Ukranimafilm

The Ukrainian Animated Film Studio (also the Ukranimafilm Film Studio) is a state-owned[1] Ukrainian animation film studio that has existed in Kyiv for more than 60 years (1959-2019).

The studio was founded in 1959 by separating from the state Kyiv studio of popular science films (Kyivnaukfilm). It operated until 2019, when was liquidated by joining the Dovzhenko Film Centre.[2]

History

In 1959, on the basis of the Kyiv Studio of Popular Science Films (Kyivnaukfilm), an art animation workshop was established, which was soon transformed into the Creative Association of Artistic Animation, headed by Ipolyt Lazarchuk and later by Iryna Hurvych.[3]

In 1961, the first films of the studio were released — "The Adventures of Pepper" and "Vesnyanka". At this time, many young artists and directors joined the studio. In particular — Alla Grachova, Yevgeny Sivokon, Davyd Cherkaskyi, Efrem Pruzhansky, Volodymyr Dakhno, Volodymyr Honcharov, Mark Draitsun, Caesar Orshansky, Ivan Budz, Borys Khranevych, Yuriy Skirda, Eduard Kyrych, Mykola Churilov, Heinrich Umanskyi, Radna Sakhaltuyev, Oleksandr Lavrov, Konstantyn Chikin, Oleksandr Viken.

In the 1970s, Iryna Hurvych created films that became the studio's hallmark — "How Women Sold Men" and "How Men Taught Women a Good Lesson." Puppet animation was developed intensively. Such directors as Leonid Zarubin, Valentyna Kostyleva, Anatolii Trifonov, Volodymyr Kyryk and such artists as Natalia Okhotymska, Yakiv Gorbachenko, Yurii Skyrda, Mykola Churylov worked in this genre.

In the 1980s, the studio created popular serial projects: "The Adventures of Three Cossacks" (directed by V. Dakhno, animators — A. Vadov, E. Kirich, G. Umansky, I. Budz), "The Adventures of Captain Wrungel", " Treasure Island ”, “ Doctor Aibolyt'” (directed by D. Cherkasky, animator — R. Sakhaltuyev), “Alice in Wonderland ” and “Alice Through the Looking Glass” (directed by E. Pruzhansky, animators — I. Smirnova and G. Umansky).

Independence

For 1991, Ukranimafilm appeared to be the most experienced team in the post-Soviet space after Moscow's Soyuzmultfilm.[4] Since independence, the studio has made many films.

  • Krokodyl (‘The Crocodile’, 1991) by Mykhaiol Titov
  • Mamochka Rozochka i Minechka (‘Mummy Rosochka and Minechka’, 1993) by Natalia Chernysheva
  • Bobe-Maices (‘Grandmother’s Stories’, 1993, based on Jewish folklore) by Elena Kasavina
  • Istoriya odnoho porosia (‘Story of a Little Pig’, 1994) by Ludmila Tkachikova
  • Koza-Dereza (‘Impudent She-Goat’, 1995) by Irina Smirnova using an animated painting technique

These films were characterized by the fact that they often appealed to national culture, folklore, literature and helped in the search for national identity.

The films based on Ukrainian folktales and songs[4]:

  • Kotyk i Pivnyk (‘Little Cat and Little Cock’, 1991) by Alla Gracheva
  • Khodyt' Harbuz Po Horodu (‘The Pumpkin Walks in the Vegetable Garden’, 1996) by Valentina Kostyleva
  • Roukavychka (‘Small Mitten’, 1996) by Natalia Marchenkova
  • Yak ou Nashoho Omelechka (‘How Are Things for Our Melechko’, 1999) by Evgeny Sivokon

The films based on Ukrainian literature[4]:

  • Topolia (‘The Poplar’, 1996) by Valentina Kostyleva. The film is based on the poem Topolia by Taras Shevchenko
  • Viy (‘Viy’, 1996) by Alla Gracheva. The film is based on a horror story Viy by the Ukrainian-born Mykola Gogol

Also worth noting are the films directed by Oleg Pedan[4]:

  • Svitla Osobystist' (‘Light Personality’, 2002)
  • Nikoho nemaye vdoma (‘There Was Nobody at Home’, 2004)
  • Naimenshyi (‘The Smallest One’, 2007)

Despite good results, the studio is gradually declining. The state reduced funding, and some talented and skilled workers emigrated abroad. In the 2000s Ukranimafilm experienced almost no development. Ishov tramvai nomer dev'iat (‘The Tram №9 Was Going’, clay animation, 2002) by Stepan Koval was the most notable Ukranimafilm's product of that period.[4] The film was awarded the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival, won at the Molodist International Film Festival, at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival and received some other awards at different animation festivals.[5]

In 2014, the studio experienced a relative boom, when the series "Adventures of Kotygoroshko and his friends" and a full-length cartoon Babay were created at public expense. However, in the following years the studio was in decline. The concept of the studio's development as an animation hub, presented in 2017 by the new director of the studio Dmytro Lisenbart, could not be realized.

The most famous films
  • Cossacks (animated series) (1967-1995)
    • How the Cossacks Cooked Kulish (1967)
    • How the Cossacks played football (1970)
    • How the Cossacks liberated the brides (1973)
    • How the Cossacks bought salt (1975)
    • How the Cossacks became Olympians (1978)
    • How the Cossacks helped the musketeers (1979)
    • How the Cossacks Met Aliens (1983)
    • How the Cossacks Feasted at a Wedding (1984)
    • How the Cossacks played hockey (1995)
  • The Adventures of Captain Wrungel series (1976-1979)
  • The Adventures of the Blacksmith Vakula (1977)
  • How to Feed a Bear (1976)
  • What kind of skewer do you want? (1975)
  • Musical Tales (1976)
  • The First Winter (1978)
  • The Golden Deer (1979)
  • How they carried the table (1979)
  • Once upon a time there were matryoshka dolls (1981)
  • Alice in Wonderland (1981)
  • Meeting (1984)
  • Doctor Aibolyt' series (1984-1985)
  • Treasure Island (1986-1988)
  • Three Ladies (1989)
  • The Eneyida (1991)
  • The Tram №9 Was Going (2002)
  • Babay (2014)

References
  1. Labunka, Illya Matthew. "Cinema in Ukraine: some facts and figures on its status (07/17/05)". The Ukrainian Weekly. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  2. "Кіностудія "УкрАнімаФільм" стане частиною Центру Довженка". LB.ua. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  3. "«Сніг» падає на всіх. Режисер Євген Сивокінь: «Зробити мультфільм про наші вибори? Повірте, сатира мене вже давно не цікавить»". DT.ua. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  4. Bendazzi, Giannalberto (2017). Animation: A World History: Volume III: Contemporary Times. New York: CRC Press. p. 172.
  5. The Tram №9 Was Going, retrieved 2020-06-17
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