The Life of a True Deer
This is an ancient, ancient myth.
Deer then lived in the branches of a mighty tree
from whose branches dripped a sweet honey.
The intertwining of deer antlers gave birth to playful patterns,
and revolved a circle of strength, joy and beauty.
High in the sky circled a large, soaring bird.
It sang a song of joy when the dance of the deer was to its taste.
But once, one stag left the circle
and the dance stopped.
"My own strength is enough."
"I don't need your circle."
"I am myself beautiful and strong."
"The circle needs to be saved!" said the smallest little deer.
"But what can I do?"
"I know!"
"A kind, strong, wise deer must be found."
"And I will find him! I will!"
And he started on his journey.
His journey was long...
He saw strong deer locked in battle,
but they were too hateful.
He saw joyous, dashing deer,
but they were too carefree.
"Come run with us!" they called to him.
"It is so good to be with you!"
"But I cannot."
"After all, the circle waits for me."
"Yes, it waits for you," said the voice of a bird,
"it gave you life, and it needs your help."
"Go..."
Once, the little deer almost died.
A big stag whom he had rescued suddenly attacked him.
"You are to blame!" he cried
"If you could lift this tree,"
"then you could have also pushed it onto me!"
"I will destroy you. Die!"
The little deer was not afraid of a battle,
but spurned this unnecessary fight.
He remembered the circle.
The days flew by, sunsets and sunrises took turns,
Long did he walk, and the sensation of time left him.
And then, he saw a stag.
"I have been waiting for you," said the stag.
"Long ago, I left the circle."
"Help it. Will you be able to?"
"What must I do? Tell me."
"Overcome this chasm."
"and you will give the circle the joy of victory, and the strength of victory."
"Know this. It shall be so."
"But now, my time has come."
"Wait!" cried the little deer
"I'm afraid!"
"Prime yourself," said the bird's voice,
"A chasm has two sides."
He hesitated. Fear overtook him.
He despaired.
But the bird called out: "It's time!"
And he jumped!
And the tribe of deer saw before them a mature stag in his prime
who had returned in order to lead the circle and the beautiful dance.
And for many more years and ages did the constellation of the deer light up the sky.
Screenplay and director Dmitriy Palagin
art director - Aleksey Kondrashov composer - Aleksey Zhivaykin
sound - Mihail Oksin, animators - Dmitriy Palagin, Yekaterina Nefedova
puppets & decor - Yekaterina Nefedova, Alyona Belskaya, Tatyana Lavrova
Narrator - Ivan Vakulenko Computer graphics & montage - Dmitriy Palagin
Subtitles by Niffiwan