In 2022, Soyuzmultfilm for the first time achieved parity in sales between the “golden collection” and new content, but taking into account the restarts of Prostokvashino and Nu, Pogodi! The studio plans to include the first two series aimed at teenagers, a series with three-dimensional Cheburashka, as well as adaptations of the bestsellers Malusha by Oleg Roy and The Secrets of the Enchantress by Yulia Ivanova.
Due to the geopolitical situation and sanctions, which included the partner of Soyuzmultfilm, Sberbank, the studio had to revise its development strategy and export plans. In an interview with Vedomosti, the chairman of the board of directors of Soyuzmultfilm, Yuliana Slashcheva, said that the updated strategy includes where instead of Europe and North America it is planned to sell the studio’s projects and why the restart of the Soviet animated classics has now become relevant.
– One of the main news of this year is that Sberbank did not buy Soyuzmultfilm shares. Did you manage to find a new partner?
– The economic situation is now difficult, we are negotiating with a number of open investment funds and we hope to implement such a deal after all. Because we, of course, need an investment partner. And we are sure that we will find it next year. Animation has become a very attractive business. If you look at what is currently collecting the best at the box office, it will be animation.
Since 2020, we have had a separate joint venture with Sberbank. Globally (due to the cancellation of the deal with Sberbank. – Vedomosti), nothing has changed, except that the strategy had to be shortened. Previously, we looked up to 2027 and outlined in large strokes up to 2030. Until February, everyone was still telling us: you swung something, now no one is making a strategy for more than three years. Now we have just a three-year strategy until 2025.
– What are the main parameters of the updated Soyuzmultfilm strategy?
– Its main vectors remained the same. The key thing that had to be adjusted was international sales. The previous plan was based on the fact that they would bring at least 30% of all revenue per year. Only the Prostokvashino series was conceived for our market (and the CIS). All other projects were to be sold at the global level – primarily to Europe, to the Anglo-Saxon markets. We are now moving to other areas. But it is already clear that they will bring much less money.