History Main / OurAlebrijesAreDifferent

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Coco}}'', alebrije are a type of fauna that exists in the Land of the Dead, appearing as bright and colorful animals similar to the works of art that they are based on. They seem to act as companions and [[GuardianEntity spirit guides]] for humans both living and dead, being used as pets and beasts of burden to the {{Calacas}} and [[spoiler:appear as mundane animals in the living world]]. Examples include: [[spoiler:Dante (who appears as a Xoloitzcuintle in the Land of the Living and is Miguel's spirit guide)]], Pepita (a winged tiger that serves the Rivera family), Frida Kahlo's spider-monkey and various chihuahuas in De la Cruz's estate.

Since the first alebrijes were made in the later [[TheThirties 1930s]], the use of alebrijes as a magical beast is [[NewerThanTheyThink fairly new]] and their nature has no set rules or behavior. Usually in MexicanMedia or media with overt themes relating to Mexican culture, alebrijes are portrayed as living creatures, ranging from friendly to predatory. One common trait is that their outlandish designs and (alleged) dream-related origins often lead to them being tied to some kind of MagicalLand, either a DreamLand or some form of culturally appropriate afterlife. It seems particularly common for them to be {{Psychopomp}}s or guides for the dead, or at least to be associated with {{Calacas}}.

Since the first alebrijes were made in the later [[TheThirties 1930s]], the use of alebrijes as a magical beast is [[NewerThanTheyThink fairly new]] and their nature has no set rules or behavior. Usually in MexicanMedia or media with overt themes relating to Mexican culture, alebrijes are portrayed as living creatures, ranging from friendly to predatory. Their outlandish designs and (alleged) dream-related origins give way to them being tied to some kind of MagicalLand, either a DreamLand or some form of culturally appropriate afterlife. It seems particularly common for them to be {{Psychopomp}}s or guides for the dead, or at least to be associated with {{Calacas}}.

* In ''VideoGame/GrimFandango'', the Land of the Dead is home to giant felines that certainly appear to be alebrijes. [[MundaneUtility People use them as racehorses.]]

* In ''GrimFandango'', the Land of the Dead is home to giant felines that certainly appear to be alebrijes. [[MundaneUtility People use them as racehorses.]]

The ''Alebrije'' just might be one of the most iconic forms of Mexican art ever invented. Famous for their vibrant colors and imaginative designs, alebrijes are celebrated in shops, museums and even parades.

Compare AnimateInanimateObject and OurGargoylesRock.

* ''VideoGame/DisneyMagicKingdoms'': Rabbit alebrijes ran amuck during the "A Show to Remember" Event in 2019. Players needed to catch them using Comfy Baskets and Sweet Treats to earn Vinyl Records and the Concert Event Poster.

Compare AnimateInanimateObject.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Coco}}'', alebrije are a type of fauna that exists in the Land of the Dead, appearing as bright and colorful animals similar to the works of art that they are based on. They seem to act as companions and [[GuardianEntity spirit guides]] for humans both living and dead, being used as pets and beasts of burden to the {{Calacas}} and [[spoiler:appear as mundane animals in the living world]]. Examples include: [[spoiler:Dante (who appears as a Xoloitzcuintle in the Land of the Living and is Miguel's spirit guide)]], Pepita (a winged tiger that serves the Rivera family), Frida Kahlo's spider-monkey and various chihuahas in De La Cruz's estate.

The ''Alebrije'' just might be one of the most iconic forms of Mexican art ever invented. Famous for their vibrant colors and imaginative designs, alebrije are celebrated in shops, museums and even parades.

The [[UrExample inventor]] of the Alibrije is Creator/PedroLinaresLopez, a paper mache artist who came up with the idea when he had a fever-dream in 1936 of a fantastical jungle biome full of wild animals, all of them shouting the word "Alebrijes". When he was back to full-health, he began depicting the creatures from his dreams. His sculptures took off and became national treasures, being awarded the 1990 National Prize for Arts and Sciences (''Premio Nacional de Ciencias y Artes'') in the Popular Arts and Traditions category, the highest decoration to artisans granted by the Mexican Government two years before his death in 1992.

Since the first Alebrijes were made in the later [[TheThirties 1930's]], Alebrijes being used as a magical beast is [[NewerThanTheyThink fairly new]] and their nature has no set rules or behavior. Usually in MexicanMedia or media with overt themes relating to Mexican culture, alebrijes are portrayed as living creatures, ranging from friendly to predatory. Their outlandish designs and (alleged) dream-related origins give way to them being tied to some kind of MagicalLand, either a DreamLand or some form of culturally appropriate afterlife. It seems particularly common for them to be {{Psychopomp}}s or guides for the dead, or at least to be associated with {{Calacas}}.

They usually fall under {{Cartoon Creature}}s and MixAndMatchCritters, as Alebrijes are often mishmashes and pastiches of different animals.

* ''WesternAnimation/LasLeyendas'': There are two alebrijes. The first is named [[ADogNamedDog Alebrije]], who acts as the OnlySaneMan to the rather senile and kind of dumb Don Andres (a CaptainErsatz of Don Quixote). The second one is Evaristo, who is a hippie and absent-minded specimen. The same applies to SoftReboot ''WesternAnimation/LegendQuest'', but Evaristo is AdaptedOut and [[AdaptationPersonalityChange Alebeije's personality]] is now CampStraight.

The [[UrExample inventor]] of the Alibrije is Creator/PedroLinaresLopez, a paper mache artist who came up with the idea when he had a fever-dream in 1936 of a fantastical jungle biome full of wild animals, all of them shouting the word "Alebrijes". When he was back to full-health, he began depicting the creatures from his dreams. His sculptures took off and became a national treasure, being awarded the 1990 National Prize for Arts and Sciences (''Premio Nacional de Ciencias y Artes'') in Popular Arts and Traditions category, the highest decoration to artisans granted by the Mexican Government two years before his death in 1992.

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* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Coco}}'', alebrije are a type of fauna that exists in the Land of the Dead, appearing as bright and colorful animals similar to the works of art that they are based on. They seem to act as companions and [[GuardianEntity spirit guides]] for humans both living and dead, being used as pets and beasts of burden to the {{Calacas}} and [[spoiler:appear as mundane animals in the living world]]. Examples include: [[spoiler:Dante (who appears as a Xoloitzcuintle in the Land of the Living and is Miguel's spirit guide)]], Pepita (a winged tiger that serves the Rivera family), Frida Kahlo's spider-monkey and various chihuahas in Del La Cruz's estate.

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* ''VideoGame/DisneyMagicKingdoms'': Rabbit alebrijes ran amuck during the A Show to Remember Event in 2019. Players needed to catch them using Comfy Baskets and Sweet Treats to earn Vinyl Records and the Concert Event Poster.

* ''WesternAnimation/LasLeyendas'': There are two alebrijes. The first is named [[ADogNamedDog Alebrije]], who acts as the OnlySaneMan to the rather senile and kind of dumb Don Andres (a CaptainErsatz of Don Quixote). The second one is Evaristo, who is a hippie and absent-minded specimen.
** The same applies to SoftReboot ''WesternAnimation/LegendQuest'', but Evaristo is AdaptedOut and [[AdaptationPersonalityChange Alebeije's personality]] is now CampStraight.

* ''VideoGame/{{Guacamelee}}'': An ablerije appears as the pet of the villain Carlos Calaca, a living skeleton, and is fought as a boss. It resembles a giant, monstrous beast with bright red and purple fur, striped horns, yellow claws, insect-like wings, and a wide mouth full of sharp teeth.

* ''WesternAnimation/ElTigreTheAdventuresOfMannyRivera'': One of the villains is the Alebrije Monster. It's a huge creature with four eyes, horns, tentacle arms, and three legs. It has a girlfriend who looks exactly like him except she has [[TertiarySexualCharacteristics eyelashes]].

* The brijes of ''WesternAnimation/TheGuardiansOfTheLostCode'' are based on the alebrijes, but encompass beings from other cultures too. They used to be in contact with humans, amongst others through their dreams, and each human was paired with a brije they could combine with into a Warrior Form. The contact eventually fizzled out and in the present it's up to a group of Chosen Ones to restore the old alliance.
* Many of the animals in ''WesternAnimation/TheRoadToElDorado'' like the fish, birds and reptiles are very alebrije-esque, many of them coming and various shapes, sizes and bright colors.

* El Alebrije is a {{Masked Luchador}} who worked under the Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) under the ring name Kraneo. To fit the name, his costume is notable for being wildly animal-like and covered in bright colors, ranging from bright pink to RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver.
* Mije is a Masked Luchador who started his career as Cuije, the mascotas of El Alebrije. His costume during this time was a miniature version of El Alebrije's: wildly animal-like and covered in bright colors.

* Rabbit alebrijes ran amuck during the A Show to Remember Event in 2019 of ''VideoGame/DisneyMagicKingdoms''. Players needed to catch them using Comfy Baskets and Sweet Treats to earn Vinyl Records and the Concert Event Poster.
* The Alebrije Dragon of ''VideoGame/{{Dragonvale}} World'' is categorized as a Spirit Dragon and it's description is a fantastical take on the real-life origin of alebrijes. It states that an artist by the name of Pedro created such lifelike alebrije pieces that a real-life alebrije dragon snuck into his workshop thinking it had found others of its kind. Pedro subsequently adopted the dragon.
* The Alebrije Dragon of ''VideoGame/DragonCity'' is categorized as a Light Dragon. Its description reads that as a dreamwalker, the alebrije dragon's appearance is subject to whatever the dream dictates it to be.

* In honor of Halloween 2019, the alebrije breed was added to ''VideoGame/SuperAnimalRoyale''. The four animals that can have this legendary-classed breed are the tiger, the blue jay, the monkey, and the otter.

* One of the villains in ''WesternAnimation/ElTigreTheAdventuresOfMannyRivera'' is the Alebrije Monster. It's a huge creature with four eyes, horns, tentacle arms, and three legs. It has a girlfriend who looks exactly like him except she has [[TertiarySexualCharacteristics eyelashes]].
* The realm of Vallestrella in ''WesternAnimation/ElenaOfAvalor'' is home to all kinds of alebrije species. Of note are the Jaquins, jaguar/macaw hybrids. Three of these -- Migs, Luna, and Skylar -- are companions of Princess Elena. Then there's also Flo, an unusual alebrije in that she's a parade float model of an alpacamundi that was brought to life by magic.
* There are two alebrijes from ''WesternAnimation/LasLeyendas'' franchise. The first is the alebrije named [[ADogNamedDog Alebrije]] who debuted in the first installment and acts as the OnlySaneMan to the rather senile and kind of dumb Don Andres (a CaptainErsatz of Don Quixote). The second one is Evaristo, who is a hippie and absent-minded alebrije.