Classical Literature in Animation: New Industry Initiatives

At a meeting of the Presidential Council for Culture, Yuliana Slashcheva, CEO of the Soyuzmultfilm studio and Chair of the Board of the Russian Animated Film Association, highlighted the significant role of government support in the development of Russian animation.

Slashcheva thanked the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, for his attention to the industry and emphasized the effectiveness of measures already taken, including tax incentives for animation studios. According to her, another important step was the introduction of a dedicated competition for animated projects within the Cinema Fund, which contributed to the growth in the number of feature-length animated films in Russia.

During the meeting, a new initiative was announced — the creation of a specialized competition for adapting works of classical literature into animated formats. In Slashcheva’s view, such a measure would not only support the industry but also make classical works more accessible to younger audiences.

“Creating a dedicated competition for adapting classics through animation could greatly benefit both the industry and our children,” she noted.

As an example of this approach, Slashcheva cited Soyuzmultfilm’s current project — an animated adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s play The Seagull.

The creators plan to bring the story into a contemporary setting and use modern visual techniques to attract teenage audiences and introduce them to the classic work.

President Vladimir Putin supported the discussion of the initiative and instructed Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Olga Lyubimova to further develop the proposal. The minister, in turn, noted that similar efforts are already partially underway but require careful consideration, especially given the financial aspects of feature-length animation.

“The key is to have strong projects, and we will certainly find the support mechanisms,” Lyubimova emphasized.

Following the discussion, the parties agreed to continue joint efforts to develop support mechanisms for the animation industry.

The President also noted the achievements of Soyuzmultfilm and thanked Yuliana Slashcheva for her contribution to the industry, wishing her continued success.