Yakari facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Yakari
Yakari #1 (1977)
Publication information
Publisher	Le Lombard (French) Cinebook (English)
Format	Ongoing series
Genre	Graphic Novel
Number of issues	42 (in French) 20 (in English)
Creative team
Writer(s)	Job (André Jobin) (1973–2016) Joris Chamblain (2016–present)
Artist(s)	Derib (Claude de Ribaupierre)
Creator(s)	Derib & Job

Yakari is a popular comic book series from France and Belgium. It was first created by Job (who wrote the stories) and Derib (who drew the pictures), both from Switzerland. Today, Joris Chamblain writes the stories.

Yakari is super famous in Europe! It has even been turned into a television cartoon series twice (in 1983 and 2005). A French animated movie based on the comics came out in 2020.

What is Yakari About?

Yakari is a young Sioux Native American boy with a very special gift: he can understand and speak to all animals! In his adventures, he meets many different animals from North America.

His best friends are a Sioux girl named Rainbow, a Sioux boy named Buffalo Seed, and his loyal pony called Little Thunder. Yakari also has a special spirit guide, a "totem" animal named Great Eagle. Great Eagle often appears to Yakari to give him important advice.

The stories usually take place in the North American Great Plains. Horses are already part of their world, but there are no white people in the series. This means Yakari's adventures probably happen after the 15th century, but long before many settlers arrived in the 1700s and 1800s. The comics show the Sioux culture in a very positive way, showing them as peaceful people who live in harmony with nature.

Who are the Characters in Yakari?

Here are some of the main characters you'll meet in the Yakari comics:

Human Characters

• Yakari: He is the main character, a small Sioux boy with the amazing ability to talk to animals. This gift was given to him by Great Eagle, his totem. Unlike other boys his age, Yakari doesn't use weapons like knives or bows and arrows.
• Rainbow (Arc-en-Ciel): A Sioux girl and Yakari's best friend. She knows about his special gift and often joins him on his adventures. She also learns about healing from Yakari's mother.
• The-One-Who-Knows (Celui-qui-sait): He is the chief and shaman (wise spiritual leader) of Yakari's village. He is one of the first people to realize that Yakari has a rare and special talent. He is the oldest and wisest person in the village. In the cartoon, he is called Wise One.
• Buffalo Seed (Graine-de-Bison): A Sioux boy who is Yakari's friend and sometimes rival. He dreams of becoming the best hunter. He is more active than Yakari and enjoys sports like wrestling and archery. He is a very good archer for his age.
• Bold Gaze (Regard-Droit): Yakari's father. At first, he wasn't sure if Yakari could really talk to animals, but he eventually believes his son has a special gift.
• Braid Night (Tresse-de-nuit): Yakari's mother. She is very good at healing. In the cartoon, she is called Midnight Braids.
• Taut Bow (Arc-tendu): A mean and proud warrior who travels around. He loves to hunt rare animals. He has fought with Yakari many times and sees Yakari as his biggest enemy. In the cartoon, he is called Quick Bow.

Animal Friends

• Little Thunder (Petit Tonnerre): A white-and-black Pinto pony. He is Yakari's horse and closest friend. He doesn't like to wear a saddle or reins, so Yakari rides him without them.
• Double-Tooth (Double-Dent): A beaver who is also an artist.
• Tilia (Tilleul): A young beaver who loves to play jokes and go on adventures.
• The Grizzly: This bear used to be wild and scary, causing trouble for other animals. But he learned to be humble and is now one of Yakari's friends.
• Snowball (Boule-de-Neige): A young white bear. He felt different because of his white fur until Yakari became his friend. He has been targeted twice by Taut Bow, who collects white animal furs, but Yakari saved him both times.
• Carcajou: A grumpy wolverine who often causes trouble for Yakari and his beaver and flying squirrel friends. He becomes a bit nicer after Yakari helps him a few times.

Totem Animals

• Great Eagle (Grand-Aigle): A large bald eagle and Yakari's totem animal. He helps Yakari with his wisdom and advice. He is the one who gave Yakari the gift of talking to animals.
• Nanabozo (Nanabozo): A magical rabbit and Rainbow's totem. He has appeared to Rainbow and Yakari many times and taken them on amazing journeys, even back to prehistoric times!

Yakari Books

The Yakari books have been translated into at least 17 different languages! These include English, German, Dutch, and many others.

In France, there are 42 Yakari books. In English, the publisher Cinebook Ltd has translated 20 of them.

Yakari on Screen

Television Series

Yakari has been made into two different television series. The first one, from 1983, had 52 episodes. The second version, from 2005, was a bigger project with many more episodes. The fourth season of the 2005 series was made using CG-animated (computer graphics), which was a new style for the show.

Animated Film

A French animated movie called Yakari, A Spectacular Journey was released in cinemas on August 12, 2020. It was popular in France, Germany, and Hungary.

See also

In Spanish: Yakari para niños