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Ademar Vieira is a multi-talented Brazilian artist whose work spans illustration, journalism, and screenwriting. He is particularly known for his ability to convey profound stories through visual media, a skill that shines in his comic book “Sam and Oscar (and Edgar, the Cat).” This book captures the essence of companionship and life’s journey with pets, inspired by Ademar’s own experiences and the universal love many feel for their animal friends.

Through the silent yet emotionally rich adventures of Sam, Oscar the dog, and Edgar the cat, Ademar weaves narratives that explore the nuances of human-animal relationships, the joys and trials of adulthood, and the therapeutic role pets played during the challenging times like the Covid-19 pandemic for example.

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“This place is mine”

Image credits: ademar__vieira

Given the chance, Bored Panda reached out to Ademar Vieira once again, this time with a different set of questions!

Starting off, Ademar reflected on the origins of his characters, emphasizing the therapeutic role pets played during the Covid-19 pandemic. He stated, “When I created Sam & Oscar, I actually wanted to do a strip about how pets helped us get through the difficult time of the Covid-19 pandemic, keeping us company and, consequently, taking care of our mental health.” He further elaborated on his initial intention to portray the companionship between a boy and his newly adopted puppy, which resonated widely and led to the strip’s viral success.

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“Sleep peaceful”: Who out there sleeps with their pet? Is it that quiet?

Image credits: ademar__vieira

The introduction of Edgar, the cat, was a pivotal moment in expanding the narrative. The artist shared, “After that, I decided to do another strip with the same characters, this time, with the appearance of Edgar, the cat. This strip was also a huge success, so I decided that I needed to give names to the characters and that’s how Sam & Oscar (and Edgar the cat) came about.” He detailed how the characters’ names were inspired by literary giants, “Oscar Wilde and Edgar Allan Poe (They got their name because Oscar destroyed a book by Oscar Wilde and Edgar a book by Allan Poe).”

“Does your cat also do these kinds of things?”

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Image credits: ademar__vieira

Drawing from his own life, Ademar’s pets were the muses behind his characters. “The inspiration came from my own pets, the dogs Garoto (dachshund), Zelda (German shepherd), and Nina (dachshund) and the cat Gata-Fera (of no defined breed). Oscar is a mix of my three dogs, while Edgar is simply the male version of Beast Cat, like all of his behaviors.”

“At Sam’s house, bath day is always Oscar’s most dreaded day. And your pet? How does he react to the bath? “

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Image credits: ademar__vieira

The Brazillian artist also discussed his aspirations with us, hoping to immortalize his characters through a book, inspired by the bittersweet reality of life’s impermanence. “Today, I no longer live with them, and Garoto passed away in 2021, leaving me very devastated, not being with him at that moment. I know they won’t last forever, but the characters they inspired can traverse time. That’s why I also created the book, which tells the complete story about them, and I’m currently looking for a publisher in the USA to publish it.”

“The ride is pretty calm, but every time Sam grabs the leash, Oscar can’t contain himself. Is it the same at your house?”

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Image credits: ademar__vieira

“Childhood nostalgia is something we all have, but for Sam it can sometimes be difficult to have some hobbies if he isn’t very careful”

Image credits: ademar__vieira