{{Short description|Russian animation studio}} {{Infobox company | name = Melnitsa Animation Studio | logo = Melnitsa Animation logo.svg | caption = | type = | founded = {{start date and age|March 26, 1999}} | hq_location_city = Saint Petersburg | hq_location_country = Russia | key_people = Aleksandr Boyarsky (CEO) <br> Sergey Selyanov (chief producer) <br> Konstantin Bronzit (art director) | industry = Animation<br>Motion pictures | products = Animated films | num_employees = 325 (2014) | owner = | revenue = {{wikidata revenue|revenue|USD}}{{wikidata revenue|revenue|ref}} | revenue_year = {{wikidata revenue|revenue|year}} | operating_income = {{wikidata revenue|operating_income|USD}}{{wikidata revenue|operating_income|ref}} | income_year = {{wikidata revenue|operating_income|year}} | net_income = {{wikidata revenue|net_income|USD}}{{wikidata revenue|net_income|ref}} | net_income_year = {{wikidata revenue|net_income|year}} | assets = {{wikidata revenue|assets|USD}}{{wikidata revenue|assets|ref}} | assets_year = {{wikidata revenue|assets|year}} | equity = {{wikidata revenue|equity|USD}}{{wikidata revenue|equity|ref}} | equity_year = {{wikidata revenue|equity|year}} | parent = | website = {{URL|http://www.melnitsa.com/}} }} '''Melnitsa Animation Studio''' ({{langx|ru|Студия анимационного кино «Мельница»}}, "melnitsa" meaning "windmill") is one of the largest animation studios in Russia. Deutsche Welle called the studio the Walt Disney of Saint Petersburg.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.dw.com/en/the-walt-disney-of-saint-petersburg/a-19135062|title= The Walt Disney of Saint Petersburg|publisher= Deutsche Welle|date= March 22, 2016|accessdate= March 31, 2017|archive-date= April 3, 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170403020739/http://www.dw.com/en/the-walt-disney-of-saint-petersburg/a-19135062|url-status= live}}</ref> Alongside its animation projects, Melnitsa has an effort devoted to creating digital special effects for both animation projects and live-action films.
==History== The studio traces its roots to several animated projects in the late 1990s, including television commercials, the short film ''Die Hard'' by Konstantin Bronzit (Grand Prix of the Annecy International Animated Film Festival, 1998), and the animated series "Global Bears Rescue" and "Technology", created for Poseidon Film Distributors Ltd.
In 1999, Melnitsa was formally established with backing from STV Film Company's Sergey Selyanov and led by Aleksandr Boyarsky.<ref name="Bendazzi2015">{{cite book|author=Giannalberto Bendazzi|title=Animation: A World History: Volume III: Contemporary Times|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dZvhCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA194|date=6 November 2015|publisher=CRC Press|isbn=978-1-317-51988-1|page=194}}</ref> STV Film Company retains a 50% share of the studio.<ref name="rbk50">{{cite news|title=Мультяшки на миллиард: кто зарабатывает на героях российских мультфильмов|url=http://www.rbc.ru/business/25/09/2015/560156719a7947f4eb602c3f|accessdate=4 April 2017|work=РБК|archive-date=4 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170604061149/http://www.rbc.ru/business/25/09/2015/560156719a7947f4eb602c3f|url-status=live}}</ref> The newly formed studio's first project was ''Adventures in Oz'' (Приключения в Изумрудном Городе) for NTV-film (НТВ-кино), a four-part animation released in 2000.
In 2001, Melnitsa released its first 3D-animated project - the short film ''Good Morning'' (С добрым утром) by Denis Chernov. In 2002 Melnitsa released two short films by the famous animator and director Konstantin Bronzit: ''There Was an Old Lady'' for Scholastic Entertainment and the 3D-animated film ''The God''.{{Citation needed|date=October 2015}}
In 2000, Melnitsa began work on the feature-length animated film ''Little Longnose'' (Карлик Нос) directed by Ilya Maksimov, based on the fairy tale of Wilhelm Hauff. The film premiered on March 20, 2003, reportedly becoming one of the first Russian animated feature film released to theatres in nearly 40 years.<ref name="animagazine">{{cite news|title=Alosha Breaks Toon Records in Russia|url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/features/alosha-breaks-toon-records-in-russia/|accessdate=4 April 2017|work=Animation Magazine|date=11 February 2005|archive-date=5 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405170023/http://www.animationmagazine.net/features/alosha-breaks-toon-records-in-russia/|url-status=live}}</ref>
On December 23, 2004, the feature film ''Alyosha Popovich and Tugarin Zmey'' (Алёша Попович и Тугарин Змей) was released, directed by Konstantin Bronzit. The film was completed on a $4 million budget, and took in about $1.7 million at the box office.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ru:Алеша Попович и Тугарин Змей — кассовые сборы — КиноПоиск|url=https://www.kinopoisk.ru/film/81041/box/|website=КиноПоиск|accessdate=4 April 2017|language=ru-RU|archive-date=5 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405170006/https://www.kinopoisk.ru/film/81041/box/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Beumers2011">{{cite book|author=Birgit Beumers|title=Directory of World Cinema: Russia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5T0UMRZ_Ro0C&pg=PA269|year=2011|publisher=Intellect Books|isbn=978-1-84150-372-1|page=269}}</ref> This marked the beginning of Melnitsa's "The Three Bogatyrs" trilogy, and two more films were planned over the next several years.
In January 2005, at the 10th Open Russian Festival of Animated Film in Suzdal, the new short film by Konstantin Bronzit premiered, called ''Cat and Fox'' (Кот и Лиса).{{Citation needed|date=October 2015}} Bronzit's film, based on a national Russian tale, was part of the huge government-sponsored project by Moscow-based ''Pilot'' studio called "Gora Samotsvetov" (Гора самоцветов)[http://www.multiskazka.ru/]. The project, when complete, will consist of 52 13-minute films based on fairy tales from all of Russia's nationalities.
On March 15, 2006, the second film in the "3 Bogatyrs" trilogy was released, called ''Dobrynya Nikitich and Zmey Gorynych'' (Добрыня Никитич и Змей Горыныч), directed by Ilya Maksimov. It came on the heels of the animated blockbuster ''Prince Vladimir'', which was released on February 22, 2006.
Luntik, an animated series launched in 2006, gathered a total of over 2 billion views on YouTube.<ref name="mostimes">{{cite news|title=Russian Animation Rises From Ashes of 1990s|url=https://themoscowtimes.com/articles/russian-animation-rises-from-ashes-of-1990s-46842|accessdate=4 April 2017|agency=Moscow Times|language=en|archive-date=5 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405170354/https://themoscowtimes.com/articles/russian-animation-rises-from-ashes-of-1990s-46842|url-status=live}}</ref>
The third film in the trilogy, ''Ilya Muromets and Nightingale the Robber'' (Илья Муромец и Соловей Разбойник), was released on July 7, 2007, grossing $10 million on a $2 million budget and setting a record for Russia's domestic animation industry,<ref name="russianani">{{cite news|title=Is Russian ani ready to rise? Stay tooned|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/is-russian-ani-ready-rise-114839|accessdate=4 April 2017|work=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en|archive-date=5 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405170157/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/is-russian-ani-ready-rise-114839|url-status=live}}</ref> later surpassed by the studio's Three Heroes on Distant Shores earning $26 million in 2012.<ref name="leobar">{{cite web|last1=Barraclough|first1=Leo|title=Russian Cinema: Toon Boom Echoes, But Not Far Enough|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/features/russian-animation-booming-1201300892/|website=Variety|accessdate=4 April 2017|date=8 September 2014|archive-date=5 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405073458/http://variety.com/2014/film/features/russian-animation-booming-1201300892/|url-status=live}}</ref> The 2013 film Three Warriors On Far Shores again established a new record for Russian animation, grossing $31.5 million.<ref name="mostimes"/> The release of Krepost in 2015 led to some controversy in Poland, as it depicted a 17th-century battle between Russian and Polish armies.<ref name="natemat">{{cite news|title=Rosjanie przygotowali kolejną antypolską produkcję. Tym razem indoktrynują dzieci|url=http://natemat.pl/158761,rosjanie-przygotowali-kolejna-antypolska-produkcje-tym-razem-indoktrynuja-dzieci|accessdate=4 April 2017|work=naTemat.pl|language=pl|archive-date=22 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151022024610/http://natemat.pl/158761,rosjanie-przygotowali-kolejna-antypolska-produkcje-tym-razem-indoktrynuja-dzieci|url-status=live}}</ref>
The studio's 2007 short film Lavatory – Lovestory was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, followed by a nomination for We Can't Live Without Cosmos in the same category during the 88th Academy Awards in 2016.<ref name="dwoscars">{{cite news|title=Russian cartoon competing for Oscars|url=http://www.dw.com/en/russian-cartoon-competing-for-oscars/a-19078229|accessdate=4 April 2017|agency=Deutsche Welle|language=en|archive-date=5 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405073753/http://www.dw.com/en/russian-cartoon-competing-for-oscars/a-19078229|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Style == The studio places its primary emphasis not on high-art animation but on engaging storytelling. According to professional assessments [ambiguous phrasing], the quality of Melnitsa’s productions is considered average. However, Alexander Gerasimov, CEO of Master-Film, views this as a strength of the studio, since its productions are profitable. Anatoly Prokhorov, co-owner of the company “Petersburg,” also noted that Melnitsa's work features "less-than-perfect scripts, directing, and inconsistent animation quality," and that the creators "work with relatively simple technological tools"—yet their content resonates with audiences and is well-received.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Жохова |first=Анастасия |date=2013-12-17 |title=В чём секрет «Трёх богатырей», одолевших «Хоббита» в кинопрокате |url=https://www.forbes.ru/svoi-biznes/predprinimateli/232123-v-chem-sekret-treh-bogatyrei-odolevshih-hobbita-v-kinoprokate?page=0,0 |website=Forbes}}</ref>
==Filmography== === Short film === {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Production |- ||2025 || The Three Sisters |- ||2021 || Boxballet |- ||2019 || He Can't Live Without Cosmos |- ||2015 || We Can't Live Without Cosmos |- ||2007 || Lavatory Lovestory |- ||2003 || The God |}
=== Full length === {{Update section|date=June 2025}} {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year !! Title cartoon !! Director !! Author(s) script !! Production Designer !! Budget !! Box office |- | 2003 || ''Little Longnose'' <br /><small>''Карлик Нос''</small> || Ilya Maksimov || Aleksandr Boyarsky|| Aleksandra Averianova|| $2,5 million || $569 837 |- | 2004 || ''Alyosha Popovich and Tugarin Zmey'' <br /><small>''Алёша Попович и Тугарин Змей''</small> || Konstantin Bronzit || Aleksandr Boyarsky<br />Maksim Sveshnikov<br />Ilya Maksimov<br />Konstantin Bronzit || Ol'ga Ovinnikova || $4 million || $1 730 000 |- | 2006 || ''Dobrynya Nikitich and Zmey Gorynych'' <br /><small>''Добрыня Никитич и Змей Горыныч''</small> || Ilya Maksimov || Aleksandr Boyarsky<br />Maksim Sveshnikov<br />Ilya Maksimov || Ol'ga Ovinnikova || $4,5 million || $3 620 000 |- | 2007 || ''Ilya Muromets and Nightingale the Robber'' <br /><small>''Илья Муромец и Соловей-Разбойник''</small> || Vladimir Toropchin|| Aleksandr Boyarsky<br />Maksim Sveshnikov|| <br />Oleg Markelov|| $2 million || $9 739 679 |- | 2008 || ''The Tale of Soldier Fedot, The Daring Fellow'' || Lyudmila Steblyanko || Lyudmila Steblyanko<br />Roman Smorodin || Anastasia Vasil'eva || — || $2 586 097 |- | 2010 || ''How Not to Rescue a Princess'' <br /><small>''Три богатыря и Шамаханская царица''</small> || Sergey Glezin || Aleksandr Boyarsky<br />Ol'ga Nikiforova || Elena Lavrent'eva<br />Oleg Markelov|| $2,5 million || $19 010 585 |- | 2011 || ''Ivan Tsarevich and the Gray Wolf'' <br /><small>''Иван Царевич и Серый Волк''</small> || Vladimir Toropchin|| Aleksandr Boyarsky<br /> Rostislav Khait<br /> Leonid Barats<br /> Sergei Petreykov | Marina Kudryavtseva || $3 million || $24 830 497 |- | 2012 || ''Three Heroes on Distant Shores'' <br /><small>''Три богатыря на дальних берегах''</small> || Konstantin Feoktistov|| Aleksandr Boyarsky||Lidiya Savina | $3,5 million || $31 505 876 |- | 2013 || ''Ivan Tsarevich and the Gray Wolf 2'' <br /><small>''Иван Царевич и Серый волк 2''</small> || Vladimir Toropchin|| Vladimir Toropchin<br />Aleksandr Boyarsky<br />Svetlana Sachenko || Svetlana Degtyarёva || — || $20 962 988 |- |rowspan="2"|2015|| ''Three heroes. Horse Course'' <br /><small>''Три богатыря. Ход конём''</small> || Konstantin Feoktistov|| Aleksandr Boyarsky<br />Svetlana Sachenko|| Svetlana Degtyarёva || $3,5 million || $19 390 136<br /> |- || ''The Fortress'' <br /><small>''Крепость. Щитом и мечом''</small> || Fyodor Dmitriev|| Aleksandr Boyarsky|| Oleg Markelov|| — || $1 176 906 <br /> |- || 2016 || ''Ivan Tsarevich and the Gray Wolf 3'' <br /><small>''Иван Царевич и Серый волк 3''</small> || Darina Schmidt|| Rostislav Khait Leonid Barats
Sergei Petreykov | Svetlana Degtyarёva || — || $10 271 463 <br /> |- || 2017 || ''The Three Heroes and the Sea King'' <br /><small>''Три богатыря и морской царь''</small> || Konstantin Feoktistov|| Aleksandr Boyarsky<br />Svetlana Sachenko<br />Alena Tabunova (idea) || Andrei Yakobchuk || $4 || $14 134 274 <br /> |- || 2017 || ''Fantastic Journey to OZ'' <br /><small>''Урфин Джюс и его деревянные солдаты''</small> || Vladimir Toropchin Fyodor Dmitriev
Darina Schmidt | Aleksandr Boyarsky<br />Darina Schmidt|| Anatolii Sokolov || — || $3 068 073 <br /> |- ||2017|| ''Three Heroes and the Princess of Egypt'' <br /><small>''Три богатыря и принцесса Египта''</small> || Konstantin Feoktistov|| Aleksandr Boyarsky<br />Svetlana Sachenko || Andrei Yakobchuk || $3.5 million || $12.6 million |- |2018 |''Three Heroes. The Heiress to the Throne'' <br /><small>''Три богатыря и наследница престола''</small> |Konstantin Bronzit |Maksim Sveshnikov<br />Vadim Sveshnikov<br />Konstantin Bronzit |Yuliya Maslova Daria Ivanova |$2.5 million |— |- ||2018|| ''Sadko'' <br /><small>''Садко''</small>|| Maksim Volkov Vitaly Mukhametzyanov | Alexander Arkhhipov <br />Dmitry Novoselov <br />Slava Se || Aleksei Motavin || || |- |2019 |''Fantastic Return to Oz'' <small>''Урфин Джюс возвращается''</small> |Fyodor Dmitriev |Aleksandr Boyarsky |Aleksei Korobkin | | |- || 2019 || ''Ivan Tsarevich and the Gray Wolf 4'' <br /><small>''Иван Царевич и Серый волк 4''</small> || Darina Schmidt<br>Konstantin Feoktistov ||Rostislav Khait<br />Leonid Barats<br />Sergei Petreykov |Daria Ivanova | || |- |2020 |''The Barkers: Mind the Cats!'' <small>''Барбоскины на даче''</small> |Elena Galdobina Fyodor Dmitriev |Aleksandr Boyarsky Aleksandra Shokha |Oleg Markelov |$2 million |$951 075 |- |2020 |''Horse Julius and the Big Races'' <small>''Конь Юлий и большие скачки''</small> |Darina Schmidt<br>Konstantin Feoktistov |Maksim Sveshnikov<br />Vadim Sveshnikov Aleksandr Boyarsky |Andrei Yakobchuk |$2.4 million |$4 875 202 |}
=== In Production === ==== Full length ==== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year !! Title cartoon !! Director !! Author(s) script !! Production Designer !! Start of production |- |2021 |''Three Heroes and a Horse on the Throne'' <small>''Три богатыря и Конь на троне''</small> |Darina Schmidt<br>Konstantin Feoktistov |Aleksandr Boyarsky Aleksandra Shokha |Daria Ivanova |2021 |}
=== Serial cartoons === {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year !! Title cartoon !! Directed by of the animated series !! The main authors of the script !! Production Designer !! Number of seasons !! Number of series |- |1999—2000 |Adventures in the Emerald City <small>''Приключения в Изумрудном городе''</small> |Aleksandr Makarov (1-2) Ilya Maksimov (3)
Denis Chernov (4) |Evgeny Markov (1-2) Mikhail Bartenev (3-4)
Andrei Usachyov (3-4) |Yuriy Solovyov (1-2) Ilya Myshkin (3-4) |1 season |4 |- |2006—present|| Luntik<br/><small>Приключения Лунтика и его друзей</small>|| Darina Shmidt Elena Galdobina
|2008-2015|| Ekaterina Salabay | Darina Shmidt<br/>Fyodor Dmitriev<br/>Elena Galdobina<br/>Mariya Domogatskaya<br/>Anna Sosnora<br/>Alexandr Mal'gin<br/>Svetlana Sachenko<br/>Tatiana Gorbushina || Marina Komarkevich <small>(1-2 seasons)</small><br/>Tatiana Klein <small>(2-6 seasons)</small><br/>Irina Fёdorova <small>(5-6 seasons)</small><br/>Vita Tkachёva <small>(7 seasons: series 2012)</small><br/>Ekaterina Maksimenko <small>(since 7 seasons)</small> || 8, in production 9 season || 500+ |- |2011—present |The Barkers <small>Барбоскины</small> |Elena Galdobina Ekaterina Salabay |Elena Galdobina Fyodor Dmitriev
Vadim Smolyak
Anna Sosnora |Lyudmila Steblyanko (1-100) Alesya Barsukova (91-130)
Marina Makarova (131-212) |14 seasons |212 |- |2018—present |Little Tiaras <small>Царевны</small> |Konstantin Bronzit Elena Galdobina
Darina Schmidt |Darina Schmidt Fyodor Dmitriev
Aleksandr Sinitsyn |Andrei Yakobchuk |2 |52 |} |2006—present|| Bandit and Bingo with Friends<br/><small>]</small>|| Darina Shmidt Elena Galdobina
==See also== *History of Russian animation *List of animated feature films
==References== <references />
==External links== *{{Official website|http://www.melnitsa.com}} *[https://3bogatirya.ru/ Official website of the "3 Bogatyrs" trilogy] {{in lang|ru}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20120206014615/http://www.cgtalk.ru/exc.php?id=bronzit Interview with Konstantin Bronzit] {{in lang|ru}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20080220134925/http://suzdalfestivalo.blogsome.com/category/la-monto-da-gemoj/ La monto da gemoj] - some ''Gora samotsvetov (Gem Mountain)'' series with subtitles in Esperanto.
{{Animation industry in Russia}}
Category:Melnitsa Animation Studio Category:Russian animation studios Category:Mass media companies established in 1999 Category:Russian brands Category:Companies based in Saint Petersburg Category:Film production companies of Russia Category:1999 establishments in Russia