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Mucha Lucha

 

¡Mucha Lucha! is a new and highly rated cartoon on the Saturday morning lineup on Kids’ WB. It is based around a Mexican “lucha libre,” or “free fighting,” where the main characters, Rikochet, Buena Girl, and the Flea, make their way in the  world while following a “code of masked wrestling” in which the creators, Lilli Chin and Eddie Mort, explain with the slogan “Honor, Family, Tradition, and Donuts” (the characters eat after burning calories in the ring) 16. It’s the sharp
wittiness, over-the-top humor, and lovable kids that makes this cartoon stand out, even sometimes compared to ‘The Simpsons’. It is the hope of the creators to bring attention to Lucha Libre itself. As Lilli Chin puts it, “We noticed that kids loved watching wrestling on TV and may have seen masked luchadores (e.g. Rey Misterio Jr). Often, in American pro-wrestling, Mexican wrestlers are regarded as novelties, so with ¡Mucha Lucha! we`re hoping that kids will come to realize that Mexican wrestlers have their own brand and style of wrestling. There is a whole world and tradition beyond WWE/WCW where
the luchador is regarded as a hero and the mask has a significant meaning” 17

This cartoon has opened another door into Latino media, specifically cartoons. It has been successful at not making the subject of Mexican wrestling a mockery, but instead has piqued the interest of many audience members. It is an enjoyable series that takes a different stance on promoting diversity on the air waves. Latinos have embraced the series and so has the media (as seen by the ratings and positive reviews). It is yet another venue for positive depictions of Latinos without playing on any racial stereotypes.