First time I'm seeing this one - I had earlier seen the 1995 cartoon from Belarusfilm. Although the art style in that one's more punchy, I like this film better. All of the characters are likeable, while in the 1995 one only the sorcerer's daughter really was.

Also, it's not so obvious in English translation, but the language the characters speak in is rather beautiful, with many uncommon/old-fashioned phrases (this is probably why the previous translation had so many mistakes).

This film seemed to be very famous in Vietnam in the 1980s. Ever since I was very young, I heard about it : Баранкин, будь человеком! (повесть).

Well, absurdity and meaninglessness are almost characteristic of films of the 1980s and 1990s. This film reminds me of the Australian children's series I watched as a child. Typically as : Round the Twist. Or : About the Knight Who was not Afraid of Anyone 1.

As close to "purely for entertainment" as Soviet animation got. This one seems to have no point to it that I can see other than to showcase some funny antics.

This was almost Babichenko's final film, made when he was 74 years old. He had earlier retired from Soyuzmultfilm at 60, but came back to work for the TV animation studio Ekran/Soyuztelefilm 10 years later and made six more films. He only returned once more in 1980 to make a very short one for the Olympics.

But his better films were definitely made earlier in his career, I think (for example, "Spring Melodies", "The Liu Brothers").

This film was shown for free on YouTube in 2011 by Colory Animation Studio and quickly became the most viewed video in Vietnam for three consecutive years. It continued to inspire the studio to develop a series.

Blue Mouse bragged to his two friends Frog and Crab about his heirloom ring. He declared that it was a worthy reward for the bravest, so he was entitled to wear it.

However, when the Snake appeared and kidnapped Frog, Mouse was doubted by his friends about his talent. He was faced with two choices : Either forget the ring and leave Frog in the Snake's cave, or try to go there to reclaim the ring and rescue his friend.

❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀

1
00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:14,000
<b>IN THE SHADE OF THE TREES</b>
- Subtitles by Duy Kiền -

2
00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:42,000
Frog, Crab!
Come here!

3
00:00:42,500 --> 00:00:44,500
I'll show you something.
It's really cool!

4
00:00:47,500 --> 00:00:50,000
Hurry up!

5
00:00:57,000 --> 00:00:59,000
Guess what!

6
00:00:59,500 --> 00:01:04,000
It's a ring, my heirloom!

7
00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:07,000
So big!

8
00:01:07,500 --> 00:01:08,500
Awesome, huh?

9
00:01:08,500 --> 00:01:10,000
Oh, so awesome!

10
00:01:10,500 --> 00:01:11,000
Where's it from?

11
00:01:11,500 --> 00:01:16,500
Only the bravest in my family...

12
00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:20,000
... can wear this ring.

13
00:01:20,500 --> 00:01:25,000
So you are the bravest
in your family, aren't you?

14
00:01:25,500 --> 00:01:27,000
Of course!

15
00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:33,000
I'm not afraid of cats or dogs,
tigers or tigresses,

16
00:01:33,500 --> 00:01:35,500
or any animals in this world.

17
00:01:36,500 --> 00:01:39,000
But, what about Snake?

18
00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:40,500
Snake's extremely ferocious.

19
00:01:40,500 --> 00:01:41,500
Snake?

20
00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:43,500
Few days ago, I just beat him up,

21
00:01:43,500 --> 00:01:46,000
until his nosebleed flowed down everywhere.

22
00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:48,500
I even tied his tail up the chili tree.

23
00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:54,000
He begged me for thousand times,
so I release him.

24
00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:05,000
Hey, Snake the Wicked-skinny!

25
00:02:05,500 --> 00:02:08,000
Be aware of my buddy Mouse
whom will tie your tail up the chilli tree.

26
00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:09,900
Huh, Mouse?

27
00:02:41,500 --> 00:02:43,000
Ah, Mouse!

28
00:02:58,190 --> 00:03:00,010
Mouse, help me!

29
00:03:03,500 --> 00:03:05,000
Oh, hell!

30
00:03:05,500 --> 00:03:07,000
Gotta get my ring back!

31
00:03:08,500 --> 00:03:11,500
Ah, we have to rescue Frog!

32
00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:13,500
Crab, come with me, don't you?

33
00:05:04,060 --> 00:05:05,030
Go home!

34
00:05:06,210 --> 00:05:08,310
Ah, get away, Snake the Bad-breath!

35
00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:11,000
Anyway, Mouse will come to save me.

36
00:05:11,500 --> 00:05:12,500
You're gonna die!

37
00:05:14,500 --> 00:05:16,500
[Shrine of Five-Dragon Gods]

38
00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:22,500
Drop Frog off!

39
00:06:11,500 --> 00:06:12,500
So wasteful!

40
00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:16,500
I couldn't witness
Mouse beat Snake to a pulp.

41
00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:19,500
Eagle is even fiercer than Snake.

42
00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:21,860
Do you dare to fight with him?

43
00:06:23,500 --> 00:06:25,500
I have never known fear.

44
00:06:31,500 --> 00:06:59,999
<b>THE END</b>
© Varhiv 2024

The main theme of Mykola Hohol's story is the sexual orientation of women when they enter puberty. According to ancient beliefs, this age is from 10 to 18 years old, because ancient people often married very early compared to modern people. For example, in Vietnam before the twentieth century, being 20 years old without being married could be considered old.

In this story, demon Viy is actually a version of Veles, the god of sex in Eastern European pagan culture. Here, the corpse's harassment of seminarian Khoma is a manifestation of the rebellious behavior of adolescents. This is a topic of great interest in the existential literature period, that is, the mid-twentieth century.

I will cite another story from the late 18th century of Vietnamese people : The Ghost of the Terrible Mother (桑滄偶錄·乾剎鬼母, Tang thương ngẫu lục - Mẹ ranh càn sát).

In Từ-Liêm rural district (now North Từ-Liêm urban district, Hanoi), there was lived an orphan who kept asking his younger uncle for permission every night to go to his maternal grandparents' house to sleep. However, the younger uncle accidentally discovered that he had not been to his maternal grandparents' house for a long time.

One time the uncle secretly followed the orphan, he saw his nephew enter the village's grave site. There was a woman with breasts one meter long holding the boy to breastfeed, and there were a few other children around.

When the orphan wanted to go with that mother, she told him : The drought was still a few years away, and in the meantime, the boy must absolutely stay away from carp and softshell turtle meat.

Here, "drought" (hạn) is a category of East Asian philosophy, which is very close to the Christian concept of "debt" (nợ). Asians believe that people live in this world to repay a debt from a previous life, so they only relax when they have paid this debt. Thus, that woman has a very similar role to Viy. She seduces children through her motherly instincts so that she can die peacefully. In other words : These children must die if they follow her, at the same time, this woman seems pitiful because she had to die before she could get married or have children.

Why do I say that ? Carps and softshell turtles are very common animals in Vietnamese rivers, what are often considered top foods for pregnant women. Their smell is very fishy when unprocessed, so maiden's hormones often cannot stand it. Therefore, the woman in the story definitely has not had a chance to get married.

I can't help but notice how banal, stupid and unlikely is the main reason given here for why a reader may want to subscribe to The Moscow News (to be better than your spouse at answering some random Soviet-related trivia question for some contest). It's like a lame TV ad, but several times the usual length we were used to. I sure wouldn't be convinced. The little live-action montage at the end is more compelling.

62
00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:11,000
Hahah !

63
00:04:11,500 --> 00:04:13,500
We are going to have a full meal.

64
00:04:17,500 --> 00:04:18,500
My dear !

65
00:04:21,500 --> 00:04:23,000
I have a great idea.

66
00:04:23,500 --> 00:04:24,500
What's up, my brother ?

67
00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:29,000
Tell you what.

68
00:04:31,500 --> 00:04:33,000
They are going to war.

69
00:04:33,500 --> 00:04:34,500
That's great !

70
00:04:38,500 --> 00:04:41,000
The munia is the black-collared starling's aunt

71
00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:44,000
The black-collared starling is the myna's younger uncle

72
00:04:44,500 --> 00:04:48,000
The myna is the koel's younger brother

73
00:04:48,500 --> 00:04:51,000
The koel is the magpie's younger uncle

74
00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:53,500
The magpie is the munia's uncle

75
00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:55,000
Howdy, aunt Starling !

76
00:04:55,500 --> 00:04:58,000
Tomorrow we'll fight Koel brothers.

77
00:04:58,500 --> 00:05:00,000
Come give us a hand !

78
00:05:02,500 --> 00:05:04,000
Huh, why fight ?

79
00:05:04,500 --> 00:05:05,500
Not good at all.

80
00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:07,500
If you don't help, that's over.

81
00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:10,000
But don't help Koels either !

82
00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:13,000
Wait a moment !

83
00:05:13,500 --> 00:05:15,000
I want to talk about this.

84
00:05:15,500 --> 00:05:16,500
Hey, Koel !

85
00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:18,500
What happened ?

86
00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:20,000
They are very insolent.

87
00:05:20,500 --> 00:05:22,500
I must give his brothers a lesson.

88
00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:25,000
Kid !

89
00:05:25,500 --> 00:05:28,500
We're the same birds,
it's not good to fight.

90
00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:30,000
Alas !

91
00:05:30,500 --> 00:05:31,500
What should I do ?

92
00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:36,500
Big big battle, hahah !

93
00:05:40,500 --> 00:05:41,500
Big big battle !

94
00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:43,000
My goodness !

95
00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:49,500
It must have been instigated by Crows.

96
00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:02,000
Hello all !

97
00:06:02,500 --> 00:06:04,000
We invite you to watch the duel...

98
00:06:04,500 --> 00:06:06,000
... between Munias and Koels.

99
00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:09,000
Come on !

100
00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:17,500
In the lead are
Munia brothers and their partners.

101
00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:20,500
Howdy, manful Munias !

101
00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:23,500
Make your effort, Munias !

103
00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:32,500
It's good, keep on !

104
00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:39,000
Goodness !

105
00:06:40,500 --> 00:06:42,500
Stop making a mess, children !

106
00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:50,500
Oh !

107
00:06:54,500 --> 00:06:56,000
Uncle Eagle !

108
00:06:57,500 --> 00:06:59,000
Oh, uncle Eagle !

109
00:06:59,500 --> 00:07:01,000
Uncle, over there...

110
00:07:01,500 --> 00:07:02,500
They are fighting.

111
00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:04,000
You must intervene immediately.

112
00:07:04,500 --> 00:07:05,500
Let's go now, uncle !

113
00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:07,000
Right, I'm ready.

114
00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:09,500
Keep it up, friends !

115
00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:11,500
Let's destroy each other !

116
00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:13,500
You are all going to die soon.

117
00:07:15,500 --> 00:07:16,500
Oh !

118
00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:18,500
Forgive us, brother !

119
00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:20,000
Forgive you ?

120
00:07:20,500 --> 00:07:21,500
Then lose my good baits ?

121
00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:26,000
The cruel Crows, go away !

122
00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:28,000
Let's go !

123
00:07:28,500 --> 00:07:30,500
Sir, forgive us !

124
00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:32,000
Run fast !

125
00:07:32,500 --> 00:07:34,000
Oh goodness, argh !

126
00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:36,000
Run run fast !

127
00:07:38,500 --> 00:07:40,000
Ah oh !

128
00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:51,000
Bugger me, help me !

129
00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:57,500
Oh !

130
00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:03,500
Oh goodness !

131
00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:08,000
How ?

132
00:08:08,500 --> 00:08:09,500
Are you hurt so much ?

133
00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:13,500
It's all messed up !

134
00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:18,000
Take a look at yourself, children !

135
00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:23,500
Only at Crows !

136
00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:26,000
That's why it's so bad.

137
00:08:26,500 --> 00:08:27,500
Mommy !

138
00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:30,500
Have you finished your lessons
but went out, my children ?

139
00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:33,500
We've finished our lessons, Mom.

140
00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:36,000
Let us read to you !

141
00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:41,000
Why !

142
00:08:41,500 --> 00:08:43,500
Did you remember, kids ?

143
00:08:50,500 --> 00:08:54,500
♫ The munia is the black-collared starling's aunt

144
00:08:56,000 --> 00:09:00,000
♫ The black-collared starling is the myna's younger uncle

145
00:09:01,500 --> 00:09:06,000
♫ The myna is the koel's younger brother

146
00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:11,000
♫ The koel is the magpie's younger uncle

147
00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:16,000
♫ The magpie is the munia's uncle

148
00:09:26,500 --> 00:09:31,997
<b>THE END</b>
© Varhiv 2023

Film Munias and Koels is based on a very famous nursery rhyme in Vietnam.

When Koels call summer to wake up, it is also the time when the lychee garden blooms. But there must be Munias in the lychee garden to poke the fruit to ripen. However, the Crows came from somewhere and incited them to fight, causing the whole area to be in chaos.

❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀

1
00:00:00,500 --> 00:00:05,500
Vietnam Animation Studio produced

2
00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:10,500
According to the order of
the Ministry of Culture and Information

3
00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:15,500
<b>MUNIAS AND KOELS</b>
- Subtitles by Duy Kiền -

4
00:01:07,500 --> 00:01:10,000
I am here, my brother.

5
00:01:10,500 --> 00:01:12,000
Ugh, maybe ?

6
00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:15,500
Alright, I'll catch you right away.

7
00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:17,500
I am here.

8
00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:19,500
Where so ?

9
00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:22,500
Hey dear, where are you ?

10
00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:25,000
Here, ugh ?
Not you !

11
00:01:25,500 --> 00:01:27,000
Hey dear, where are you ?

12
00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:29,500
Wow, here you are !

13
00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:32,000
Good day, Munias !

14
00:01:32,500 --> 00:01:34,500
You seem to be having
a lot of fun, don't you ?

15
00:01:35,500 --> 00:01:37,000
Let us join !

16
00:01:37,500 --> 00:01:39,000
We don't want to hang out with you.

17
00:01:39,500 --> 00:01:41,000
You should go play somewhere else.

18
00:01:41,500 --> 00:01:42,500
But this is the lychee garden.

19
00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:45,500
If we don't pricke, fruits can't ripen.

20
00:01:49,500 --> 00:01:50,500
Where are you ?

21
00:01:53,500 --> 00:01:54,500
Urgh !

22
00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:58,000
Where are you now ?

23
00:01:58,500 --> 00:01:59,500
Oh !

24
00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:02,000
I told you to go somewhere else.

25
00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:05,000
How graceless !

26
00:02:06,500 --> 00:02:07,500
There !

27
00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:09,500
Look so big but to be bullied.

28
00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:11,000
So weak !

29
00:02:13,500 --> 00:02:15,000
Hey Munias !

30
00:02:15,500 --> 00:02:18,500
Koels are big but not scary.

31
00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:20,000
We are not afraid of them.

32
00:02:20,500 --> 00:02:21,500
Take this !

33
00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:23,500
Got into a fight !

34
00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:31,500
Keep going on !

35
00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:33,000
Keep it in mind !

36
00:02:33,500 --> 00:02:35,500
We have not given up yet,
tomorrow you will know.

37
00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:37,500
That's nice !

38
00:02:45,500 --> 00:02:47,000
Are you hurt so much ?

39
00:02:47,500 --> 00:02:49,000
A little, my brother.

40
00:02:49,500 --> 00:02:51,000
But I'm so angry.

41
00:02:51,500 --> 00:02:52,500
My best friends !

42
00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:54,500
You are inherently weaker.

43
00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:57,500
You should invite more partners
to win against Koel brothers, huh.

44
00:02:58,500 --> 00:02:59,500
That's right !

45
00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:01,500
Thanks for your tip, kind !

46
00:03:08,500 --> 00:03:10,000
Good day, Myna !

47
00:03:10,500 --> 00:03:11,500
Oh, what's wrong with you ?

48
00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:13,000
Did you fall ?

49
00:03:13,500 --> 00:03:15,500
No, we got hit by Koels.

50
00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:17,500
I heard from their mouths that :

51
00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:20,000
Myna is the ugliest of all birds.

52
00:03:21,500 --> 00:03:24,000
Ah, then let them know our ride !

53
00:03:29,500 --> 00:03:30,500
Hey, Koels !

54
00:03:31,500 --> 00:03:36,000
Munia brothers are bringing
in more forces to avenge you.

55
00:03:36,500 --> 00:03:38,000
You should watch out, huh ?

56
00:03:38,500 --> 00:03:41,500
Very well, we also brought
in more forces to fight them.

57
00:03:45,500 --> 00:03:47,000
Brother Magpie !

58
00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:50,000
Please help us ! (Huh ?)

59
00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:58,000
Tomorrow you have to help us
fight Munia brothers, will you ?

60
00:03:58,500 --> 00:04:01,500
I'll show you a place of many fish.

61
00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:03,500
We promise.