Luca Character Study

Alberto Scorfano
Giulia Marcovaldo
Luca Paguro
Ercole Visconti

independent

free-spirited

14-year-old sea monster

with wild enthusiasm for the human world

Expressive and social

he is all about having fun

inviting a fellow sea monster to hang out above the surface is a no-brainer for Alberto

Human Form: A slender but muscular young man with tan skin, light freckles, and bright green eyes. His curly golden-brown hair is styled tall with a cowlick. He wears a yellow tank top and brown shorts tied with a rope.

Sea Monster Form: Covered in periwinkle scales with sharp teeth and vivid green eyes that have yellow-green sclera and oval pupils. His “hair” becomes purple, and he sports a long tail with sharp, angular purple fins.

Alberto is a carefree and fun-loving sea monster who proudly shows off his knowledge of the human world. After living alone in a lighthouse for a long time, he’s eager to share what he knows with Luca. He often takes charge and loves adventure, dreaming of one day riding a Vespa. However, his fear of being abandoned—after his father left him—makes him possessive and easily hurt when he feels left out. Over time, Alberto learns to be more selfless and caring, selling his beloved Vespa to help Luca go to school in Genoa. He stays in Portorosso with Massimo, who becomes a father figure to him.

Giulia Marcovaldo is the daughter of fisherman Massimo and artist Maria, who live separately—her mother in Genoa and her father in Portorosso. She spends the school year with her mom and summers with Massimo, his cat Machiavelli, and her dog Nerone. Despite her determination, Giulia often loses the Portorosso Cup, once earning the teasing nickname “Spewlia” after getting sick from eating too much pasta during a race.

Giulia Marcovaldo is an outgoing and charming adventurer

loves of book and learning.

She only spends summers in Portorosso,

she hasn’t cultivated many friendships, which makes her the main target of the Portorosso bully.

But when two new kids show up who clearly need an ally, Giulia is more than happy to oblige – especially when they agree to team up with her in a local race she desperately wants to win.

Giulia is an independent, spirited girl who sees herself as an outcast in Portorosso. Bullied by Ercole, she stands up for Luca and Alberto out of empathy and defiance toward him. Initially hesitant to accept help, she warms up to the boys after they help her fix her bike. Determined to win the Portorosso Cup to prove herself and earn acceptance, she also dreams of defeating Ercole after past humiliation. Giulia loves learning and stargazing, studying in Genoa during the school year. Though initially scared when she learns Luca and Alberto are sea monsters, she quickly defends them, proving her bravery and loyalty as their true friend.

young Italian girl

red, short curly hair,

brown eyes

lightly tanned skin with freckles

wears a sky-blue beanie, a reddish-orange-and-white striped T-shirt, turquoise jeans with a blue patch on the right knee, and brown sandals.

Her school uniform consists of a white shirt with a red bow, a pale blue plaid skirt, white socks, and brown slip-on shoes.

Giulia also still wears her sky-blue beanie with her school uniform.

For her swim outfit, she wears a one piece leopard suit with water goggles.

bright and inventive

13-year-old sea monster

endless curiosity – especially when it comes to the mysterious world above the sea.

Although he’s been warned his whole life that the human world is a dangerous place, he longs for something beyond his quiet farm life

he herds goatfish day after day.

So when another sea monster with actual experience above the surface takes Luca under his fin, his eyes open up to a whole world of possibilities.

Luca begins as a shy, curious, and imaginative sea monster who fears the surface but is fascinated by it. Meeting Alberto changes his life, inspiring him to explore the human world and step outside his comfort zone. Though hesitant to disobey his parents at first, Luca grows more confident and adventurous as he learns from Alberto and discovers his passion for exploration. Kind-hearted and loyal, he always stands up for his friends and dreams of seeing the world above the sea. His friendship with Giulia deepens his curiosity—especially about learning and astronomy—and fuels his wish to attend school with her. By the end, Luca proves his courage by saving Alberto and revealing his true self, showing how far he’s come from a timid boy to a brave and open-minded adventurer.

in human form

slender

fair skin

rosy cheeks

brown eyes,

wavy, dark brown hair

He wears a teal striped ivory button-down shirt with sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and blue shorts.

In sea monster form,

Luca has blue-green scales,

sharp teeth

blue “hair”

eyes are still brown, but they have bright yellow sclera and oval shaped pupils.

He also has a long tail with smooth blue caudal fins.

Before Luca obtains his new outfits, he is seen wearing green pants made of seaweed.

allegedly 16-year-old bully of the small Italian town of Portorosso

repeat champion of the
town’s Portorosso Cup race

despite how many people point out he is too old for it.

He’s a Vespa-owning, pompadoured blowhard who believes that everyone loves him and enjoys watching him eat sandwiches.

He has two worshipful followers, Ciccio and Guido, who accompany him everywhere, ready to do his bidding.

Ercole is a narcissistic and self-absorbed bully who sees himself as Portorosso’s greatest hero. Obsessed with his reputation and status as the Portorosso Cup champion, he bullies others to show off his supposed superiority and strength. Despite believing everyone admires him, most townspeople actually despise him. Ercole is greedy, materialistic, and cruel—willing to harm or even kill to protect his ego or win a prize. He abuses his followers until they finally turn against him, revealing his arrogance and immaturity. Deeply shallow and self-centered, Ercole’s obsession with winning and appearance exposes him as both insecure and delusional beneath his bravado.

slender build,

a straight-laced face,

lightly tanned skin,

hazel eyes,

dark brown slicked-back hair,

a few pencil-thin mustache hairs.

He wears a dark blue polo shirt with: thin, light blue stripes, periwinkle shorts, brown slip-ons and a hot pink wool sweater wrapped around his shoulders.

During the race, Ercole wears a red polo shirt with a thick white stripe in the middle and two white stripes on both sides. He also wears: dark blue shorts, white fingerless gloves, white socks and black dress shoes.