Boas Maneiras

Boas Maneiras (lit. Good Manners) is the title of a story originally published in Mônica #161 (Globo series) in 2000. The story was later adapted into a cartoon episode in 2005.

Plot[]

The story begins with Mrs. Luisa putting a bandage on Monica's knee and complaining about her behavior, saying that her daughter should act as a polite girl and not as a brat. Monica tries to defend herself by replying that it was just that she stepped on a Smudge's marble while trying to give a coelhada in Jimmy Five and that will be able to catch both in the next day. Mrs. Luisa talks to Monica about putting her at Mrs. Biju's School of Good Manners for her to behave with politeness, Monica is interested and decides to call Maggy to join in the school as well.

Meanwhile Jimmy Five is having lunch at home showing bad manners at the table in front of his parents and after he finishes eating he sits in the armchair to watch TV. Jimmy Five's parents walk up to him and tell him to put him in Mrs. Biju's School of Good Manners, although he didn't like the idea. Jimmy Five makes a call to Smudge and tries to convince him to join school too, claiming that Mrs. Biju is a beautiful woman, being a mixture of Maura Ambrósio (a parody of actress Lauren Ambrose) and Luane Piovana (a parody of actress Luana Piovani). Smudge accepts the proposal and Jimmy Five asks him to call the rest of the gang to convince them to participate as well.

The next day Mrs. Five takes Jimmy Five, Smudge, Sunny and Hummer to school. Smudge notes that the receptionist is beautiful and looks forward to meeting Mrs. Biju. When the boys enter the room they end up being disappointed to notice that Mrs. Biju is an old and ugly lady. Hummer complains to Sunny, who complains to Smudge, who complains to Jimmy Five for having fooled them.

Smudge, Sunny and Hummer leave furiously, but Smudge returns leaving Jimmy Five happy. Smudge reveals that the reason for returning was due to Monica (who appears together with Maggy) who wanted to pair up in class. Jimmy Five makes Monica angry by accidentally calling her of "chubby" (while talking to Smudge) making Monica want to throw Sansom at Jimmy Five, but ends up hitting Mrs. Biju accidentally when Jimmy Five takes cover behind her. Monica runs to beat Jimmy Five, but Mrs. Biju stops Monica and also scolds Jimmy Five for teasing her trying to make them both make up.

Mrs. Biju decides to start the class by teaching the children how to behave at the table. The four run towards the table (inelegantly) much to Mrs. Biju's dismay, who says that the right way to sit at the table would be if the gentleman pulls up the chair for the lady. Jimmy Five then decides to do what Mrs. Biju said by pulling up the chair for Monica to sit on, but he takes Monica's chair off and makes her fall to the floor. Monica is irritated by Jimmy Five's joke, but he defends himself by saying that he was only obeying Mrs. Biju. Monica gets angry with Jimmy Five's prank, but he defends himself by saying that he was only obeying Mrs. Biju.

Mrs. Biju then decides to skip the part of the meal. Maggy starts eating all the fruits at once, much to Mrs. Biju's dismay. Jimmy Five asks Monica to give him the mayonnaise and Monica puts mayonnaise on Jimmy Five's head. Smudge starts laughing at Jimmy Five, Jimmy Five takes an olive and throws it in Smudge's mouth causing him to choke. Mrs. Biju tries to help Smudge by giving her a cup of water (that is pouring) Smudge frightened by the water jumping over Mrs. Biju's head causing her to fall on the cake. Smudge runs away while Maggy asks Mrs. Biju (whose face is covered with whipped cream) to leave her some cake.

In the end the class ends, everyone says goodbye with Maggy saying "see you tomorrow" to Mrs. Biju. Mrs. Biju is amazed (looking at the reader) and exclaims "See you tomorrow?!!". In the end when everyone returns (except for Smudge) they find the school closed with a sign written "Closed for Holidays!", which makes Jimmy Five happy.

Characters[]

Animated episode[]

In 2005 the story was adapted into a episode in the animated film Cine Gibi 2, that was second movie of the Cine Gibi series. This episode, like many others this season, uses traditional animation with backgrounds made by Mauro Souza. This episode had some changes from the comics, for example:

The episode begins with an extra scene showing Mrs. Luisa reading a book and listening to Monica (out of the house) getting hurt while trying to catch Jimmy Five and then grabbing the first aid bag to get the bandage.
The colors of Mrs. Luisa's clothes and lipstick are different.
When Mrs. Luisa puts the bandage on Monica, Mrs. Luisa is standing while Monica is sitting on a pouf. In the comic both are sitting on a sofa.
Monica is not seen heading towards the phone to call Maggy.
The colors of Mr. Five and Mrs. Five's clothes are different. Mrs. Five's hair is also different.
When Jimmy Five talks with Mrs. Five he spits (unintentionally) in Mrs. Five's eyes.
When Jimmy Five drinks the juice he accidentally spills it into his mouth. In the comic he gargles the juice.
After Jimmy Five finishes eating and leaves the table to watch TV, he burps.
Extra scenes occur with Jimmy Five's parents looking him burping after leaving the table and then looking at each other with disappointment at his son's bad manners.
Jimmy Five goes to watch TV in his room lying on the bed, instead of sitting in the armchair in the living room.
The dialogue in which Jimmy Five says in amazement after hearing his parents say they will put him in a School of Good Manners believing that this was a "auditory mirage" has not been adapted.
The phone that Jimmy Five uses is blue instead of red.
The dialogue in which Jimmy Five compares Mrs. Biju to actresses for Smudge was replaced by him saying that Mrs. Biju was "beautiful and wonderful".
There is a extra scene showing Smudge calling Sunny and Sunny calling Hummer.
Mrs. Biju's school has a different look with a wall and a street in front.
Mrs. Five drives the boys to school by car. In the comic book she walks with the boys to school.
Smudge is the only one who compares the school with Bérbi's (a parody of Barbie) house. In the comic Smudge, Sunny and Hummer imagine saying it.
The receptionist's dress is lilac instead of black.
The four boys fall in love with the receptionist (with hearts on their eyes) when they see her.
Mrs. Biju is blonde and has a pink dress, instead of having black hair and a lilac dress with dots.
Mrs. Biju is seated in a swivel chair.
Monica runs after Jimmy Five after being called of "chubby".
When Mrs. Biju is hit by Sansom she is on the left side of the room instead of the right side.
Monica and Jimmy Five's positions are also reversed when Mrs. Biju tries to make them hug.
Mrs. Biju does not have her hair in disarray when the children run towards the table.
The chairs have different looks.
Maggy throws a banana peel in Mrs. Biju's hair when she starts eating the fruit.
Monica puts mayonnaise on Jimmy Five with a knife instead of a spoon.
Jimmy Five throws the olive into Smudge's mouth using a spoon as a catapult.
The cup Mrs. Biju uses to give Smudge is blue instead of transparent. Mrs. Biju is also holding a jar of water.
Instead of jumping on Mrs. Biju, Smudge spits the olive that bounces off the walls until it hits Mrs. Biju who gets wet with the water from the jar (that had been thrown up).
A extra scene is shown with Monica, Jimmy Five and Maggy looking at the table with all the food already eaten.
Mrs. Luisa and Mrs. Five do not appear at the reception when Smudge runs out of the room.
Mrs. Biju announces that the class is over instead of the receptionist.
Monica has additional lines when she leaves the room and is reunited with her mother.
When Mrs. Biju says "See you tomorrow?!!" she doesn't look at the viewer.
The final scene was altered by focusing on Mrs. Biju putting her bags in her car and then walking away revealing the sign hanging on the school gate.

Trivia[]

The references to the names of the actresses were removed in the animated version, but the reference to Barbie (as Bérbi) was maintained.
Mrs. Biju had her ethnicity changed in the animated version by becoming blonde, being one of the rare occasions when a character has his or her ethnicity changed in the cartoon.

In the animated episode, an error occurs where it shows Hummer talking to Sunny over the phone, which doesn't make sense since Hummer is a hearing impaired. Although this scene was probably made for black humor.
There are a few animation errors in some scenes with Hummer appearing with a pointed nose in some scenes inside Mrs. Biju's room. Jimmy Five also appears with a pointed nose in the scene in which Mrs. Biju makes him hug Monica.