Smeshariki. The History of a Cult Universe

- Millions of fans around the world, - more than 600 episodes filmed, - 6 spin-offs and 3 feature films. All this about them, the Smeshariki, who have witnessed several generations of children grow up. And yet, at the dawn... of the 2000s, when it all was just starting, no one could have imagined that two guys — Ilya Popov and Salavat Shaikhinurov — would achieve the impossible: from scratch, without any experience in animation, create the first animated series in Russia that would surpass the popularity of foreign franchises. This book is an honest story of how the Smeshariki Universe was born, grew, was on the brink of collapse, and then gained strength again. Written by a witness to the events, the project's script editor Maria Kornilova, the book reveals what had long remained behind the scenes: - why no one believed in the success of the project at the start; - what Sova, Nyusha, Losyash, Pin, and Yozhik would have been like if things had been a little different; - who the Spirits of the Chamomile Valley are and why you shouldn't quarrel with them.