RUSSIAN ANIMATION The latest hits of Russian animation at ATF online

RUSSIAN ANIMATION

THE LATEST HITS OF RUSSIAN ANIMATION AT ATF ONLINE +

By Rossella Arena

Russian animation is having growing global success. At ATF Online+ several Russian animation studios and media holdings presented their latest projects.

Russian animation is becoming more popular globally due to its high quality and exciting stories that have captured the hearts of children around the world. In recent years, animation has become the most popular genre of all Russian films released abroad, accounting for around 35-40% of the total box office. It is particularly popular in Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Many Russian animation studios and media holdings showcased their latest properties at the Asia TV Forum and Market - ATF Online +.

Parovoz Animation presented the сomedy and adventure series Spaceport, set in the far future and populated by various species of living beings. The main characters are three outsiders: a human boy, a large alien, and a gruff robot. They spend their time in the intergalactic spaceport, facing constant misadventures and selling healthy fast food. They make common human mistakes, which viewers can relate to, and then deal with the consequences during the episode. The series is still at a development stage, and the company is seeking co-production opportunities. Parovoz Animation is also looking for international partners for the co-production of three other animated projects: the brand-new Amazing Cafe about the magical adventures of a little girl called Agatha; the sitcom Tweetville; and the musical series Boo the Cat and the Good Boy.

Among the latest series from Wizart Animation is Backpack, which will be released in 2021. The show is about the adventures of Grisha, a four-year-old child, and her backpack inhabited by various characters: a piece of chalk, a sock, and a robot. Another project from the studio is the comedy series Tin’s Firebots, about a team of firefighting robots and their adventures. Both projects are open to coproduction. The company also presented the animated series The Snow Queen: Keepers of Wonders, a spin-off of the world-famous franchise; as well as: The Snow Queen: Mirrorlands; Sheep and

Wizart Animation

Wizart Animation France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Portugal, Poland, Finland, Croatia, and Slovenia, following agreements with European distributors Arait Multimedia and Menart. After the success of the global launch of the first season, a sequel to the series will be released in 2021. Brand4rent is also looking for partners to co-produce Flora & Team, a project that focuses on ecological and environmental issues.

AA Studio was created in 2010 and is now one of the largest 3D animation studios in Russia with in-house experts from ten different countries. At ATF they presented the Dragon Wish series in which unusual characters face difficulties, experience various adventures, become friends and

Wolves: Pig Deal; and Fantastic Return to Oz. Sheep and Wolves: Pig Deal was the only Russian project selected for one of the world’s largest festivals, the Catalina Film Festival. Even though it was the only animated film in the competition, it won the Best Storyline award beating out all other contestants. In 2020, Wizart successfully concluded several major agreements in various international markets, seeing its animation enter the United States, the United Kingdom, India, Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Africa. The series were distributed by Signature, Miraj, Toonz Media Group and Vertical Entertainment. In 2021, the studio’s shows will be broadcast on key platforms across the East and West, with over 300 million potential viewers. brand4rent

Russian licensing agency brand4rent presented Monsikids, a preschool animated series dealing with emotional intelligence. It aims to teach children how to understand and manage their emotions. The project is already screening on Amazon Prime, Kidoodle.TV, and Ameba in the United States, and on the Xiaomi and Huawei platforms in China. It will soon be available on screens in together learn to be kind to one another. Another new project is the animated series Mystery of Haunster, which revolves around the overcoming of fears and bad habits. AA Studio is seeking co-production partners for both projects.

Open Alliance Media

Open Alliance Media is a studio specializing in the production, international distribution, and licensing of multimedia brands for the 2-9 age group. Its main property is animated series JingleKids, which follows the adventures of the little inhabitants and adorable furry animals of Jingle City, who experience familiar but funny situations in a magical world. The series has already found its way into Asia-Pacific, with sales to Indonesia, China, Thailand, Taiwan, Pakistan, and Mongolia. Open Alliance Media has three other projects from different animation studios: preschool animated series Tommy the Little Dragon, as well as two series open to international co-production: music series My World and Dr. Dinosaurus.

Media Foundation produces 2D and 3D feature films and short cartoons. The company will introduce the market to: Sportaniya, an animated series that introduces viewers to different sports and the foundations of a healthy lifestyle; and the 3D movie Jumper Treasure Hunting. Soyuzmultfilm, one of the oldest animation companies in Russia founded in 1936, introduced a new musical series for preschoolers, Rockoons. Produced in 3D, Rockoons features fun songs, catchy music, and a positive vibe. The main goal is to help develop imagination and a love of music. SMF is currently working on 15 new projects, including several in coproduction. The shorts were purchased by international buyers from China, France, Taiwan, Germany, and the United States. They have received numerous international awards. The studio’s collection was acquired by Israel, Great Britain, Greece, USA, and France.

Other key projects from SMF introduced at ATF include an animated crime series The Secrets of Honey Hills; Claymotions, a series for younger audiences produced in a rare stop-motion technique; and The adventures of Peter and Wolf, a comedy series aimed at older children aged 9-12. Soyuzmultfilm will soon announce multiple deals with China for a series of animated shorts, Claymotions, Mr Theo, Cat & Dog, and The Adventures of Peter and Wolf. The animated series Rockoons, Claymotions, The Secrets of the Honey Hills have also grabbed the interest of Asian buyers, and many of them have also declared that they are waiting for the première of the brand-new series I’ll get you. SMF is also looking for coproduction partners for the new TV series Frosh, and the two reboots of the famous animation classics Scat-Cat and Umka.

Media Foundation

Soyuzmultfilm Soyuzmultfilm

Digital Television Russia At the last ATF, Riki Group presented their best-known animated series. The company is already represented in the Asian market and is currently developing a licensing program, working in partnership with Tencent and Alibaba Group. The company also presented some projects in development including Question Club, The Amazing Spoilers and Weatherville, the latter being awarded at the 2019 ATF animation pitch. During ATF Online+, Riki Group sold the rights to distribute the animated series The Fixies at PTS, Taiwan. The series will air nationally on PTS, PTS 3 and PTS Taigi. The company also received the exclusive rights to broadcast on freeto-air TV. In addition, an agreement with

The key project of media holding company Digital Television Russia is the animated series Puppies and Kittens. The series follows the tender adventures of the main characters in various life situations, and in their relationships with the world around them. Other important animated series are Be-be-bears, already well known to Asian audiences, starring a brown bear named Bucky, a polar bear named Bjorn and their friend Littlefox; and Leo and Tig, with the little leopard Leo, the tiger cub Tig and their monkey friend LiLi. The list also includes Fantasy Patrol, which follows the thrilling adventures of four young witches, and Heroes of Envell, starring four gamer friends.

Agama Film, founded in 2017 by Dmitry Loveiko, co-producer of the Masha and the Bear series, attended ATF with Fairyteens, an adventure fantasy series for 6-8 years old girls. The series follows the story of five fairies who live in a human apartment, and focuses on fundamental themes such as friendship, studies, communication, and much more. Riki Group

Finally, Riki Group is a leader in creating animated media brands for the whole family. Since the company’s launch in 2003, characters from their animation brands Kikoriki, The Fixies, Pincode, Babyriki and Tina & Tony have taken the world by storm with billions of views to date. The group’s series are broadcast in 90 countries and have been translated into 50 languages and dialects. Their Marmalade Media division manages the licensing of their many brands. a Hong Kong TV channel will soon be announced, following the results from the latest Asian market.

Since it first aired in 2010 The Fixies has become not only one of the most popular Russian animation series, but also a global brand that continues to grow year after year. It was acquired by Amazon Prime Video and Tubi, while Tencent Video signed an agreement to acquire the rights to the fourth season. In 2021 Riki is partnering with Da Vinci Media to broadcast The Fixies in multiple territories including South Africa, India, United Kingdom, Ireland, Turkey, Spain, Germany, Portugal, and Brazil, in English and local languages. And finally, the PlayKids platform has welcomed The Fixies in the US, UK and Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. Panda and Krash, a 3D animated series that follows the adventures of an impulsive little rabbit and a loyal panda, premiered in China in January, and will soon be available in Brazil.