MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a brief appearance in a popular children’s animated series, delivering a New Year message alongside two well-known cartoon characters.
In the episode of Prostokvashino, a long-running Russian children’s show, an animated version of President Putin appears with Sharik the dog and Matroskin the cat, surprising residents of the fictional village as they address viewers at the start of the new year.
Visitors at a Prostokvashino-themed park in Moscow offered mixed but generally positive reactions to the president’s cameo. Some parents said cartoons often feature unexpected elements and saw no issue with the appearance.
One visitor said children are familiar with the president and may find his presence in a cartoon both interesting and engaging. Others noted that the move could also attract attention from international audiences.
The cameo had been hinted at earlier by Yuliana Slashcheva, chair of the board at animation studio Soyuzmultfilm. She previously said Russian animated content is exported to several former communist states and countries in the Middle East, with plans to expand distribution in China.
According to Slashcheva, the president’s appearance in the series represents a form of cultural outreach aimed at promoting Russian values and creativity abroad.