Vladimir Nilolaev
Voronezh Animation Studio has just launched a new project, "Arctic Heroes," a new show that joins the company's catalog alongside "The Steel Family" and "Dr. Paws," both of which are currently in production. To understand the strategy behind these tiles, Señal News spoke with Vladimir Nikolaev, General Producer of Voronezh.
How would you describe Voronezh's main strengths today?
"Our animation studio has been producing CGI feature films and series since 2007. The studio gained global recognition through 'The Snow Queen' franchise, whose five films were released in 150+ countries and grossed over $100 million. That success became the studio's calling card, demonstrating our ability to create high-quality content that resonates with audiences worldwide. The franchise's fifth part, 'The Snow Queen and the Princess,' is ranked among the top five highest-grossing releases abroad in 2024, having recently premiered in Greece and Vietnam. Our core expertise lies in producing high-quality CGI animation for the international market, with a focus on family content and technological innovation. We develop feature films, series, and content for streaming platforms that blend original storytelling with cutting-edge 3D technology. All our projects feature meticulously crafted characters, dynamic narratives, and universal themes (friendship, family, ecology)."
How would you describe the story "Arctic Heroes"?
"The Arctic-themed film concept has been evolving over four years, gradually transforming from an abstract vision into a concrete story. The plot centers on a living baby mammoth discovered in an artificial cryogenic vault on Wrangel Island. When a fanatical scientist attempts to clone it, the schoolkids intervene, discovering the mammoth is intelligent. The heroes help it escape and embark on an Arctic journey to uncover the secret of its origin. This adventure film conveys a globally relatable message about valuing the real world and the importance of friendship while promoting themes of nature conservation and cultural respect."
What are the main distinctive aspects of the show?
"Visually, the project's unique Arctic settings truly distinguish it. The story immerses the audience in a mesmerizing world where endless snowscapes coexist with advanced technology, providing a perfect backdrop for stories about courage, solidarity, and support. 'The Snow Queen' franchise proved international audiences' fascination with winter settings. The Arctic environment will be contrasted with technological elements, including nuclear icebreakers, research stations, and high-tech gadgets. For instance, the icebreaker's mascot, a ginger cat named Immanuel Quant, will be a talking character whose thoughts are vocalized through a special device. While the Arctic may seem distant and mysterious to most, our film will invite audiences to explore this romantic and captivating world through charismatic animals and characters. I want to highlight the transformation of the main heroes, as the beginning of the story finds them as ordinary teenagers spending their days in the virtual world, communicating and playing computer games. Later, they embark together on a journey from virtual to real life, filled with adventures and revelations, during which they will come to understand the value of true friendship. These actual values and priorities are vital in all our studio's projects, and their international releases demonstrate that they are common worldwide."
What is the global distribution strategy for this project?
"The global appeal of 'Arctic Heroes' is based on the stories' strong values like family, friendship, and compassion, with a lot of magic, cute animals, and amazing animation quality, and its target international audience. A prior deal with Film Medya Produksiyon secured the film's theatrical release in Turkey. Studio partners highly praised its international potential."
What other projects are you developing today?
"We've started production for the second season of the teen series 'The Steel Family.' The first season's reception was outstanding; the series received wide recognition from the audience and proved captivating for the whole family. We're also developing the feature film 'Dr. Paws,' which follows a kindhearted veterinarian who finds out about an animal epidemic in Africa and travels there by hot-air balloon to help the animals. It's a similar story to 'Doctor Dolittle,' where a doctor who understands animals embarks on a perilous journey to save them, but with an original accent. The feature will be based on the classic poetry book published in 1929, but the story remains contemporary thanks to universal values. Such an adventure-comedy premise, along with cute and colorful animal characters, always resonates with international audiences. The success of projects like 'Sheep and Wolves' and 'The Snow Queen,' with their diverse range of animals, demonstrates the studio's ability to bring complex, emotional animal images to life on screen, from comedic to touching. The global love for franchises like 'Madagascar' and 'Zootopia' confirms that stories about animals with vivid personalities and humanistic values invariably resonate with audiences of all ages. Therefore, we foresee strong international potential for this project."