Animaccord, the company that created the popular animated series "Masha and the Bear", is ceasing operations in Russia, according to journalist Ivan Ilyin.
According to him, the studio is laying off employees and effectively winding down operations in the country. The author of the project, Oleg Kuzovkov, who owns the rights to the characters, severed ties with the Moscow office, citing creative differences. He has repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with the mass production format of new episodes without his participation, believing that the series is losing quality and its original idea.
According to the Agency for Creative Industries, the rights to the cartoon were transferred to a Cypriot company back in 2014. At the same time, Animaccord has already left the Association of Animated Film of Russia and, presumably, is no longer a Russian company. Now, licenses to show the series may be distributed in Russia as foreign content.
Ilyin notes that "Masha and the Bear" has long been perceived as an example of Russian "soft power" on the international stage, but the politicization of the project may have affected its future. In some countries, the series has become perceived as an element of propaganda, which has complicated international sales.
Financial difficulties, including restrictions on cross-border transfers of funds, are also cited as a possible reason for the departure.
According to Ilyin, the studio will complete staff reductions by the end of June. Many employees have already been denied contract extensions, and some have not received compensation. The future of the project and its characters remains unclear.
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