Ecoconsciousness, the right to identity and pacifism: 9 relevant lessons from Soviet cartoons

Self-acceptance, feminism, respect for nature are topics that are now on the agenda. But some Soviet directors thought about them before. We have collected some old cartoons dedicated to important issues.

1. "Man in the frame": work should not interfere with life

• 1966
• Duration: 5 minutes.

This is a satirical cartoon about a paper man who valued his position so much that he gave up the joys of life. “He above all tried to stay within the framework of his position and only thanks to this he towered,” director Fyodor Khitruk commented.

The cartoon consists of seven short stories, in each of which the hero faces trials: the first position, falling in love, rejection of the team. All this threatens the main thing - the bureaucratic position, about which he cares so much.

As you move along career on the stairs, the picture frame in which the hero is located becomes more and more pompous and richer, separating him from the real world. Until it finally consumes him at all.

2. "My green crocodile": even the greatest love can end

• 1966
• Duration: 9 minutes.

The crocodile and the cow got together thanks to their love for flowers. And at first everything developed according to a typical scenario with a candy-bouquet period. However, autumn soon came - and the Cow doubted that the Crocodile was suitable for her. "Don't you see that you are so beautiful, and he is... green, ”others told her. Then she decided to break up with her lover.

Parting was given to the Crocodile hard. He was ready to do anything to get her back. Even become a green leaf, which the Cow loves so much.

There are many meanings to a cartoon. But the main thing is that, trying to always adapt to your partner, you can lose yourself. This tragic example shows: it is worth taking parting as part of life, not as its end. And you don’t have to try to completely change yourself in order to save the relationship at any cost.

3. "The kid who counted to ten": you need to be open to everything new

• 1968
• Duration: 8.5 minutes.

“I am one. The calf is two. A cow is three, ”the Kid shares his knowledge. But the inhabitants of the forest are dark ignoramuses. They are not happy about the prospect of being "counted." Therefore, they threaten the protagonist with reprisals, ridicule and spoof him. They don't even know that his math skills might one day save their lives.

The moral of the story is simple: do not take new information with hostility. Enlightenment makes life better, and our task is keep learning. This idea becomes especially relevant against the backdrop of a rapidly changing labor market: if you do not refresh your knowledge, there is a chance of becoming an unclaimed specialist.

4. "Klubok": you need to take care of nature

• 1968
• Duration: 9.5 minutes.

The tale is reminiscent of the classic story of the Golden Fish. Only this heroine fulfilled the wishes of the old man remotely, with the help of witchcraft, but the lamb from the cartoon "Klubok" felt human greed literally in his own skin.

The fact is that anything can be made from his wool. And the main character, an old woman, knitted herself socks, a rocking chair, and even a house...

The pace of her production increased, she paid less and less attention to the pet, and then completely locked it in the chest. The end is predictable: at some point the lamb went bald.

Against the backdrop of increased interest in topics animal rights and an environmentally friendly approach to production, this Soviet cartoon seems relevant again. Its main idea is rather to show the extent of human greed, but doesn't it accompany the consumer attitude to what surrounds us?

By the way, a more tragic scenario of non-environmental thinking can be found in another Soviet cartoon - "There will be gentle rain" in 1984. It shows the future after a nuclear catastrophe - humanity in it died out.

5. "Icarus and the Wise Men": do not listen to the advice of those who do not believe in you

• 1976
• Duration: 8 minutes.

Many people know the ancient Greek myth about Icarus, who flew too close to the sun and died. In the Soviet multi-adaptation, this legend was rethought. Here, Icarus is not the one who disobeyed his elders and therefore came to a tragic ending. And vice versa - the one who doubted his strength and fell under the yoke of the wisdom of his ancestors.

“Every cricket, know your hearth”, “What Jupiter can do, a bull can’t” - proverbs sound. Overtaking Icarus in flight, they literally clip his wings.

The authors of the cartoon lead the viewer to the conclusion: you should not pay attention to the "wise men" who say that you will not succeed. Them an experience may be non-universal and irrelevant. And also - not supported by practice.

6. "The Princess and the Ogre": it is worth developing critical thinking

• 1977
• Duration: 5 minutes.

“The weather was terrible, the princess was beautiful,” the cartoon begins with lines from a poem by the Soviet poet Genrikh Sapgir. This is a story about a little heiress to the throne, who got into the lair of a giant. At first, he was going to eat it, but, struck by beauty, changed his mind. And it would seem that everything ended well. But then the viewer learns that this was only the first part of the story.

“Maybe it was the other way around? The weather was beautiful, the princess was terrible, ”sounds further. It turns out that the future queen is a thorn in her side. Once in the dugout of the Cannibal, she frightens him so much that he can only flee.

The idea is read quite clearly: you should not take everything on faith. It is necessary to consider the information comprehensively, evaluating it skeptically. Now many people say that the skill critical thinking - one of the most important in the world, where the information field is filled with conflicting messages. And it seems that the cartoon "The Princess and the Ogre" confirms this.

7. "Family marathon": women unfairly remain on the sidelines

• 1981
• Duration: 9 minutes.

The plot is built around a married couple in which the husband is professionally involved in sports. At the competition, he faces several obstacles: first, the sneakers are torn, then there is no food left at the food stop. And finally, he loses motivation because he is far behind the other participants.

A loving wife helps him cope with all these problems: with two bags and high heels, she catches up with the marathon runner, changes his shoes into new sneakers, cheers him up and feeds him borscht. And during breaks, she manages to drop into the store, do her hair and put the children to bed. Nevertheless, all the laurels go to the husband.

The feminist agenda has long discussed the problem of "second shift" and "unpaid work" - when a woman is forced to combine roles housewives and workers.

But at the end of the 20th century, it was one of the first cartoons to rethink gender roles in society. It came out in 1981, when the first International Peace Marathon (MMM) took place in Moscow. It was believed that long running could be harmful to health, so women were not allowed to compete. This decision was criticized, and a year later 35 Soviet athletes were able to take part in the race.

8. "Conflict": there are no winners in war

• 1983
• Duration: 7 minutes.

Harry Bardin knows how to create small masterpieces with the help of improvised materials. So, matches were involved in the cartoon "Conflict". According to the plot, they are divided into two warring camps: blue and green. Trying to win each other's territory, matches are ready for any sacrifice. Even those that lead to a tragic ending.

“The next film was just a dream for me. I woke up feeling like a big gift. Matches that did not divide the boxes. Some with blue heads, others with green heads. The quarrel escalated into a nuclear war. And they all burned down, ”wrote Harry Bardeen in his book.

And although Goskino did not approve the cartoon, considering it "too pacifist", the public was delighted. After all, his idea is simple and clear: any conflicts should try to resolve peacefully.

9. “Does a hedgehog have to be prickly?”: you need to accept yourself as you are

• 1990
• Duration: 8.5 minutes.

Even before the body positivity movement took off, there were cartoons in the Soviet Union about creatures that didn't look like everyone else. Recall at least Cheburashka - not a bear cub, not a hare with big ears. Or the "Blue Puppy", with whom no one wanted to be friends because of his "wrong" color.

But the most revealing story happens with a curly hedgehog. "A shame! Shame! A curly-haired hedgehog in a decent hedgehog family, ”the crow makes fun of the baby. Relatives immediately rush to correctmisunderstanding”: either they straighten the needles to the animal, then they cut it baldly, then they “lacquer” the hairstyle with layers of resin. But nature takes its toll, and curls always reappear.

The crow does not stop until it suddenly turns white from fright. Only having experienced in her own skin what it is like to be different from everyone else, she understands that appearance is not the main thing. The main thing is what's inside.