Yuliana Slashcheva: Uzbekistan and Russia to develop joint animation projects

At the forum, featuring media representatives from Uzbekistan and Russia, Yuliana Slashcheva, Chairman of the Board at SMF Studio/Soyuzmultfilm, emphasized the importance of restoring cooperation and implementing new projects in animation between the two countries.

The speaker highlighted the studio’s historical ties with Uzbekistan. In 1941-1945, Soyuzmultfilm temporarily operated in Tashkent and Samarkand. In 1965, the studio created an animated film about Nasreddin Hodja based on an Uzbek folk tale. That same year, Uzbekfilm produced its first puppet animated film in a 6x6 format, and in 1978 the two studios collaborated to shoot the film “Alim and His Donkey”.

According to Yuliana Slashcheva, all the necessary conditions have now been created to continue this partnership and launch a joint animation project based on Uzbek folk tales, legends, and traditions. Animation is a universal art form that easily overcomes language and government barriers. The need to harmoniously combine traditional experience with new technologies and ideas of young creative professionals was also highlighted.

A representative from Russia also shared information about creating TV series, feature films, computer and mobile games, and comics featuring famous Soyuzmultfilm characters. This experience can also be used in Uzbek animation to breathe new life into the heroes of national fairy tales and legends.

Sharing her impressions after learning about the Islamic Civilization Center’s activities in Uzbekistan, the guest highly praised the interactive, simple, and accessible presentation of history and culture at the complex.

Dilshod Hakimov, photos by Farhod Abdurasulov, UzA