The Peruvian animation studio Ninakami Animation has unveiled the trailer for its ambitious anime project, “Apukunapa Kutimuyñin: The Return of the Gods.”
The trailer was a product of Peruvian filmmaker Omar Vallejos, who developed the project as part of his Master’s degree at the Kyoto University of the Arts in Japan.
The series follows the arrival of mythical creatures and deities from Peru into the modern world. Although it hasn’t yet been greenlit for production, with enough support, it could become the first Peruvian anime in history.
Those deities include Inti, the god of the sun; Illapa, god of thunder; Pachamama, goddess of earth; as well as the jarjacha, a nocturnal beast along with the Mallki (Incan mummy) and the torito de Pucará (Pucará bull) figurine that represents protection, fertility and prosperity.
Apukunapa Kutimuyñin comes from Quechua and means “The Return of the Apus” (gods). This story with ancient roots seeks to honor the animators’ South American past.
The trailer also alludes to Peruvian cuisine as well as a scene with anticuchos — the sacred cats of the Andes, the Misti volcano and its deity, the Church of the Nazarenas, and references to the Spanish conquest and the Catholic religion.
In addition to Vallejos, the project includes animation director Sol Ferrari along with a multicultural team of artists from Argentina, Chile, Germany, Mexico, Paraguay, Uruguay, Colombia and the United States.
With the release of the trailer, Ninakami Animation is expressing its deep ambitions and desire to create their own intellectual property and develop an animated series based on it.
“Our goal is to showcase the talent that can be born and forged in this part of the world,” the studio says.
“We want to tell our own stories, our way. With a robust production, a solid plan and a clear objective, we begin the journey,” it adds.
Check out the trailer below.
