The path of Ded Moroz in Soviet animation goes a long way from his first timid steps in the 1930s to becoming the main symbol of New Year. His appearance, character, and role in the plots changed over the decades, reflecting the influence of political and cultural changes in the country. How did this magical hero evolve on the screen and what happened to him in our time?
The first attempt to depict Ded Moroz was in V. Starevich's film "Christmas in the Forest." In this work, he appears in a strange, almost exotic image, resembling more old Hottabych than the familiar winter wizard. Ded Moroz here is a toy that comes down from the Christmas tree to entertain the forest animals. This experiment shows that in the early 20th century, the concept of Ded Moroz was still unclear and undefined.
A new era begins with the release of the animated film "Ded Moroz and the Grey Wolf" in 1937. Ded Moroz starts to be associated not only with Christmas but also with New Year's holidays. This film was the first attempt to create a clearer and more traditional image of Ded Moroz, although his visualization still left much to be desired. The legendary wizard gains popularity among children, but his appearance continues to change.
In the film "The Christmas Tree," Ded Moroz is depicted with elements borrowed from the Western image of Santa Claus. He has not yet acquired his final form, and his cap with a pompom indicates the ongoing search by animators. But even in difficult times, the image of Ded Moroz starts to acquire traits that will later become classic: he shows kindness and care for children.
By 1945, with the release of the film "Winter Tale," Ded Moroz's image becomes more structured. He is no longer just a kind wizard but the owner of winter elements who helps children and forest animals in their adventures. This character already has his main features: friendliness, fairness, and love for children, making him irreplaceable during the New Year holidays.
In 1948, with the release of "New Year's Eve," Ded Moroz firmly establishes himself as the central figure of the New Year holiday. His role becomes even more significant: he symbolizes the joy and magic of the New Year, helping children overcome difficulties and obstacles on the way to the holiday.
With the appearance of the film "When the Yolks Light Up" in the early 1950s, Ded Moroz's image is fully established. He becomes a strict but kind wizard who protects children from evil characters and helps them in their New Year adventures. Bright fur coats - red or blue - and a friendly appearance make him a bright and memorable character.
The film "Snow Maiden" in 1952 offers a new interpretation of Ded Moroz, who, although not a central character, still retains the key traits of his image. This underscores how different cultural elements intertwine and influence each other in Soviet animation, creating a rich context for the characters.
In "The Postman Snowman," a new important character appears - the Snowman, who acts as Ded Moroz's assistant. He brings additional comedic elements to the New Year's stories and takes the place that later will be occupied by the Snow Maiden. The image of Ded Moroz here becomes more human and closer to children, adding charm to him.
In the film "The Twelve Months," Ded Moroz does not appear, but the characters of the winter months - January, February, and December - embody the same traits: kindness, fairness, and magic. This is another example of how the image of the winter wizard penetrates different plots and retains its essence, even when Ded Moroz himself is absent.
In the film "New Year's Journey," Ded Moroz takes part in an unusual adventure, helping a boy deliver a Christmas tree to Antarctica. This film demonstrates how the image of Ded Moroz continues to evolve and adapt to new situations while remaining a symbol of New Year's magic.
The evolution of Ded Moroz in Soviet animation reflects the complex history of the country and its cultural changes. From his first appearance as the Christmas Ded in 1912 to the formation of the classic image in the 1950s, Soviet animation made Ded Moroz the central character of New Year, a symbol of kindness, magic, and winter holidays. Despite experiments with his appearance, the color of his coat, and his role in the plots, he always remained the embodiment of a winter fairy tale, so necessary for Soviet children. Ded Moroz is not just a character; he is part of national identity and childhood memories of several generations.
