Ukrainian animation is reviving - new studios are launched. While this are separate, almost rare cases, but they do not just declare their intentions to make cartoons, but also pragmatically working to create the material and technical base, looking for talented young people, who are fascinated with animation.
Vibrant town, pleasing with its optimism, appeared on the map of Ukraine nine months ago. It does not complain about the crisis, but on the contrary - every day creates something new and funny that makes millions of Ukrainians happy. Also, they announced that they are ready to accept new residents and give them the opportunity to realize their wildest creative dreams. "Animagrad" (this is the name of the town) was established last year in September at FILM.UA Studio, it grew up almost immediately, stating its birth loudly and provocative. For the "first cry" in Ukrainian television world has become a cartoon "Fairy Rus" together with the "Studio Quarter-95", which had a mixed reaction of the audience, but definitely raised the rating of the channel. Now the second animated series - "Our football" - a new weekly series is shown on the website BigMir.net. A creative team of animation studio, less than a year after its creation, together with "Ukranimafilm" is working on a series of Ukrainian animated series "The Adventures of Kotigoroshko and his friends". Feeling the taste of the joy of creative pursuit, "Animagrad" plans to create new films that could be adequately represented to national audience as well as to the jury of international festivals.
Ukraine was once famous for the animators who brought prizes from festivals in the United States, Japan, France, Switzerland, Poland and other countries.
In 1990, the Ukrainian animation association became "Ukranimafilm". In 1991 Ukrainian festival of animated film "Krok" (based in Kiev) received the international status. In 1994, studio "Borisfen-Lyutes” began producing animated films. Among the famous Ukrainian film directors of animated films were Barinov, Pruzhansky, Hranevich, Zarubin, Kostilova, Smirnova, Kasavin, Kushnareva, Tkachikova, Konopleva, Bubnov. Together with artists Sahaltuevym, Kirich, Churilov, Lavrov, Pedan, Draytsunov, Budza, Umansky, Korolev, Vadov, Chikin, Babenko, Guz, V. Sertsovoyu, Marchenkova and many other artists of the genre created the glory of Ukrainian animation film. Many artists have also worked as directors.
However, it was after 1990 when the production has sharply decreased. The economic crisis has hit the possibilities of film studios in Ukraine and in the first place - the animation studios. However, after 2000 new film companies started to appear in the country – just like FILM.UA. Gradually acquiring experience and authority, taking its rightful place among the leaders of the Ukrainian film production, the company has decided to invest in the creation of "Animagrad".
At the studio "Animagrad" they dream of victories at international festivals. On the reality of ambitious plans and preparedness for creative research talks the managing partner of the studio Animagrad Yegor Olesov.
- For today we have created an animation studio which is unique in Ukraine. These cartoons are created in 3D, which was an additional factor in the popularity. To achieve a high quality of animated characters artists use the Motion Capture system (MoCap). MoCap is the process of recording the movement of objects or people. For example, this system was used to animate characters in the movie "Avatar" and other well-known projects.
In Ukraine, this technology is still rarely used. This was primarily due to the fact that last year in Ukraine it was not available and so we had to use the services of foreign studios. Last year, our company Digital Cinema Ukraine (also part of the FILM.UA Group) installed two motion capture system with cameras of varying sensitivity. Now, depending on the objectives, we use one of the systems.
The studio is divided into two divisions - the development of 2D and 3D animation. Now the studio assembled a team of more than 30 people. Of course, we are always on the lookout for talented and experienced workers. Unfortunately, there is no educational base for the specialists of our profile in Ukraine, so most of our specialists are "self-taught", who have mastered the basics of animation and constantly improving in a profession. In this case, we are willing to teach them new skills, bring high quality professionals using the latest technology. Of course, we don’t forget the "old guard" and hope that their experience and fresh look of young, creative animators will create a mix, resulting in something creative.
We are also very actively looking for new ideas for future projects, talented writers and directors. I know that there is a lot talented people in Ukraine, they just need help to realize their potential and our studio is ready to do it. Now we have some projects in development. Animated series "The Adventures of Kotigoroshko and his friends" in 2D is created in collaboration with the "Ukranimafilm". It will be a cartoon in the more familiar style than 3D, more like Disney cartoons. We also launched the development of a full-length animated project based on Pushkin's fairy tales "Ruslan and Lyudmila". I am sure that this film will be a success on television and in theaters. There are other interesting projects: author, cartoon series, the development of full-length projects.
Except for creative ideas, any production, including animated films needs financial base. Can animation be profitable? Egor Olesov believes that it can:
- Of course, the animation can be cost efficient and profitable. Both on TV, online and in theaters. After all, as a rule, good animation product, in contrast to a good movie, you can watch again and again. Plus the animation is a great tool to build brands, followed by licensing products and this is a big additional segment, which can often bring even higher returns than the content itself.
In the near future we will have cartoons, target audience will be children. But most of the channels, unfortunately, demonstrate the focus on the purchase of cheap foreign content. And now the most popular in the future will be animation for a family audience, ie movies that are interesting both for adults and children, with humor and a story that can be appreciated by people of different ages.
Classic of Ukrainian animation - one of those who brought to Ukraine international awards, the teacher of many Ukrainian animators from the sixties and to this day, who even today does not cease to seek and train talented young people this profession at the Kiev State Institute of Theatrical Arts named after Karpenko-Kary - Eugene Sivokon.
-I’m glad that today animators have a chance to make films with the help of the state - the pitching system. It was introduced by the chairman of the State Film Agency of Ukraine Ekaterina Kopylova in the same way as it goes in Europe: the state provides funds for all who wish to apply, and those artists whose projects win receive funding. This is very important because the talents are in need of support. It is a pity that our TV channels don’t understand the value of Ukrainian animation, when they could support the domestic animation orders. It's really a shame, because some of our graduates who do not find work in the country, go abroad. Of course, there are also miracles, like in case of Sasha Bubnov. spread the word to money for the creation of the series of Sherlock Holmes - found a philanthropist who helped him. Cartoon will be very good and funny.
In general, I support the "manual" Animations - plasticine, hand drawn, pixel. But I understand that modern technology offers new opportunities for the animators. Unfortunately, the "Ukranimafilm" today is the only material base, and not too modern. And the new production is possible only in cooperation with other studios and artists...But there are new, small studios, and it’s good that they are looking for talented animators and ready to train them. Recently Andrei Sakhaltuev, son of Ukrainian animator Radna Sahaltuev, told me that the studio where he works, organizes training courses for animators who can work with the new technology. By the way, the animated series about football, that they prepare for the World Cup in 2014, is really good with humor...
