Vasco Pyjama

Vasco Pyjama is a cartoon character created by Australian cartoonist Michael Leunig. The character featured in several books and editorials by its creator, the most notable of which was "The Adventures of Vasco Pyjama".

The character's name is a pun on the name of real-life Portuguese explorer, Vasco da Gama.

Like most of Leunig's characters, Vasco has a large eyes and an extremely large nose. His only distinguishing feature is a large tuft of hair towards back of his head. Vasco is adventurous and enjoys travelling and new experiences. He travels the world with his direction finding duck, and corresponds with his good friend Mr. Curly of Curly Flat.

Vasco tends to be depressed by the state of the world, but quietly optimistic and is always searching for answers. The simplicity of Mr. Curly's life often gives Vasco the strength to continue his journeys.

Their correspondence has been collected in "The Curly Pyjama Letters", in which Mr. Curly writes to Vasco:

"In answer to your question, 'what is worth doing and what is worth having?' I say it is worth doing nothing and having a rest."

Trivia

* A Vasco Pyjama cartoon inspired the name of Melbourne band 'The Vasco Era'.