On a magical island in Dominican Republic, a guardian girl named Higüemota lures fishermen to the deep sea to feed her cursed and sorrowful mother. When a boy and a lady befriend her, unaware of her dark secret, their connection inspires her to confront her vengeful mother and seek redemption by protecting those she once harmed.
Read the full story HERE
Higüemota is inspired by the Dominican Republic and Haitian folklore "La Ciguapa." She's a wild woman with long hair covering her body and backward-facing feet, leaving misleading tracks in the mountains where she lives, luring men into the woods to capture or bewitch them.
René (Francisco's Granda) & Alaia (René's best friend)
Caona - Higüe's mother
Caona, a former cacique who was tortured and killed by the Spanish colonizers, was later thrown into the sea. On her way to the depths of the sea, she merged with a magic stone called Larimar, which kept her alive for the price of becoming one with the deep sea. She later turned her into a beast due to the magic power of the stone and the vengeful thoughts.
Caona is inspired by the Taino cacique Anacaona and her life story. Higüemota is Anacaona's real child, from whom she was taken away.
Whale animal guide
For the animal guide, I was inspired by Dominican sea animals such as the manatee, sea stars, sea turtles, and different whales. This, plus bioluminescence attributes inspired by real deep-sea creatures.
Research
