Cheburashka

Cheburashka (Russian: Чебурашка, IPA: [t͡ɕɪbʊˈraʂkə] ), also known as Topple in earlier English translations and Chebi in later English translations, is a fictional character created by Soviet writer Eduard Uspensky in his 1965 children's book Gena the Crocodile and His Friends. The character subsequently appeared as the protagonist in a series of stop-motion animated films directed by Roman Kachanov for Soyuzmultfilm, the first of which was made in 1969, with songs composed by Vladimir Shainsky. Even today Cheburashka is still renowned in the former Soviet Union, and has been called the "Soviet Mickey Mouse" by external observers. Although only four short animated films have been produced featuring Cheburashka, he is still a national symbol in the former USSR and Russia, and is famous outside of it. One reason for his popularity is the message of his stories, which stress that one's origin is not as important as one's kindness. A Russian live-action Cheburashka movie was released in 2023. A sequel, Cheburashka 2, came out in 2026.