Get your free tickets to the Digital Short Story 2017 reception at SVA!
Ana Lozada is a Venezuelan illustrator, designer and visual storyteller originally based in Osaka. Due to her diverse international experience, her influences range from European expressionist artists to Japanese animators such as Masaaki Yuasa. During her years at Osaka Communication Arts College, she was awarded the 2014 Grand Prize for the Asahi Newspaper student advertising Contest by Osaka Copywriter’s club. Since then she’s worked individually with clients and Japanese companies as a freelancer.
Her #DSS2017 story is title The Mountainpath.
Veyu is a gentle boy versed in the ways of mixing plant substances to use as medicine while his sister Nuna is a strong, hot headed girl. As children of their tribe’s leader, they are expected to take on the roles of their mother and father soon. When they find out through a coming of age ceremony that they cannot fulfill their tribe’s expectations, the twins flee their homeland in search of their true potential. On their journey they are taken in by Mutu, a frog deity who offers to enhance their abilities in exchange for the protection of his frog children and a mysterious young tree. The twins are able to grow while honing their skills, but when a violent attack on their land by strangers with new technology takes place, the twins will be forced to choose to give up their powers for their home or protect them.
You probably have a thousand story ideas in your head. What made you decide on this story for your DSS project?
The length and format seemed most suitable for this story, as most of my ideas tend to be rather long and complex. I also thought a digital format has a greater potential for spreading this story and have it reach the audience. This was important for this particular story as my goal was to familiarize people with the image, some cultural aspects and (loosely) the history of native Venezuelans.
What inspired your story?
Memories of a book on native Venezuelan myths and legends as well as the actual events that took place in history.
What do you hope people take away from your story?
I hope people are more open to reading stories about a culture different from theirs.
I also hope that people think a little about ‘good endings’ and ‘bad endings’ in games and other narrative media. I’ve never been fond of either, I don’t think real life either truly rewards you or punishes you for personal growth. I wanted the endings to this narrative to reflect that idea.
Thanks Ana! We look forward to your story at #DSS2017
Website: www.analozada.com
instagram/twitter: @storydiaz