Russian cartoons

[soidisantfille.livejournal.com]

I recent came across the cartoon "Malysh i Karlson", on a DVD collection of Russian children's cartoons. My Russian is not that great, so I could understand only about a quarter of what the characters were saying to one another (also because their voices are naturally exaggerated). Can someone please explain to me what the premise of the show is? From what I gathered, Karlson is Malysh's imaginary friend, and he lives on the roof.

I really like the style of illustration used by the artists on this show... the sketchy backgrounds and washed-out colours are quite beautiful. It makes me think of old-style Looney Tunes, before they became so bright and abrasive.

Are there any other great Russian cartoons I should know about? I've seen "Cheburashka" and "Troe iz Prostakvashino", but I'm just wondering what else is out there...

Comments

[simonff.livejournal.com]

You are spot on about the plot, though of course it's impossible to say whether Karlsson is imaginary or not. The original Swedish book has been translated into English (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0670411779/qid=1108087234/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/103-8786144-9121449?v=glance&s=books), but good luck finding that book.

Some other recommended cartoons are "Винни-Пух"("Winnie-the-Pooh"), "Тайна третьей планеты", "Алиса в стране чудес".

[mricon.livejournal.com]

Well, Malysh's parents, friends, his dog, Fröken Bock, his uncle Julius, Fille, Rulle, and the editorial staff of the city's newspaper all see Karlsson, so he is definitely not imaginary. :)

[mricon.livejournal.com]

"Malysh i Karlsson" (Karlsson på taket/Karlsson on the roof) is actually a book by Astrid Lindgren, who is mostly known in the US by her book "Pippi Longstocking" (Pippi Långstrump). The only translation ever published of Karlsson-on-the-Roof in the US is now out of print, but you can get it on eBay with relative ease.

[samtaburetkin.livejournal.com]

There's been a number of cool cartoons recently. You should try to find "Gagarin", for one thing. Of the old ones, I would recall "Котенок по имени Гав", "Большой секрет для маленькой компании", although I don't know whether you would be able to understand everything with them either. For a long adventure, you can entertain "Приключения капитана Врунгеля" or better yet "Остров сокровищ" -- you should not have any problems with the plot with the latter one :). They are both about two hours long. Some stuff like "Shrek" is dubbed into Russian, so you can update yourself with the modern slang used in the translation.

[udarnitsa.livejournal.com]

Does "Котенок по имени Гав" mean "A Kitten Called 'Bow-Wow'", or am I completely confused?

[dimon37.livejournal.com]

it does. :-)

[samtaburetkin.livejournal.com]

Yep, something of that kind

[penguinny.livejournal.com]

"Malysh i Karlson" is an interpretation of the Astrid Lindgren novel "Карлсон, который живёт на крыше" (originally "Karlsson-on-the-roof"; she is very famous Swedish writer, see e.g. http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/lindgren.htm). There is second part called "Карлсон вернулся" (corresponding to Lindgren's second novel), which I think is even funnier.

As for the other Russian animation... there's plenty. Tastes obviously differ, but I think you might be in for a surprise with Russian take on "Винни Пух и все-все-все" ("Winnie the Pooh"). It is _very_ different from Disney's. "Ёжик в тумане" ("Hedgehog in the fog") is an acclaimed masterpiece of pretty surreal animation. "Жил-был пёс" ("There once was a dog") is a very funny fairy-tale. Finally, you might like "Бременские музыканты" ("Musicians from Bremen"? not sure about official translation for that one) - still very popular children's pop-musical with very pronounced hippy style (about as colorful as "Yellow submarine", but drawn with pencil).

[nbuwe.livejournal.com]

This might help: http://lib.ru/LINDGREN/malysh_pdf.pdf

[klammeraffe.livejournal.com]

"Malysh i Karlson" based on famous book of swedish writer Astrid Lindgren (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astrid_Lindgren), named "Karlsson-on-the-roof" (also "Karlsson Flies Again" and "Karlsson-on-the-roof is Sneaking Around Again").

Karlsson is Malysh's friend and Freken Bock is a babysitter - that's all %)

Best Russian (not only, there are some from Poland) Cartoons
http://multiki.arjlover.net/

It's the most full list (and you can download them, but note:
Для "зарубежных" пользователей время скачивания с 2 часов ночи до 8 часов утра по московскому времени.)

[soidisantfille.livejournal.com]

Спасибо большое! I'm going to try and download some when I get the chance.

[nale.livejournal.com]

"Бременские музыканты" and "Приключения капитана Врунгеля" mentioned above are just delightful.

You might also try animated fairy-tales and legends, especially old ones (the animation is beautiful!) - like "Аленький цветочек" (resembles your "Beauty and the Beast", plot-wise), and some newer ones, too - like "Василиса Микулишна".

"Пёс в сапогах" was one of my favourites when I was a kid. It features some very funny and memorable songs. Animated series "Маугли" is also good; you must know the original well, so it will be easy to follow.

Funny thing - quite a few Russian animated films are based on imported literature. :D Like we don't have our own - while we do!

[aciel.livejournal.com]

Dog in Boots? Don't you mean Puss in Boots? I only ask because I have a copy of it, in Russian...

[dimon37.livejournal.com]

yes, Dog in boots. The plot is pretty much "Three muskateers", but maskateers are all dogs and the Cardinal's guards are cats.

[dair-spb.livejournal.com]

Well... He's alot of old Soviet animations based on classic Russian literature like Pushkin's "Сказ о царе Салтане" or kinda so.

"Hedgehog in the Fog" ("Ежик в тумане") is called "Best movie of all times" in Japan, btw ;-) Must see ;-)

Another two of my favorites (all are available for downloading, if you wish I can put in on website for you, contact me via icq or email stated in userinfo)

"Падал прошлогодний снег" (huh, lost in translation ;-) Maybe "Previous Year Snow Fell")
"Раз, два, три, четыре, пять" ("One, Two, Three, Four, Five")

if you contact me I could give you whole list of animations I have (It's not long though it's home and I'm currently not ;-)). Welcome.

[alexander-p.livejournal.com]

The soundtrack for Malysh and Karlsson was made by ecxellent actors (btw, if you saw Cheburashka, you could notice that crocodile Gena had the same voice as Karlsson) and the text wasn't exactly equal to the Lindgren's book.

But if your Russian was "that great", you would understand that the cartoon is an absolute masterpiece. :-)

[oblomov-jerusal.livejournal.com]

It's strange nobody has mentioned "Ну погоди!" series.

[wolk-off.livejournal.com]

It's fun, especially for those under junior high school age, but the characters do not speak! (well, almost.) It's the same as if somebody recommends "Tom & Jerry" for learning English.

[semionov.livejournal.com]

Hello.
My favourite Soviet cartoons are "Hedgehog In The Fog" (Ёжик в тумане) and "Blue Puppy" (Голубой щенок). These are the greatest masterpieces of world cartoon industry, I think.
Strongly recommend you to download them :-))
Also suggest "Пластилиновая ворона" and "Падал прошлогодний снег", but they require experience in Russian because content a lot of idioms and special Russian jokes.

[irkin.livejournal.com]

There are plenty of great cartoons. Карлсон, Бременские музыканты, Винни Пух, Жил был пёс, Ёжик в тумане, Следствие ведут колобки (братья Пилоты), Волшебное кольцо, Летучий корабль, Домовёнок Кузя, Падал прошлогодний снег, Пластилиновая ворона, Простоквашино, серия мультиков Арменфильм: Ух ты, говорящая рыба; Кто расскажет небылицу, Масленица....

Also I remembered one cartoon where do not speak, but it's absolutely great, is Contact.

[dimon37.livejournal.com]

Russian cartoons might be the greatest reason to learn Russain (just like for me anime is the best reason to learn Japanese, but maybe later)

[rodmonga.livejournal.com]

"Chipollino" cartonn is nice to watch too..

[malaya-zemlya.livejournal.com]

There is a pretty decent DVD collection called "Masters of Russian Animation Vol1-4".

http://www.netflix.com/MovieDisplay?movieid=27909759
http://www.netflix.com/MovieDisplay?movieid=60000109
http://www.netflix.com/MovieDisplay?movieid=60003491