Ecuador's Otavalo Indigenous people use anime to inspire pride in their ancient culture and language
Associated Press
1 / 5
Yarik Sisa, an artist with Yay Animacin, works on "Aya Somos," the first Quichua animated short, blending Otavalo culture with Japanese-style anime, in Hatun Rumi, Ecuador, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)From left, Malkik Anrango, Tupac Amaru and Yarik Sisa chat about "Aya Somos," the first Quichua animated short, blending Otavalo culture with Japanese-style anime, in the courtyard of the Yay Animacin studio in Hatun Rumi, Ecuador, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)From left, Malkik Anrango, Yarik Sisa and Tupac Amaru walk among landscape they aim to capture in "Aya Somos," the first Quichua animated short, blending Otavalo culture with Japanese-style anime, in Hatun Rumi, Ecuador, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)Yarik Sisa, an artist with Yay Animacin, sketches in his notebook while his colleagues talk about their project "Aya Somos," the first Quichua animated short, blending Otavalo culture with Japanese-style anime, in Hatun Rumi, Ecuador, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)Tupac Amaru, the director of "Aya Somos," the first Quichua animated short, blending Otavalo culture with Japanese-style anime, gives an interview in Hatun Rumi, Ecuador, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved
Yarik Sisa, an artist with Yay Animacin, works on "Aya Somos," the first Quichua animated short, blending Otavalo culture with Japanese-style anime, in Hatun Rumi, Ecuador, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)