Curupira (Tupi: kuru'pir, The Covered with Pustules or Boy's Body) is a creature of Brazilian folklore and mythology. It is an entity that protects the forests and animals from hunters. It inhabits the woods and its main feature are its feet turned back. This creature blends many features of West African and European fairies but was usually regarded as a demonic figure.
Myth[]
According to legend, the Curupira is a boy with ruy hair that wanders through the woods using false signs to confuse hunters, woodcutters or anyone who damages their habitat.
He can leave footprints on the forest floor, but as his feet are turned back, he can fool anyone who chases him, making the person think that instead of going he is coming.
The Curupira also have the ability to leave people stunned with their scary whistles, leaving the person dizzy, sluggish and with headache. This trick ends up leaving the victim lost and unable to find the way back home.
Appearance[]
Usually Curupira is portrayed as a boy of short stature, feet turned back, red hair (in some regions of Brazil he has fire hair), his black skin but he is also seen with a greenish skin.
Some descriptions portray Curupira as a girl.
Modern Depictions[]
Film and Television[]
- A being called the Demon Curupira was featured in several episodes of the 1999 – 2002 television series BeastMaster. Played by Australian actress Emilie de Ravin, this Curupira, while still possessing the backwards feet, had the appearance of a young and deceptively sweet-faced blonde girl clad in green. She was a spirit of the forest and very capricious; she protected the animals, particularly tigers, and with a kiss she could drain humans of their lives, reducing their bodies to mere husks. She was an uneasy ally of the title character, Dar.
- The 2021 Netflix Brazilian series Invisible City, Curupira/Iberê, portrayed by Fabio Lago, is portrayed as a homeless man who is actually an entity that guards and protects Brazilian forests as perceived by his feet back, head flaming, and illusory loud whistles that combine the voices of nature and humans.
- In the Juro que vi episode "O curupira", it tells the story of a hunter and his assistant who venture into the Amazon rainforest, but end up being victims of the curupira.
Literature[]
- In Turma da Mônica Lendas Brasileiras - Curupira (ISBN 85-3942-213-5), uses Mauricio de Sousa's "Turma da Mônica" IP to re-tell the legend.
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