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Russian cartoon TV series draws attention from around the world

Russian cartoon TV series draws attention from around the world

Russia

Masha and the Bear is a Russian cartoon TV series that has become a world wide hit and is broadcast in over 120 countries.

The show was launched in 2009 and focuses on the adventures of a little girl named Masha and ‘the bear’, a retired circus performer.

The 3D computer animation series, a brainchild of “Animaccord”, has gone from critical acclaim to international commercial success via internet, reportedly bringing the company approximately 3.79 million euros in revenue in 2013.

“If you made it in a very tough Russian market, where everything is difficult because everyone thinks that they know the best way of doing things; everyone is an expert in the field of teaching and everyone knows what kind of cartoons their children must watch. If you made it in this market I think it requires only a small step to present yourself in the international market,” said Dmitry Loveyko, Animaccord Managing Director.

Apart from television deals and YouTube royalties, Masha and the Bear gets 60 percent of all revenues from goods licensing.

The adventures of this little girl, who is always protected from disaster by the bear, has drawn the attention of both parents and children all over the world making it an all round family show.

“I personally like the idea of Masha because she reminds me of myself, she is crazy like me and we both think she’s funny, positive and full of life, it is the most important thing,” said a Masha and the Bear fan.

Valeriya Bykova a mother added “I think this cartoon is popular because it is simple for kids to understand, it is funny and it is well drawn, as an adult I really like the graphics.”

Masha and The Bear is a great success story. Their adventures have been translated into 25 languages and today the cartoon is also broadcast by such media giants as Netflix and NBCUniversal The studio.

“Animaccord” would not disclose its profits, but Managing Director Dmitry Loveyko says they have been posting roughly a 40 percent increase in revenue annually.

The cartoon’s YouTube channel is in the top 10 most viewed in the world. The episode entitled “Recipe For Disaster” has already received over 1.28 billion views.

Euronews

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