Bells and Chimes: A Winter and New Year Russian Animation Collection

Amidst the ringing of bells and chimes, we present to you a collection of Russian animated films themed around winter and New Year, curated by animation director Oksana Bronevitskaya. This collection deviates from typical holiday films like 'The Grinch' or 'Klaus.' These are russian short independent animations set in winter (mostly snowy, with one exception), and revolving around the New Year festivities.

Part One: The Wintry Ambiance

• Snowflake by Natalia Chernysheva
  In a warm African setting, a boy receives a paper snowflake in the mail, introducing an unexpected winter element.
• Where Do Snowflakes Come From? by Maria Karpova
  Children offer imaginative answers to this question, diverging from the conventional scientific explanation.
• Snow Is Falling by Nina Bisyarina
  This film draws inspiration from Boris Pasternak’s poem, encapsulating the essence of a snowy landscape.
• The Sled by Olesya Shchukina
  Set in a winter forest, a bored squirrel discovers a sled, leading to adventures.
• Skates by Maria Yakushina
  A musical depiction of the joys of a skating rink.
• The Forgotten Things of Travelers by Misha Safronov
  Part of the “Flying Beasts” animated series, this film tells the story of a railway station caretaker who dreams about the destinations of travelers through their forgotten items.

Part Two: Celebrating New Year's Eve

• Last Year's Snow Was Falling by Alexander Tatarsky
  A comedic tale of a man sent to fetch a Christmas tree and his encounter with a magical pike.
• My Friend The Bear by Ekaterina Sokolova
  A boy, lost in a park during a New Year's event, meets a bear.
• The Staff by Alexey Alekseev
  A story of a hare disturbed from his sleep by various interruptions, including Santa Claus's magical staff.
• The Preparation by Vladimir Lazarenko-Manevich
  A snowy village. Two people - a man and a woman - rehearse the ballet Swan Lake in anticipation of the New Year (although everything ends with Don Quixote).

Part Three: Embracing the New Year

• The Piglet (New Year) by Maxim Polyakov
  An eternally optimistic piglet discovers the essence of New Year, blending black humor with life's truths.
• Merry Grandmas by Natalia Mirzoyan
  A child's New Year with her grandmother turns out to be less boring than anticipated.
• Holiday by Nina Bisyarina
  Finally, here's a bittersweet but very New Year's-themed movie. It's filled with anticipation, magical helpers, and, of course, a miracle. Grandma eagerly awaits the arrival of her son and his family for the New Year celebration. But they don't come.