Merry-Go-Round
Весёлая карусель
Vesyolaya karusel (ru)
διασκεδαστικό καρουζέλ (el)
Băng chuyền vui nhộn (vi)
Veseli vrtuljak (hr)
Lõbus karussell (et)
Carosello divertente (it)
Das lustige Karussell (de)
مرح دوامة الخيل (ar)
Description:
A long-running series of one-reel (10-minute) compilations of shorter children's cartoons by promising new directors, released for several decades at Soyuzmultfilm studio.
Loosely inspired by an eponymous 1956 poetry collection by Ivan Nehoda (some images here), conceived by Galina Barinova, and pushed through by her husband Anatoliy Petrov, this almanac series was a great success and continued to be produced (at a rate of ~1 episode per year) until the year 2000, then was revived from 2012-2017. Until the end of the Soviet era, it continued to serve in its role of incubating young, promising talent, by giving them the opportunity to experiment with bold, original ideas for younger audiences.
Initially, all the stories in the almanac were worked on collectively. Each issue took nine months, and it had a clearly defined structure: a moral-instructive and cartoon part, a "comic" and an episode of "Well, Just You Wait!". Already after the first episode, the editors decided to spin out "Well, Just You Wait!" into a separate project, so the format changed. After the founders left in 1978, the almanac took the form of a more traditional collection of unrelated cartoons.
A full list of episodes can be seen at the Russian Wikipedia article.
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Merry-Go-Round 1 ❤
Весёлая карусель 1
Vesyolaya karusel 1
1969 – 00:09:51 – Russian – Soyuzmultfilm – Barinova Galina, Nosyrev Leonid, Petrov Anatoliy, Sokolskiy Gennadiy
Comedy, Literature (non-Rus./USSR), Musical/Opera, Surrealism/dream-logic – drawn (cel)
4.02 ws – Subtitles: Arabic (unknown⭳ – by ?, Niffiwan), German (good⭳ – by Тихон, Niffiwan₂), English (ok⭳ – by Eus, Niffiwan), Estonian (unknown⭳ – by Pastella), Italian (unknown⭳ – by ?, Niffiwan), Russian (unknown⭳ – by Niffiwan)
The first entry of an acclaimed long-running series of short, artistically daring children's cartoons by promising new directors. Includes: "Mosaic" (either Nosyrev or Barinova), "Antoshka" (Nosyrev), "Absent-Minded Giovanni" (Anatoliy Petrov, based on a story by Italian writer Gianni Rodari), "Well, Just You Wait!" (Sokolskiy - the "pilot episode" of the most famous Soviet cartoon series).2023-06-172022-10-04 -
Merry-Go-Round 2 ❤
Весёлая карусель 2
Vesyolaya karusel 2
1970 – 00:10:04 – Russian – Soyuzmultfilm – Nosyrev Leonid, Petrov Anatoliy, Strautmane Rasa
Comedy, Folklore & myth (Rus./East Slavic), Literature (Rus./East Slavic), Musical/Opera – drawn (cel)
2.30 ws – Subtitles: German (good⭳ – by Тихон, Eus₂, Niffiwan₂), German (ok⭳ – by Тихон), Greek (unknown⭳ – by ?), English (good⭳ – by Mr. Icon), English (good⭳ – by Mr. Icon, Niffiwan, Eus₂), Estonian (unknown⭳ – by Pastella), Croatian (unknown⭳ – by M de Vega, Niffiwan₂), Italian (unknown⭳ – by ?), Russian (unknown⭳ – by ?), Russian (unknown⭳ – by Niffiwan, Eus₂), Vietnamese (unknown⭳ – by Cynir)
Includes: "Cock-and-Bull Story" (by Strautmane, adapting a nonsense poem), "The First" (by Anatoliy Petrov, in which some scouts go on a hike) and "Two Merry Ganders" (by Nosyrev, the most famous of the shorts, featuring a song about two geese).2023-06-172022-10-04 -
Merry-Go-Round 3 ❤
Весёлая карусель 3
Vesyolaya karusel 3
1971 – 00:09:47 – Russian – Soyuzmultfilm – Nosyrev Leonid, Petrov Anatoliy, Ugarov Valeriy
Comedy, Literature (Rus./East Slavic), Musical/Opera, Sci-fi & space – drawn (cel)
5.29 ws – Subtitles: German (good⭳ – by Тихон, Eus₂, Niffiwan₂), English (ok⭳ – by Eus, Niffiwan, ?₂), Estonian (unknown⭳ – by Pastella), Russian (unknown⭳ – by Niffiwan, Eus₂, Тихон₃)
Includes: "The Devastation" (by Ugarov, adapting Eduard Uspenskiy's poem about a destroyed apartment), "The Blue Meteorite" (by Petrov, adapting a sci-fi poem by Roman Sef) and "Ginger, Ginger, Freckled Redhead" (by Nosyrev, a song in which a boy gets teased for being a ginger).2022-10-222022-10-06 -
Merry-Go-Round 4
Весёлая карусель 4
Vesyolaya karusel 4
1972 – 00:09:20 – Russian – Soyuzmultfilm – Barinova Galina, Nosyrev Leonid, Petrov Anatoliy
Comedy, Literature (Rus./East Slavic) – drawn (cel), drawn (not cel)
5.12 ws – Subtitles: English (good⭳ – by Eus, Niffiwan), Estonian (unknown⭳ – by Pastella), Russian (unknown⭳ – by Niffiwan, Eus₂)
Includes: "About a Freaky Frog" (by Barinova, adapting Tsyferov's story of a conversation between a cow and a frog), "The Silent Hamster" (by Nosyrev, adapting Eduard Shim's story of a resourceful and underestimated hamster) and "A Merry Little Old Man" (by Petrov, adapting Daniil Kharms' poem).2022-10-152022-10-15 -
Merry-Go-Round 5
Весёлая карусель 5
Vesyolaya karusel 5
1973 – 00:09:33 – Russian – Soyuzmultfilm – Barinova Galina, Petrov Anatoliy, Sokolskiy Gennadiy, Ugarov Valeriy
Domestic life, Folklore & myth (Rus./East Slavic), Literature (Rus./East Slavic), Sci-fi & space, Surrealism/dream-logic – drawn (cel), paint
6.60 ws – Subtitles: English (ok⭳ – by Eus, Niffiwan), Estonian (unknown⭳ – by Pastella), Russian (unknown⭳ – by Niffiwan, Eus₂)
Featuring: "Could This Movie Be About You?" (Ugarov) - a girl makes a mess while her mom's away, "Who Is Grazing In the Meadow" (Barinova) - a farm animal riddle, "The Miracle" (Petrov) - kids in a futuristic city find something very special, "Tall Tales Face to Face" (Sokolskiy) - a man from far away relates the odd customs of his home.2026-01-122022-10-21 -
Merry-Go-Round 6
Весёлая карусель 6
Vesyolaya karusel 6
1974 – 00:09:31 – Russian – Soyuzmultfilm – Barinova Galina, Morozov Vladimir
Comedy, Literature (Rus./East Slavic) – drawn (cel)
6.44 ws – Subtitles: English (good⭳ – by Eus, Niffiwan, Chapaev₂), Estonian (unknown⭳ – by Pastella), Russian (unknown⭳ – by Niffiwan)
Includes: "The Treatment of Vasiliy" (by Morozov, adapting Petrushevskaya's story of a doctor who treats a giant), "Mishmash" (by Barinova, adapting Korney Chukovskiy's absurd story of animals who decide to change roles with other animals).2023-10-242023-10-24 -
Merry-Go-Round 7
Весёлая карусель 7
Vesyolaya karusel 7
1975 – 00:09:57 – Russian – Soyuzmultfilm – Barinova Galina, Nazarov Eduard
Comedy, Literature (Rus./East Slavic), Musical/Opera – cutout, drawn (cel)
5.77 ws – Subtitles: English (ok⭳ – by Niffiwan, LalaHeb₂), Estonian (unknown⭳ – by Pastella), Russian (good⭳ – by Niffiwan)
Includes: "The Silly Horse" (by Barinova, adapting Vadim Levin's poem about a horse who buys galoshes), "The Little Hippo" (by Nazarov, adapting Emma Moshkovskaya's story about a lonely little hippo).2025-12-212025-12-21 -
Merry-Go-Round 9 ❤
Весёлая карусель 9
Vesyolaya karusel 9
1977 – 00:09:27 – Russian – Soyuzmultfilm – Kayukov Leonid, Nazarov Eduard
Comedy, Literature (Rus./East Slavic), Musical/Opera – drawn (cel)
4.09 ws – Subtitles: English (good⭳ – by Niffiwan, Eus₂), Estonian (unknown⭳ – by Pastella)
Includes: "For a Flick-on-the-Head" (by Kayukov, about a bunny who gives carrots only in return for flicks on the head), "Clown" (by Kayukov, based on Emma Moshkovskaya's short poem) and "The Princess and the Cannibal" (by Nazarov, adapting Genrikh Sapgir's poem about a delightful princess who gets lost in the woods in frightful weather... or maybe the other way around?).2026-02-282026-02-28 -
Merry-Go-Round 10 ❤
Весёлая карусель 10
Vesyolaya karusel 10
1978 – 00:09:41 – Russian – Soyuzmultfilm – Barinova Galina, Petrov Anatoliy, Ugarov Valeriy
Comedy, Literature (Rus./East Slavic), Misc. – cutout, drawn (cel)
4.14 ws – Subtitles: English (ok⭳ – by Niffiwan, Eus₂), Estonian (unknown⭳ – by Pastella), Russian (unknown⭳ – by Niffiwan)
Includes: "The Parcel" (by Barinova, about a rat who receives a nice pair of boots in the mail), "Firefly" (by Petrov, adapting a poem by Vitaliy Korzhikov about a firefly who gets lost in the dark sea) and "The Butterfly and the Tiger" (by Ugarov, about how the tiger's mat in a zoo is far meaner than the tiger himself).2026-02-092026-02-09 -
Merry-Go-Round 12
Весёлая карусель 12
Vesyolaya karusel 12
1983 – 00:09:36 – Russian – Soyuzmultfilm – Gavrilko Yelena, Gorlenko Aleksandr, Mazayev Aleksandr
Comedy, Misc., Surrealism/dream-logic – drawn (cel)
2.57 ws – Subtitles: English (good⭳ – by businka1, Niffiwan), Estonian (unknown⭳ – by Pastella)
The 12th entry of a long-running series of short cartoons by promising new directors. Includes: "Pencil and Eraser" (Gavrilko), "What Happened to the Crocodile?" (Gorlenko), "Echo" (Mazayev).2025-05-252025-05-24 -
Merry-Go-Round 16 ❤
Весёлая карусель 16
Vesyolaya karusel 16
1985 – 00:08:25 – Russian – Soyuzmultfilm – Mititello Tatyana, Morozov Vladimir
Comedy, Domestic life, Literature (Rus./East Slavic), Surrealism/dream-logic – drawn (cel)
3.77 ws – Subtitles: English (good⭳ – by Niffiwan, LalaHeb₂), Russian (good⭳ – by Niffiwan)
Includes: "The Miracle Tree" (by Morozov, adapting Chukovsky's silly poem about a tree that grows shoes), "The Game" (by Mititello, about a boy who defends himself from dangers while trying to make a rainbow).2025-12-302025-12-30 -
Merry-Go-Round 20
Весёлая карусель 20
Vesyolaya karusel 20
1990 – 00:09:13 – Russian – Soyuzmultfilm – Golovanova Nataliya, Guryev Aleksandr, Koshkin Nikolay
Comedy, Domestic life, Literature (non-Rus./USSR), Literature (Rus./East Slavic), Musical/Opera – drawn (cel)
5.19 ws – Subtitles: English (good⭳ – by Niffiwan), Russian (good⭳ – by Niffiwan)
Includes: "Two Hands" (by Koshkin, adapting Aleksey Shlygin's poem about a boy who wishes he had 10 hands), "The Glass" (by Guryev, adapting Oleg Grigoryev's nonsense story about some glaziers who install a warped glass window) and "Little Ram" (by Golovanova, adapting Samuil Marshak's translation of "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep", an English folk song about the shearing of a ram).2026-02-122026-02-11











