Comments on: Nu, Zayats ...

Nu, Zayats ...

Marisa Stole the Precious Thing — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 08:12:43 -0800

In 1969, Russian animation studio Soyuzmultfilm released Nu, Pogodi! (Well, Just You Wait!), a series that followed the multitalented and comical Wolf in his quest to capture the Hare. Having very little dialogue but considerable music, it was an international hit across eastern Europe. Most who followed the show will tell you that despite attempts to portray Wolf as anti-authoritarian and decadent, Wolf had a much greater fanbase. Why else would the Nu Pogodi game be based on him, and not Hare?

By: languagehat

languagehat — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 08:39:53 -0800

I love Ну, погоди! and had no idea it went back to 1969 (why weren't they showing it in Russian class when I was in college? I would have learned more!). Thanks for the post!

By: nasreddin

nasreddin — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 08:42:08 -0800

I'm glad I'm not the only one who always hated that simpering, wide-eyed, long-eared little twit.

By: languagehat

languagehat — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 09:15:18 -0800

Oh yeah, and of course everyone prefers Wolf. I thought that would have been obvious.

By: daniel_charms

daniel_charms — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 09:16:20 -0800

Why else would the Nu Pogodi game be based on him, and not Hare? My guess is it's because the Hare would never get into a situation where it would have to catch eggs falling at an increasing rate - something he eventually will inevitably fail at. Failure is the domain of the Wolf (if you watch the cartoons, you'll see that even though he has many talents, he always fails in everything he does). By the way, the Hare actually made an occasional appearance in the original hand-held version of the game, taunting the Wolf and making eggs fall two at a time (IIRC).

By: PsychoTherapist

PsychoTherapist — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 09:20:01 -0800

Is this the cartoon mentioned in Snow Crash (in the scene where Y.T. and Raven go on a date)?

By: mkb

mkb — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:36:52 -0800

Seeing Soyuzmultfilm reminds me of the Masters of Russian Animation collection, which has quite a lot of Soyuzmultfilm shorts. My favorite is "Firing Range", which may or may not be Soyuzmultfilm. Probably not.

By: COBRA!

COBRA! — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:09:56 -0800

OK. So, in the GI Joe cartoon in the 80s, why did the Russian GI Joe-equivalent team always yell "Nu Pogodi" before a fight? It just makes no sense.

By: soundofsuburbia

soundofsuburbia — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:15:28 -0800

Wasn't that Blood, Sweat & Tears "Spinning Wheel" playing during the see-saw part of the first short in the first link? How did that come about? Wonderful post!

By: soundofsuburbia

soundofsuburbia — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:16:51 -0800

The first YouTube link, that is.

By: flibbertigibbet

flibbertigibbet — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:24:00 -0800

Firstly, I have to thank this post for helping me explain why a Russian character in the book I'm reading keeps on saying 'Nu.' (It's Chaim Potok's The Chosen, if anyone cares.) I literally just got to the scene with about 20 'Nu's when I saw this post. Awesome! Anyways, this cartoon is awesome! Thanks for this post.

By: k8t

k8t — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:57:45 -0800

Hare sucks. Wolf rules. Hello!?!

By: prefpara

prefpara — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:27:02 -0800

mkb, your link is indeed to a film made by Soyuzmultfilm.

By: JHarris

JHarris — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 18:46:50 -0800

Russian animation is awesome! To think exploring YouTube in the wake of the Vinni Puh thread I ran smack into Nu, Pagodi, and didn't think to FPP it.

By: Marisa Stole the Precious Thing

Marisa Stole the Precious Thing — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 19:55:16 -0800

Firing Range is really good. I think the Russians made some incredible hand-drawn animation but I've only seen people in the west pick up on this over the past few years or so.