Best Russian animation series

Masha and the Bear (2009)

The aim of Masha and the Bear series is simple and urgent at the same time — the series tries to introduce eternal truths to a child in a clear and entertaining way, to present the world in its diversity and to reveal positive features of any situation. The series also tries to explain the logic of actions in various difficult situations and helps to struggle with your own weak points in an unobtrusive way.

Kikoriki (2004)

The Smeshariki are stylized rounded animals. Each of the nine characters has a unique personality and a range of interests with no negative characters among them. Plots are built not on the battle of opposing forces but on the unexpected situations the animated characters stumble upon in their interactions deemed similar to the ones that children may encounter in their everyday lives. Many of the topics foreground the guidance that friendship and community provide to the individual making his or her way in the world. Complex themes and specific cultural references place this cartoon firmly within the Russian tradition of animation. Much attention was devoted to the humor in the series, some of which has attracted adults as well.

Om Nom Stories (2012)

The adventures of Om Nom, the cute little green monster from Cut the Rope.

Smeshariki. New season (2020)

The adventures of Smeshariki - spherical anthropomorphic animals that find themselves in various situations.

Три богатыря. Ни дня без подвига (2024)

Fantasy Patrol (2016)

An epic animation about four 'average' girls who have superpowers. They get into endless adventures while trying to balance the world of fairies with the human one.

Junior and Karlson (1968)

A Soviet cult cartoon, so untypical for a Western viewer, especially, a little one. A boy named Malysh ("A Little One") suffers from solitude being the youngest of the three children in a Swedish family. The acute sense of solitude makes him desperately want a dog, but before he gets one, he "invents" a friend - the very Karlson who lives upon the roof. So typical for the Russian culture spirit of mischief, which is, actually, never punished, and the notion that relative welfare not necessarily means happiness made the book by Astrid Lindgren and its TV adaptations tremendously popular in the Soviet Union and nowadays Russia and vice versa - somewhat alienated to the Western reader and viewer (see User's comments below). However, both the book and the cartoon are truly universal - entertaining and funny for the children and thought-provoking and somewhat sad for grownups.

Gogoriki (2004)

Gogoriki is a Russian animated children's television series built around animals, each with unique character traits and interests. In each episode, the characters encounter an unexpected situation or conflict, similar to those that children may encounter. The series is also funny, making it a viewing pleasure for adults and children alike!

Masyanya (2001)

Masyanya is an ordinary girl who does not particularly shine with talents and beauty, living the same ordinary life as all of us who have gathered in this country, and not only in it ... She drinks beer, hangs out in hot places, meets friends and trying in every possible way to get as much pleasure from life as possible ... The only thing that distinguishes her is her invincible indifference and love of life.

The Fixies (2010)

“The Fixies” follows the comical misadventures of Tom Thomas and his secret friendship with Simka and Nolik, the children of the Fixie family that lives in his apartment. There’s just no end to the troubles Tom Thomas and his Fixie friends get themselves into with all the gadgets and appliances around them! Luckily for Tom Thomas, the Fixies have the smarts, skills, and tools they need to figure out a problem and solve it before his parents find out.

38 parrots (1976)

Parrot, Monkey and Elephant are excited to understand how long their friend Boa is. They finally arrive to the result, though it is measured in quite a strange fashion.

Шурик и Шарик (2023)

Kikoriki: The ABC's of Safety (2006)

The world is full of unknown, incomprehensible and therefore very attractive things that children encounter every day. In order to give them the opportunity to learn about the world themselves, but at the same time to do so without risk to their health, "The ABCs of Safety" was created. In short, fascinating stories, young viewers, together with the Smesharikis, will get to know the basics of safety and learn different tricks, remember important and useful rules of conduct on the road, in transport, on the water and much more...

Герои Энвелла (2017)

Cheburashka and Gena the Crocodile (1969)

Cheburashka is a creature unknown to science. After the zoo rejects him, he becomes lonely and wants friends. Meanwhile, a crocodile named Gena is in the same boat and seeks friendship. The two meet and build a house for the lonely.

Little Tiaras (2018)

The plot of the animated series "Tsarevna" is based on the adventures of five girls, whose images are based on the heroines of Russian folk tales familiar from childhood. Each of them – Princess Varvara, the Beauty of the Long Braid, Vasilisa, the Frog Princess, Daria, the Princess Nesmeyana, Princess Elena the Beautiful and Sleeping Princess Sonya - has amazing magical power, but does not yet know how to control it. In order to learn how to use their abilities, they arrive on the magical island of Divnogorye, where they will be taught by the great wizard Koschei the Immortal.

Masha's tales (2011)

Masha, it turns out, loves to tell stories! And she tells them, as would any child with creativity, a little in her own way - because children see the world, not as we, adults.

Kikoriki. Pincode (2012)

Adventures that develop interest in inventing, programming and science in children from 4 to 14 years of age.

Gora samotsvetov (2003)

Kid-E-Cats (2015)

A story about everyday life, relationships and adventures of three little curious kittens. In their large family, life never stands still: together they learn to express emotions, support each other and find a way out of any situation, even difficult at first sight, with the help of imagination and parental advice.

Смешарики: Новые приключения (2012)

Везуха! (2010)

My student spirit (2020)

"My student spirit" is a story about a student and a little afterlife. The series tells about the ghost of a student and his living friend, who are forced to help each other in order to achieve a common goal — to leave the institute.

The Magician's Hat (1979)

Follow the adventures of Moomintroll.

Malyshariki (2015)

BabyRiki characters are toys that have come to life in a children's bedroom. They explore and discover their world, making friends and learning new things along the way. Storylines are simple and related to familiar things for this age group, such as eating, activities, playing, sleeping and other daily routines.

Comet in Moominland (1977)

Luntik (2006)

The Russian training animation series for preschool children. This is the story of a little furry creatures Luntik,which born on the moon and fell down with her ​​back to Earth. The action takes place in a forest clearing near the pond. The main characters - children, especially Luntik wants to learn about the world and relationships in society.

Смешарики. Мир без насилия (2011)

Recess (1976)

The film Break is intended for schoolchildren of younger age.

Mr. Theo, Cat & Dog (2018)

It seemed that no storms of the outside world could shake the usual and measured course of village life in Prostokvashino. Time seemed to freeze. Still, every morning Matroskin tastes fresh milk obtained from his pet cow Murka. The Ball still spends time in the surrounding forests, "photo hunting" for rare game. However, now he has learned how to post photos of his prey on the Internet. And still, Uncle Fyodor visits them at every opportunity. And then they have fun and amicably spend time with their male company. And when it began to seem to them that this would always be the case, suddenly everything changed with the appearance of one little girl, Uncle Fyodor's own sister. And the name of this girl is Vera Pavlovna.