# Capricious Childhood Characters Tolagunestro Reinvents Favorite Nostalgic Icons With Whimsy By Jason Soy | Published 2011-05-29 | Pop Culture Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tolagunestro References: [tolagunestro.deviantart](http://tolagunestro.deviantart.com/) & [lucasdealcantara](http://www.lucasdealcantara.com/) I simply can't get enough of these [cartoon reinventions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/junji-ito-artwork), and deviantART user Tolagunestro is whetting my appetite with these quirky illustrations. Tolagunestro, whose real name is Lucas de Alcantara, has a very child-centric drawing style, similar to the works of Charles Schultz and other Sunday morning comic strip artists. Tolagunestro manages to find a way to personalize each character he's reinventing: all of his creations are [whimsical, but highly recognizable](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/doraemon-meets-the-louvre). Seen here are [Nintendo's](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/oreo-x-super-mario) Mario as a snake charmer, Patrick from SpongeBob SquarePants, Batman and Robin as schoolchildren, Charlie Brown, Princess Leia and Chewie of Star Wars, and steampunk versions of Mickey Mouse and Garfield. My favorite illustration though has got to be Tolagunestro's version of Popeye, who has been relegated to a tin can of spinach. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.6/10 - Popularity: 100% | Activity: 90% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Pop Culture](https://www.trendhunter.com/popculture) > [Media](https://www.trendhunter.com/media) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Cartoon Character Reinvention:** The trend of reinventing beloved childhood characters into new, quirky versions with personalized twists creates opportunities for disruptive innovation in toy design and animation. - **Childlike Drawing Style:** The trend of using a childlike drawing style in artwork creates opportunities for disruptive innovation in children's book illustration and graphic design. - **Steampunk Revival:** The trend of incorporating steampunk elements into classic characters, like Mickey Mouse and Garfield, creates opportunities for disruptive innovation in fashion design and merchandise production. ### Where This Applies - **Toy Design:** Toy designers can capitalize on the trend of reinventing beloved childhood characters by creating new, quirky versions with personalized twists that resonate with today's kids. - **Animation:** Animation studios can capitalize on the trend of reinventing beloved childhood characters by creating new, quirky versions with personalized twists that appeal to today's audiences. - **Merchandise Production:** Merchandise producers can capitalize on the trend of incorporating steampunk elements into classic characters by creating new, unique products that appeal to fans of both the classic characters and the steampunk aesthetic. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Sci-Fi-Inspired Classical Posters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sen-donnan.md) - [Pop Art Legend-Honoring Dolls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/keiichi-tanaami-1.md) - [Sailor Origin-Story Mangas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/eye-lit-popeye.md) - [Cartoonish NFT Collectibles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/i-like-you-youre-weird.md) - [Child-Friendly Cartoon Art Lines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ooly.md) - [Character Crossover Figures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/skullpanda-x-sanrio.md) - [Eroded Cartoon-Themed Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crystalized-squirtle.md) - [Playful Collectible Figures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/zsiga-care-bears.md) - [Stylized Portrait Generators](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/face-to-all.md)