Soviet animation lives on

This month Russia marks the 80th anniversary of the birth of Vyacheslav Kotyonochkin, the creator of the most popular Soviet cartoon series “Nu, pogodi”.

The ever-present tension between the brutal wolf and the timid hare is still popular today.

Released in 1969, “Nu, Pogodi” has become a classic of Soviet animation. With all the chases and gags, the series is less violent than its American cousins. It has softer humour and has some traces of social satire.

Kotyonochkin left an artillery school to join the Soviet animation giant “Soyuzmultfilm” – and never regretted his choice. In fifty years he directed more than sixty animations, but it was “Nu, Pogodi” that brought him awards and international recognition.

Two years ago Aleksey Kotyonochkin, the director's son, filmed two more episodes of the series.

He now dreams of making a full-length film starring the famous duo.

“He used to say he's tired of Nu, Pogodi. But I do not think so. He would always come back to it. He loved these characters too much to get tired of them,” said Aleksey Kotyonochkin, the animator's son.