*pronounced “mooltiki,” meaning “cartoons.”
REJOICE, dammit.
My roommates recently discovered my ignorance of classic Soviet cartoon shorts (their faces contorting into various expressions of Whaaaaaa……?!?!?“) and took to remedying my dire situation with a vengeance. And so began an impromptu film festival of all the glorious childhood gems from ye olde USSR (or, as the locals call it, the CCCP) including my newest acquaintances: Cheburashka, the Hedgehog and…Winnie the Pooh?
That’s right: had Stalin survived yet another decade he would’ve been treated to the many adventures of Pooh-Bear, Piglet, Eeyore, Owl and Rabbit (no Tigger, unfortunately), which, quite possibly, could have melted even that heart of Slavic stone. Alas. But at least we can enjoy them ourselves – though approaching them with an open mind is a must, for this ain’t no Disney:
Винни-Пух (Vinni-Pukh, or, “Winnie-the-Pooh [and the Honey Tree]”
(You’ll have to click the “Subtitles/CC” button to get the excellent English translation)
Винни-Пух Идёт в Гости (Vinni-Pukh Idyot v Gosti, or, Winnie-the-Pooh Goes Visiting)
(Subtitles are Automatic)
Винни-Пух и День Забор (Vinni-Pukh i Den Zabor, or, “Winnie-the-Pooh’s Busy Day PART ONE”
(Subtitles are Automatic)
Винни-Пух и День Забор (Vinni-Pukh i Den Zabor, or, “Winnie-the-Pooh’s Busy Day PART TWO”)
(Subtitles are Automatic)
One of the most iconic characters in Russian animation is a little critter named Cheburashka, who stars in his own small series of short films from the 60’s-80’s along with his friend Gena the Crocodile:
Чебурашка и Гена Крокодил (Cheburashka and Gena Crocodile)
(Subtitles need to be activated)
Another classic is “Hedgehog in the Fog,” which won a couple of those “Best Animated Short of All Time” prizes worldwide, as well as being a personal favourite of filmmakers such as Michel Gondry and Hayao Miyazaki:
Ёжик в тумане (Yozhik v Tumane, or “Hedgehog in the Fog”)
(Subtitles are Automatic)
And there you are – instant film festival!
Though for the more ambitious, the longer “Аленький Цветочек” (The Scarlet Flower) is absolutely stunning. And so I take my leave with some of the most elegant animation I have ever seen:
Аленький цветочек (Alenkiy Tsvetochek, or “The Scarlet Flower”)
(Subtitles must be activated)
Josh Nadeau lives in Russia and, when not teaching or writing, may be found winter cycling, hitchhiking or engaged in general shenanigans. He hopes, when he’s older, to maintain a sense of awe.
