A Buddy for Matroskin: Putin to Star in Popular Animated Series "Prostokvashino"
"Putin to Star in Highly Acclaimed Animated Series as Remarkable Character"
Get ready for a fresh dose of soft power! Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to waltz into the world of animation as a character in the beloved series "Prostokvashino." According to studio head Julianna Slascheva, this partnership promises to be a winning combo, promoting Russia and its culture in style.
"Prostokvashino," initially a trilogy of films based on the stories of children's author Eduard Uspensky, brought to life the adventures of a boy and his chatty pets—Matroskin the cat and Sharik the dog. After a 30-year hiatus, the series returned to our screens in 2018, setting its action in the present day.
Incorporating Putin into the series harks back to the glory days of Soviet animation, a cultural staple in former Eastern Bloc countries. But it's not only the old guard who'll appreciate this new chapter—Russian animated films are gaining traction in China and Southeast Asia. Measuring these waters, Slascheva predicts that Putin's addition to the cast will be a boon for Russia's popularity abroad. So far, there's been no word from the Kremlin on the matter, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov likening the situation to Putin's childhood bond with the average Russian.
Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting collaboration that aims to captivate hearts through the magic of animation, and with a hefty dose of soft power to boot!
[1] St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF-2025): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Petersburg_International_Economic_Forum[2] Sojuzmultfilm: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sojuzmultfilm[3] "Prostokvashino" series: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Prostokvashino[4] Eduard Uspensky: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Eduard-Uspensky[5] Dmitry Peskov: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dmitry_Peskov
- Next to the intriguing world of entertainment, politics makes an unexpected appearance in the upcoming season of "Prostokvashino," with Russian President Vladimir Putin set to star in the beloved animated series.
- As the excitement builds for this collaboration, the series promises to not only captivate hearts through the magic of animation but also to reinforce Russia's cultural influence in pop-culture, general-news, and even international politics.
