4) Ognevushka-Poskakushka

This cartoon is mostly unheard of even among the Slavic people, and is virtually unknown in the West, so I couldn’t find a translated version. I still want to post it, because it is one of my favorites. It is based on a story by Pavel Bazhov, which, in its turn, is based on an Ural legend of a dancing fiery girl (Ognevushka), a forerunner of gold deposits, who is said to have a playful and mischievous character. The cartoon tells a story of an orphan Fedya, who lives alone with his grandfather, and who encounters Ognevushka, becoming friends with her and getting an invitation to visit her sometime. When the family runs out of food in the middle of the winter, and the granddad is unable to earn quick money by selling their cutlery, Fedya runs off into the forest at night to ask Ognevushka for help. At first, Ognevushka is angry that he came to beg for gold, but when she realizes that Fedya is not greedy and is only asking for some potatoes, promising to pay back in spring, she softens, and leads him safely out of the forest, giving him gold and food. She also puts enough gold into the ground to start a goldmine, and leaves the area forever. I adore this cartoon for its melancholy music score, performed on balalaika, cello and flute, and for the heartbreaking short sequence of Fedya’s memories of his mum, unusually tragic for a Soviet children’s film, and for the bad-turns-good character of Ognevushka. Enjoy :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_Iu5CATe6w