A Timeless Soviet Cartoon That's Perfect for the Holidays

I'm still getting into the holiday spirit by watching my favorite Soviet cartoons, especially those that celebrate New Year's. Each one brings me so much joy and nostalgia from my childhood.

The cartoon 'When the Trees Light Up'

This one was made in 1950, and despite being over 70 years old, it still holds up amazingly well. It's a testament to the incredible work of everyone involved in its creation. Director Mstislav Sergeyevich Pashchenko even won a prize for best children's film at the 6th Karlovy Vary Film Festival in 1951. He received many other awards before and after that, and all his cartoons were met with a standing ovation.

Of course, the director's work is impressive, but it's also worth noting the contributions of everyone else involved in the project.

Scriptwriter Vladimir Suteev is a household name, and for good reason. He's written and illustrated many amazing works, and this cartoon is no exception.

Composer Karen Khachaturyan deserves special mention, as the music is a huge part of what makes this cartoon so special. It perfectly captures the festive, cozy, and wintry atmosphere of New Year's.

Khachaturyan wrote all the music in the cartoon, including the song 'Under the New Year', which features lyrics from a famous poem by Sergei Mikhailov. Some of you might remember reading and reciting his poems in school.

Voices

The voice acting in this cartoon is also top-notch. It's essential to find the right voice for each character, so it's enjoyable to listen to and doesn't feel forced. Deda Moroz's voice should be deep, smooth, and soothing, which Leonid Pirogov achieves perfectly. The voices of the boy and girl should be bright and childlike, which Yulia Yulskaya and Viktoriya Ivanova bring to life beautifully. They also voiced the rabbit and Snow Maiden, and it's hard to tell they're the same people.

Vladimir Volodin does a great job voicing the snowman, which is a bit of a departure from his usual role as a wolf. He's often voiced wolves in other cartoons, but here he shines as the snowman.

However, there's a small caveat: this cartoon has been revoiced, and it's essential to find the original voice acting, not the modern one. I'm not a fan of the modern revoicing, it's just not the same.

Animation

I was blown away by the hand-drawn and rotoscoped techniques used in this film.

There are actually two versions of the movie available online - the original, which is a bit muted, and a restored HD version that really brings out the colors and vibrancy.

The characters are all beautifully drawn, and Dед Мороз (Grandfather Frost) looks just like the jolly old fellow he's supposed to be. His blue coat (which looks more like a grey one in the movie, but that's okay) and his traditional Russian hat and beard are all spot on.

The snowman and snow maiden are just adorable.

I love how every detail in this movie is just so meticulously crafted. It's not just a dull background - take the bright moon behind the kids and the snowman, for example.

Don't even get me started on the ornaments on the Christmas tree - I'm sure they didn't mean to include any bad symbols, but I'm choosing to look past it.

What really stands out, though, is how interestingly everything is drawn. Even the carved wooden chair is a work of art.

Vladimir Suteev was a true talent when it came to drawing children's illustrations, and it's no wonder his work is still so popular today.

I have to say, they didn't try to make it easy for themselves or simplify the design. Not even the rug is plain.

I'm still trying to figure out the kid's phone with 'lemon slices' written on it. I remember those tin cans with marzipan in the USSR, but I'm not sure what this is supposed to be.

Everyone tried to draw it perfectly, and in my opinion, they succeeded. Plus, the animation from back then was always 'alive' and full of soul. The golden age of Soviet animation.

Plot

Ded Moroz and Snegurochka are rushing to the city with gifts for the kids, but on the way, the gifts fall out of the hole in the bag.

The plot of the cartoon is nice, just like all cartoons from back then. Good always wins over evil. And the main quote from Ded Moroz that should be the main message for kids is: 'if you say it, you have to keep your word.'

The kid kept his word and performed, he overcame his fears and nervousness, and that's another message: you'll get it done, just believe in yourself.

And the villain in the cartoon is the wolf.

I've gotta say, this movie is top-notch - it's engaging, and I'd highly recommend watching it with a big smile on your face. You won't regret it.Check out all my movie reviews