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Meet the Artist Who Turns Drag Queens Into Anime-Style Masterpieces

Anime and Drag Race lovers, unite!

If you're a fan of RuPaul's Drag Race, then chances are you've probably seen these mind-blowingly creative, anime-style depictions of our favorite queens on Instagram. PRIDE sat down with João Victor Mathielo (@jvmathi), the Brazil-based illustrator and mastermind behind these artworks, to get to know all about how he found success turning the most iconic RuPaul’s Drag Race moments into anime-style masterpieces.

His creations give life to fans of both anime and drag, and he says the two worlds have more in common than one might think!

PRIDE: So how did you get into illustration? In anime?

João Victor Mathielo: I’ve been drawing since I was young. I discovered PC software like SAI and Photoshop when I was about 10 years old. Since then, it has been 10 years learning and practicing!

TBH, Pokémon was my first passion. Because of Pokémon I could explore more of the culture of anime, other games, and stuff like that!

Follow João Victor Mathielo on Instagram for more anime drag queens!

Watching any good anime right now?

Just finishing season one of Natsume Yuujinchou, and I highly recommend it, although I know it’s not for all people. It’s very poetic, beautiful, and soft.

Follow João Victor Mathielo on Instagram for more anime drag queens!

Favorite drag queen?

I don’t have a favorite drag queen! I guess I have my drag crushes, like Aja, Kim Chi, Naomi Smalls, and Aquaria. Also, I have to emphasize some of the Brazilian drag queens that I love, like Pabllo Vittar, Lia Clark, Samira Close, and Gloria Groove!

Follow João Victor Mathielo on Instagram for more anime drag queens!

Do you do full comics of the scenes in Drag Race, or is it all just shorts?

Just the shorts. I think if one day I'll do a full comic, but it will not be about Drag Race.

Follow João Victor Mathielo on Instagram for more anime drag queens!

What do you think the comic will be about?

Well, when it comes to manga, Junji Ito is my favorite artist. Honestly, insane and disturbing stories like his appeal so much to me. I mean, his most famous work is about a city haunted by spirals! How crazy is that?! I would probably make a horror manga or suspense RPG with a big amount of craziness, of course.

Follow João Victor Mathielo on Instagram for more anime drag queens!

What was the first anime you watched?

Mirai Nikki, and I loved it. The coolest part about anime is the exaggeration, the fantasy. Like, a n y t h i n g can happen! For example, in Mirai Nikki there’s a plot twist that’s just mind-blowing.

Follow João Victor Mathielo on Instagram for more anime drag queens!

Favorite queen to draw?

I’d have to say Miss Naomi Smalls. Her face is perfect and really fun to draw! She’s sickening.

Follow João Victor Mathielo on Instagram for more anime drag queens!

Favorite runway look?

Definitely Kameron’s feather runway.

Follow João Victor Mathielo on Instagram for more anime drag queens!

Did you ever expect to have so many fans?

I wouldn’t say fans, haha, but I definitely was not expecting that people would enjoy my work that much! I’ve always felt like the insecure guy who thinks he’s not good enough, so it really makes me feel so good and grateful to receive this much love. Everything that I do, I do with passion, and because I love! So, yeah, I guess that’s it.

Follow João Victor Mathielo on Instagram for more anime drag queens!

How has your life changed since becoming a full-time artist?

Well I’ve been drawing every single day, and I’m lucky to say those days of giving 100 percent of my energy to my day job are behind me. I had the opportunity to work with Aja for her new album, BOX Office, and to do official merch for some drag queens, like for example Honey, season 11 contestant. But next month I’ll be starting design college in another city, so, we’ll wait and see what happens next. I’m really excited! And I’m hoping to learn a lot more skills to bring to my art.

Follow João Victor Mathielo on Instagram for more anime drag queens!

What are some of the parallels between drag and anime? Why do you think so many people are fans of both?

It’s all about the fantasy. For example, can you imagine an anime battle with The Vixen’s best drag up against Aquaria’s best drag? Aquaria with that green pallet, might turn into a snake and shoot poison at The Vixen, who’s burning of anger, with fire almost completely encompassing her. The fantasy behind drag is so inspiring. Every concept, every look, is unique, and you see a lot of that in anime.

I think it’s a form to escape from reality. You can create your own world with both, without limitations.

Follow João Victor Mathielo on Instagram for more anime drag queens!