(Versión original en español de este artículo)

At Dicapta, we are proud to have an exceptional team of professionals dedicated to creating accessible content for everyone. Today, we want to shine a spotlight on a young narrator who captivates us with her talent and enthusiasm: Ana Sofía Cuesta Giraldo.

At just 17 years old, Ana Sofía has already built a unique path as an audio description narrator. She has lent her voice to programs like Plaza Sésamo, and the series Ziggy and the Zoo Tram and The Theory of Relativity. Additionally, her voice has brought Spanish life to characters from Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and Alma’s Way. From a young age, she immersed herself in the world of dubbing and voiceover under the guidance of her father, Oscar Javier Cuesta, a renowned actor and voice talent director. This family connection not only fostered her love for narration but also instilled in her values of discipline and dedication that shine through in her work today.

Between her studies and other activities, Ana Sofía took time to share her experience as an audio description narrator, her perspective on using All4Voicing, working alongside her father, and how her work has shaped her view of others.

Audio Description: Challenges and Rewards of Narrating for Children

For Ana Sofía, as for many others, it was initially difficult to understand the purpose of audio description. "At first, I said, ‘I don’t get it,’ and I didn’t have enough information to understand the purpose of narration until my dad explained one day that it’s for visually impaired and blind people. From there, I started researching, and I liked it. It seems like such a beautiful job, and I approach it with a lot of respect."

One of the biggest challenges she faced was narrating children’s series like Ziggy and the Zoo Tram, where 10-minute episodes could have up to 60 lines of text. “There was so much action, so it required a lot of description. A single episode could take me an hour and a half or two hours to narrate.”

Additionally, conveying emotions through narration has been challenging, “especially for children with such vivid imaginations—it’s challenging, but very rewarding.” However, this challenge has also become an opportunity to connect with her audience, imagining how each child might interpret her voice in their minds.

Using All4Voicing: A Tool That Simplifies Narration

For some time now, Ana Sofía has used Dicapta’s proprietary platform, All4Voicing, to create audio description narrations. Unlike other tools where elements are scattered across different interfaces, All4Voicing integrates video, narration spaces, and text in a single platform. "Being able to see what’s happening also helps me understand how I need to interpret it—whether it’s agitated, running, sad, or happy. Having that visual reference has made it much easier for me to guide my performance.”

Specifically for her work on Ziggy, Ana Sofía shared, “I think the storyline for all the episodes was very good. Little by little, I got hooked on each character, each little creature, and each situation. Eventually, I grew fond of the series, and everything started to flow more easily.”

She also highlights that All4Voicing allows for a more streamlined and organized process, with pre-set timings that optimize narration without the need for constant editing.

Admiration and Learning

Ana Sofía recognizes the invaluable influence of her father on her professional development. “I’ve worked with him my entire life. He has guided me in most things. He’s the one who says, ‘Do this. Try this tone. Repeat it.’ He’s my dad, my director, and my mentor.”

She adds, “I admire him so much. I might not say it often, but I admire him tremendously because he’s incredibly talented. He knows how to separate work from being my dad. It’s wonderful to have the chance to work with him. Many people dream of working with my dad, and it’s deeply rewarding for me to do so.”

A Youthful Perspective on Audio Description

Ana Sofía brings a fresh and empathetic perspective to her work. "Now that I’ve started university and have encountered so many different worlds and people, I’ve realized how gratifying audio description is. It helps me become more empathetic in my daily life, and that’s something I deeply value about this work.”

Looking Ahead

Currently, Ana Sofía is studying Performing Arts at Universidad Javeriana and plans to combine these studies with Social Communication. While her professional future could take many paths, she is confident she will continue working in audio description, not only for its social impact but also for the personal growth it provides.

Ana Sofía is an example of how young people can make a difference in the world of accessibility. Her passion, creativity, and dedication inspire all of us at Dicapta. Thank you, Ana Sofía, for your incredible work!

Catch exclusive highlights from the interview on our YouTube channel!