Not a second of boredom in this, one of the very first cartoons made at Soyuzdetmultfilm studio (later renamed Soyuzmultfilm). Directed by Olga Khodatayeva in 1936, it shares themes with some of her other films, such as the 1928 "Samoyed Boy" and the 1944 "Stolen Sun". Unusually for cartoons made at the studio at this time, it doesn't attempt to imitate Disney wholesale, but seems to carry on the Soviet animation traditions from before the founding of the new central studio and the switch to cel animation. This is seen for example, in the wide selection of shading contours - such as white outlines.
Another interesting thing: at 2:46 and 7:45, you see some examples of the background moving instead of the character, in other words a tracking shot in animation. The first example of this in Hollywood was the 1935 Disney cartoon "Three Orphan Kittens". The film is currently in the public domain, according to the Russian Ministry of Culture.
Originally translated on November 11, 2010.
