AATSEEL 2026: New Orleans, LA - February 19-22 (Sheraton New Orleans)

When taking stock of the figures that dominated late Soviet popular culture, one would be remiss not to mention Cheburashka, Vinni-Pukh, and the Bremen Town Musicians alongside the likes of Alla Pugacheva and Viktor Tsoi. Animation represented a massive undertaking in the Soviet Union, with state funded animation studios found across republics. Both viewers and scholars alike have been drawn to Soviet animation’s diversity in style and ability to address what scholars such as Larissa Tumanov have termed a “dual audience” of children and adults, often concealing more subversive messages behind an innocent storyline. 

While the works of Russian-Soviet animators from the celebrated Moscow-based Soyuzmultfilm studio have been the subject of much research, the history and production of animation studios in the other republics have received far less attention. Many of these films formed as animated adaptations of national and international narratives stemming from children’s literature and folklore. 

This stream explores the intersections between Soviet animation as an artform in motion alongside the development of national cinemas and the audiences that grew up alongside them. Potential themes for discussion include: animation theory, Soviet nationalities policy, children’s media, folklore, and histories of multinational cinema.

We are also interested in papers/projects that potentially explore

Adaptation and animation

Animation and early Soviet film

Nostalgia and the initial and prolonged reception to classic animated films

Pedagogical Elements of Soviet animation

Music and Scores from these animated films

Relationships between Soviet animation and foreign filmmaking

And more! 

If you are not a member of AATSEEL and you are not technically a “Slavist” (someone who specializes in Slavic Studies), you are welcome to join this panel! Non-Slavists may apply to the AATSEEL Executive Director, Jillian Costello (aatseel@colorado.edu), for exemption from the membership requirement, which will be determined on an individual basis. For more information about the conference, visit the website HERE. 

UPDATED DEADLINE: September 25, 2025 5pm EST

NOTIFICATION OF ACCEPTANCE: ASAP 

SUBMISSION: Please submit a 250-300 word abstract with a title directly to Tatyana Carrillo at tmc486@nyu.edu with the subject line: AATSEEL ANIMATION PANEL. 

For any questions please contact Tatyana or Auriane (amb10317@nyu.edu)