Brazil’s Animated Road Movie Son of a Bitch: Trailer, Festival Stops, and a Long Production Journey

Son of a Bitch (O Filho da Puta) is a Brazilian animated road movie created by four co-directors: Érica Maradona, Otto Guerra, Tania Anaya, and Sávio Leite. The film has surfaced at major animation platforms and festivals after a lengthy, sometimes turbulent production. It combines bright, expressive visuals with a deliberately selected soundtrack and layered sound design.

Maradona's art direction shaped the film's visual identity. The creative process involved back-and-forth at nearly every stage. Music arrived in stages: early song choices helped set mood for scenes, João Omar's musical score later provided unity, and sound designers Sérgio Scliar and Fabiano Fonseca completed the film's audio landscape. Editors and other collaborators refined pacing and tone during the long production.

The film screened at Annecy earlier in the summer and received warm responses. Cartoon Brew premiered the international trailer and interviewed collaborators about the film's journey. Son of a Bitch will make its North American premiere in Ottawa on September 23 and then screen at the Rio International Film Festival for its Brazilian premiere.

Creators describe the film as funny, harsh, and occasionally tender. It mixes bright colors and pointed humor with a soundtrack that developed alongside the animation. One director characterized it as "a road movie on foot," signaling a journey-driven narrative that uses animation's capacity to create distinct worlds and perspectives.

Viewers should anticipate lively visuals tied to a curated musical palette. The film's aesthetic and emotional range expanded as songs and score found their places. The sound design was a final piece that tied image, music, and narrative rhythm together.

Son of a Bitch will screen in Ottawa on September 23 and will have its Brazilian premiere at the Rio International Film Festival. Earlier festival stops include Annecy, where the film began drawing international attention.

Directors: Érica Maradona, Otto Guerra, Tania Anaya, Sávio Leite. Music: songs selected early, score by João Omar. Sound design: Sérgio Scliar and Fabiano Fonseca. Editing and assembly included work by Marco Arruda and numerous artists across the extended production.