🎬October 28 — International Animation Day It was established in 2002 at the initiative of the International Animated Film Association (ASIFA). The date was chosen to commemorate a historic event: on this day in 1892, French inventor Émile Reynaud presented his Théâtre Optique (“Optical Theatre”) to the public for the first time at the Musée Grévin in Paris — a precursor to modern animation screenings. 🇷🇺 Russian animation: from classics to global hits Russian animation has a rich history and a distinctive artistic style. Soviet-era cartoons such as Hedgehog in the Fog, Winnie-the-Pooh, and Nu, Pogodi! (“Well, Just You Wait!”) have become beloved classics for generations of viewers. Today, Russian animation continues to win the hearts of audiences around the world. One of the brightest examples is Masha and the Bear. Thanks to dubbing, universal humor, and expressive animation, the series has found fans in every corner of the globe. 🤓Interesting fact: In 2019, one episode of the series entered the Guinness World Records as the most-viewed animated video on YouTube, with over 3 billion views. Other well-known contemporary Russian animated productions include Kikoriki (Smeshariki), The Fixies, Three Heroes, and Belka and Strelka. These projects represent different areas of modern Russian animation, ranging from educational stories for children to feature-length adventures that combine humor with family values. 🇧🇪 Animation in Belgium: from comics to the big screen Belgium is famous not only for its comics but also for its distinctive animation. The iconic comic-book characters Tintin and the Smurfs originated here and later came to life on screen. Among Belgium’s more unusual animated projects is A Town Called Panic, a comedy created using stop-motion animation with toy figurines. 🌐 International Animation Day reminds us that this art form knows no language barriers. From classic hand-drawn stories to modern digital series, animation brings together cultures, generations, and audiences around the world. ❤️Congratulations to all animation artists, directors, screenwriters, animators, and fans of the art of animation!