Igor Dmitriev

Poor Nastya is a Russian telenovela originally aired from 31 October 2003 to 30 April 2004 on the STS. Based on the imperial setting of the 19th century, the series reached international success and was shown in Ukraine, China, Israel, Serbia, Georgia, Greece, Bulgaria and more than twenty countries worldwide. With the budget of $11,8million, it is the most expensive Russian television project of all time. The sequel was planned, but had not been made yet.

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.