Eduard Uspensky and Cheburashka

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Next installment of Weird Soviet Cartoons brings us Investigation Held by Kolobki (1986). The title of this cartoon is an allusion to Investigation Held by Znatoki, a popular Soviet crime series.

This one is actually dubbed in English - enjoy. :)

animation 1980s soviet ussr russia history photography vintage retro

10 June, 1936 is the day when the first and biggest Soviet animation studio, Soyuzmultfilm, was created! Basically all of Soviet cartoons were made under its wing.
There are so so so many amazing old cartoons, some are funny, some sad, some... — **10 June, 1936** is the day when the first and biggest Soviet animation studio, Soyuzmultfilm, was created! Basically all of Soviet cartoons were made under its wing.
There are so so so many amazing old cartoons, some are funny, some sad, some educational, some plain weird. I should post some of the more weird ones, oh you’ll see.

animation cartoons soviet ussr russia history photography vintage retro

Holiday cartoons from Soviet Union - my top 5

“The Last Year’s Snow Was Falling” (1983)

This one is a legend. Packed with phrases that every Russian person recognizes in a conversation. I watch it religiously every year on December 31. I pretty much know it by heart, but I still enjoy watching it! Voiced by the amazing Stanislav Sadalsky. Great music too!

(«Уж послала так послала!» «А вот это мой размерчик.» «Ох уж эти сказочки! Ох уж эти сказочники…»)

(Watch with English subtitles here)

“Father Frost and Summer” (1969)

It’s sooo cute! And those songs! Love love love it.

(LQ quality but with English subtitles)

“Winter in Prostokvashino” (1984)

Another classic cartoon - the third installment in the story of the little village called Prostokvashino. Check out the Christmas tree decorated in attic-found vintage. :)

(«Фиг вам называется!»)

(with English subtitles)

“The Nutcracker” (1973)

I remember watching this as a child and being mesmerized with the music. It was long before I knew who Tchaikovsky was! And the scene when Nutcracker turns into boy gave me goose bumps.

This one needs no translation.

“Father Frost and Grey Wolf” (1978)

I mostly include this one for the song - «Тревога! Тревога! Волк унёс зайчат!» - which is an old joke between me and my sister. We watched this one a lot back in the day. :)

(with English subtitles)

Making this list has put me into holiday mood! :)

cartoons animation soviet ussr russia history photography vintage retro december

Soviet cartoons. Thumbelina, dir. Leonid Amalrik (1964)

animation 1960s thumbelina soviet ussr russia history vintage retro

Cheburashka/Gena the Crocodile flicker picture pin (buy)

Source: etsy.com cheburashka lenticular pins soviet ussr russia history photography vintage retro

Making the third Cheburashka stop-motion film (”Shapoklyak”), 1974. This is Albert Schwartzman, the film’s art director.

cheburashka 1970s animation soviet ussr russia history photography vintage retro

New Cheburashka & Gena the Crocodile pins in my shop!

cheburashka pins soviet ussr russia history photography vintage retro

“Gena, is the luggage very heavy?”
“How do I say it, Cheburashka… Very heavy.”
“Look, Gena. Let me carry the luggage.”
“And you will carry me.”
“Great thinking.”

Shapoklyak, dir. Roman Kachanov (1974)

cheburashka 1970s soviet ussr russia history vintage retro