Ecuadorian youth use anime to revive Quichua language and culture through a film about ancestral heritage.

In Ecuador’s Andes, young Otavalo Indigenous people are using anime-style animation to revive their culture and Quichua language, particularly among youth. The 9-minute film “We’re Aya,” created by Yay Animación, features mythical characters inspired by ancestral traditions, set in Imbabura province and influenced by Hayao Miyazaki. It portrays a spiritual journey to preserve heritage amid globalization, with themes of resilience and identity. The film includes 12 Quichua-speaking characters and symbolic elements like the condor and ritual dances. Creators, including director Tupac Amaru, aim to expand into Quichua-language video games and international media to strengthen cultural pride and combat language decline.