KikoRiki

KikoRiki, sometimes known outside Russia as GoGoRiki or BalloonToons, occasionally referred by the original Russian name: Smeshariki (Russian: Смешарики), is a Russian animated television series consisting of 408 episodes of 6 minutes and 30 seconds (and 11 minutes) each, aimed at children 3 to 8 years old. This series uses mostly both flash animation and computer animation. The first episode premiered in Russia on December 22, 2003. The KikoRiki are stylized rounded animals. Its Russian name, Smeshariki, is a portmanteau of the words смешные, "funny" and шарики, "little balls". The series includes complex themes and specific cultural references. The series is aired in 60 countries, incl. China and those in the Middle East and the European Union, is translated to 15 languages and has an everyday audience of 50 million people. The audience in China surpassed the audience in Russia. As of 2020, episodes are currently available on KinoPoisk in Russia. Over time, the series gained cult status, with critics praising it for writing, the variety of genres among episodes, including their philosophy, references to other works and the visual style. Some criticize the animation style for artistic primitivism, pointing out certain technical limitations.