CULTURAL AND SPATIAL DIMENSIONS OF ANIMATION FROM THE USSR AND THE EASTERN BLOC TO INDEPENDENT EURASIA

Abstract

This article examines the cultural and spatial dimensions of animation in the region from the Cold War to the emergence of independent Eurasian countries. As a hybrid and contemporary medium of technological innovation and aesthetic expression, animation not only reflected ideological discourses in the region in both periods but also served didactic purposes, becoming a cultural tool and source of soft power.

During the Cold War, animation was shaped by the social life of the Eastern Bloc countries. Animations sometimes constructed utopias and sometimes dystopias within their spatial framework. They also presented pioneering examples in terms of technical and artistic understanding. Shared narrative language and imagery characterized a collective identity, while subjective styles and unique approaches were also showcased. A disadvantage of this period was the delay in the emergence of qualified examples to the world.

In the first decade of the post-Soviet era, a lack of state subsidies hampered the production process. However, animation subsequently played a significant role in the construction of national identity. After independence, folkloric elements, global products, fictional settings, and auteurs came to the fore. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that animation functions as a visual archive of cultural memory.