A little info

We glad to say that PRINCE VLADIMIR has received the release date. The most ambitious Russian animated feature will be released in Russia on February, 22rd. Hope that soon it will appear abroad as well.
As to Russian Insider we have to say that test period is over. Now we go to holiday vacation and sadly right now we can’t say whether blog will continue in 2006. Thanks to all our guests. Thank you for your attention and very kind comments. And Happy New Year!

Prince Vladimir. Concept Art 8

While Grigory Lozinsky is not ready to share his new art works on the pages of his own blog, we shall continue to acquaint you with concept art of PRINCE VLADIMIR.
The careful research and study of historic epoch were a big deal on the preproduction phase. For example, certainly artists should not draw the products that originally were delivered from America since Europeans knew nothing about America at that time. So there should not be any potato, tomatoes, corn, string bean or pumpkins on the dining tables. But there were the meat, fish, pancakes, pies, bread, porridge, mushrooms, caviar etc.

Winnie-the-Pooh. Russian version

The own screen version of adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh has been created in USSR practically simultaneously with Disney. Though it was totally illegal, nobody cared about it. The three films was done: WINNIE-THE-POOH (1969), WINNIE-THE-POOH GOES ON A VISIT (1971) and WINNIE-THE-POOH AND THE DAY OF CARES (1972). The shorts was directed by great Feodor Khitruk. Vladimir Zuikov and Eduard Nazarov acted as art directors.
Since the Soviet version is not so known abroad we thought that it will be nice to put online some shots. Probably you perfectly know this plot about how Pooh (for short) has got in desperate position. As you can see there was no Christopher Robin and character of Winnie-the-Pooh was a very serious. One may think that Pooh understand very well that he is not very smart but he tried to reconcile to it. Just look at how he preserves, cares and protect Piglet.

Gennady Novozhilov. Illustrations

These are illustrations for fairy tales of Wilhelm Hauff drawn by Gennady Novozhilov

Prince Vladimir. Director's research 2

As well as in case of first part of director's research, these very preliminary storyboard drawings was drawn by Yuori Batanin.

Prince Vladimir. Concept Art 7

We are glad to inform about opening of new blog. This time Grigory Lozinsky has decided to try new features of blogs. Please take a look! There you can say what you think about art of Grigory to author directly.
And here again his work done for PRINCE VLADIMIR

Neznaika. The Inner Moon and one bad guy

This is again art of Grigory Lozinsky which was done for NEZNAIKA ON THE MOON.


The bad guy (his name is Spruts which probably means the slightly changed surname "Kroops") again reproduced a plot of very known painting.

RUSLAN & LUDMILA. More concept art

Today we want to show you another portion of drawings of Gennady Novozhilov. As to animated feature it is important to say that English partners have been frightened by such design. They looked for more traditional ways. Thus the project has gradually died.

RUSLAN & LUDMILA. Feature which did not take place

In the early ninetieth there was a plan to produce the animated feature based on very famous poem of Alexander Pushkin. Englishmen and Russian studio Christmas Films worked in common on RUSLAN & LUDMILA. Vyacheslav Kotenochkin was a director and Gennady Novozhilov (he worked on many Russian classic films including SNOW QUEEN) has acted as production designer. Here you can see the concept art for movie.

Prince Vladimir. Concept Art 6

And here you can see another work of Grigory Lozinsky...

Prince Vladimir. Director's research

Let's return to PRINCE VLADIMIR for a while. Even before the storyboard process has taken the place, directors of PRINCE VLADIMIR were engaged in character development and research. Here you can see some very preliminary storyboard drawings done by Yuori Batanin the second director of PRINCE VLADIMIR. The character design has been essentially changed since then.

THE MOUNTAIN OF GEMS

Russia is the biggest country in the whole world. If you will decide to travel cross-country by train the tour will take not less than week! People of hundreds different nationalities live at enormous spaces of Russia. And they have many folk tales any of them is the real gem...
This saying became introduction to another ambitious Russian animated production [besides PRINCE VLADIMIR]. An idea to produce the series of cartoons with length of 13 minutes per episode has appeared a couple of years ago. The project was named THE MOUNTAIN OF GEMS (GORA SAMOTSVETOV).
It should not become an ordinary serial. Each episode devoted to one folk tale was done by separate team (or by independent animation studio) in most different technic of animation (as far as the budget allowed it). It was supposed to create 52 cartoons and about 20 are ready now. Part of them were shown on Russian television and released on DVD.
One film of THE MOUNTAIN OF GEMS was produced in St Petersburg by famous Russian animation director Konstantin Bronzit. Today he presented here the concept art and finished shots from his cartoon THE CAT AND THE FOX (KOT I LISA).
Art Directors - Konstantin Bronzit and Darina Shmidt

The early concept art

The finished shots

Nude

This is the great art of Andrei Riabovitchev. You can find much more of his personal work on the pages of his blog.