilma Gontijo, where the couple had three children, Daniela, Fabrizia and Antônio.

Highlight and success

Ziraldo stood out when he worked at “Jornal do Brasil”, where he published political cartoons and cartoons, as he did in “O Cruzeiro”. And also where the characters Jeremias, Supermãe, O Bom, and Mineirinho were created. In 1960, Ziraldo was one of the founders, together with other comedians, of the newspaper “O Pasquim”, one of the main media outlets to combat the military dictatorship in Brazil, which used mocking illustrations and acidic texts that entered the fight for democracy.

However, even fighting censorship, Ziraldo, Sérgio Cabral, Tarso de Castro, Sérgio Augusto, Paulo Francis, Millôr, Ivan Lessa, Henfil, and Jaguar, and other collaborators who were part of the newspaper's team, suffered from it. After Al-5, which was downloaded on December 13, 1968, journalist Ziraldo was arrested at home and taken to Copacabana Fort in Rio de Janeiro.

_{Children celebrating the hit character “O Menino Maluquinho” (Photo: reproduction/ Instagram/@instituto_ziraldo)}

The following year, in 1969, he released his first children's book entitled “FLICTS”; and in 1979 he began to dedicate himself to literature for children. His biggest success came in 1980, where he created “O Menino Maluquinho” which tells the story of a naughty boy who loved adventures and always got into trouble, in addition to always wearing a pan on his head. This story was a huge success that had versions as a film and series, becoming a phenomenon in the publishing market in Brazil at all times.

Zirado will be missed by the public who grew up reading his stories. In addition to being a cartoonist, Ziraldo was a journalist, writer, playwright, cartoonist, poet, comedian, cartoonist and columnist. This was Ziraldo Alves Pinto (1932-2024), who marked generations with his work and stories throughout his career.

Featured Photo: Ziraldo Alves Pinto (Reproduction/Instagram/@omeninomaluquinhoreal)