Comments on: Animated Russian "Winnie the Pooh" from 1972 is quite the Nietzschean bummer http://boingboing.net/2012/05/15/animated-russian-winnie-the.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sun, 19 May 2013 00:49:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: OtherMichael http://boingboing.net/2012/05/15/animated-russian-winnie-the.html#comment-1426561 OtherMichael Thu, 17 May 2012 15:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161072#comment-1426561  So, when she expressed her personal viewpoint, she should have first extracted herself from her cultural background... in order to change her viewpoint? If she had a Russian viewpoint, she wouldn't find this remarkable at all. Instead, she'd be posting about the crazy, prozac-saturated disney version with the raspy-voiced pooh. Admittedly, Sterling Holloway is deserving of more attention, but really. It's difficult to imagine a more ethnocentric complaint that what is written in your comment. Learn a little bit about BoingBoing posts or even just wonderful things before passing judgement, please.  So, when she expressed her personal viewpoint, she should have first extracted herself from her cultural background… in order to change her viewpoint?

If she had a Russian viewpoint, she wouldn’t find this remarkable at all.

Instead, she’d be posting about the crazy, prozac-saturated disney version with the raspy-voiced pooh.

Admittedly, Sterling Holloway is deserving of more attention, but really.

It’s difficult to imagine a more ethnocentric complaint that what is written in your comment. Learn a little bit about BoingBoing posts or even just wonderful things before passing judgement, please.

]]> By: PinkWithIndignation http://boingboing.net/2012/05/15/animated-russian-winnie-the.html#comment-1426302 PinkWithIndignation Thu, 17 May 2012 02:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161072#comment-1426302 I just saw these on Cracked the other day and have watched a few. They're great- not only am I refreshing my Russian, I am also remembering great Winnie the Pooh stories, but the bear is no longer whiny! I just saw these on Cracked the other day and have watched a few. They’re great- not only am I refreshing my Russian, I am also remembering great Winnie the Pooh stories, but the bear is no longer whiny!

]]> By: Andy H. http://boingboing.net/2012/05/15/animated-russian-winnie-the.html#comment-1426175 Andy H. Wed, 16 May 2012 23:08:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161072#comment-1426175  The only time she refers to the cultural origin is when she calls it "Russian".  Everything else is commentary on the cartoon.  I find this a little similar to Waiting for Godot; when I saw Eeyore's tail in close-up, I momentarily thought he might've hung himself.  The only time she refers to the cultural origin is when she calls it “Russian”.  Everything else is commentary on the cartoon. 

I find this a little similar to Waiting for Godot; when I saw Eeyore’s tail in close-up, I momentarily thought he might’ve hung himself.

]]> By: DimeSpin http://boingboing.net/2012/05/15/animated-russian-winnie-the.html#comment-1425633 DimeSpin Wed, 16 May 2012 16:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161072#comment-1425633 Russian Eeyore doesn't seem any more depressed than Disney Eeyore to me, just more honest somehow. Seems like they say basically the same things (could be missing something since I don't speak the language), but where Disney Eeyore sounds mopey and passive aggressive, Russian Eeyore just kinda sounds like he's saying what he thinks is true. Maybe that's more depressing? That he thinks he can't be happy instead of just saying he can't be happy as a guilt trip? Russian Eeyore doesn’t seem any more depressed than Disney Eeyore to me, just more honest somehow. Seems like they say basically the same things (could be missing something since I don’t speak the language), but where Disney Eeyore sounds mopey and passive aggressive, Russian Eeyore just kinda sounds like he’s saying what he thinks is true. Maybe that’s more depressing? That he thinks he can’t be happy instead of just saying he can’t be happy as a guilt trip?

]]> By: Olga Trushina http://boingboing.net/2012/05/15/animated-russian-winnie-the.html#comment-1425545 Olga Trushina Wed, 16 May 2012 15:24:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161072#comment-1425545 I know!  :) We need to have more action to make it more enjoyable for us Americans.  Add some scenes with Pooh tripping and falling, make the scenes change with the speed of light to give kids ADHD, and add tons of commercials in between.  That should do it. I know!  :) We need to have more action to make it more enjoyable for us Americans.  Add some scenes with Pooh tripping and falling, make the scenes change with the speed of light to give kids ADHD, and add tons of commercials in between.  That should do it.

]]> By: wizardru http://boingboing.net/2012/05/15/animated-russian-winnie-the.html#comment-1425428 wizardru Wed, 16 May 2012 14:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161072#comment-1425428 Russian Eeyore (or should that be "Soviet Eeyore"?) is certainly very depressed on a more fundamental existential level than his Disney counterpart, but overall this is much more charming than I envisioned. It's still kind of like a fever dream when one is used to the classic Disney version, with it's Sherman Brothers songs...but that makes it different, not necessarily bad.  Although I'm not sure Xeni was really deriding them as much as noting the culture shock in the different approach to the same material. I will say that Eeyore looking for his tail and Pooh saying it's not there seems to shine through for every version. Russian Eeyore (or should that be “Soviet Eeyore”?) is certainly very depressed on a more fundamental existential level than his Disney counterpart, but overall this is much more charming than I envisioned.

It’s still kind of like a fever dream when one is used to the classic Disney version, with it’s Sherman Brothers songs…but that makes it different, not necessarily bad.  Although I’m not sure Xeni was really deriding them as much as noting the culture shock in the different approach to the same material.

I will say that Eeyore looking for his tail and Pooh saying it’s not there seems to shine through for every version.

]]> By: sxip shirey http://boingboing.net/2012/05/15/animated-russian-winnie-the.html#comment-1425340 sxip shirey Wed, 16 May 2012 13:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161072#comment-1425340 According to Larisa Fuchs, a friend here in NYC who is from the Ukraine. "This is one of THE classics. We still quote random bits in the family. The language was amazing, don't know how it holds up to translation" ...and then after she watched the subtitles, "Technically same content but none of the subtlety or charm. The "songs" were priceless, and it's just not there in this..." According to Larisa Fuchs, a friend here in NYC who is from the Ukraine. “This is one of THE classics. We still quote random bits in the family. The language was amazing, don’t know how it holds up to translation” …and then after she watched the subtitles, “Technically same content but none of the subtlety or charm. The “songs” were priceless, and it’s just not there in this…”

]]> By: Dan Hibiki http://boingboing.net/2012/05/15/animated-russian-winnie-the.html#comment-1425334 Dan Hibiki Wed, 16 May 2012 13:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161072#comment-1425334  the real worker and parasite cartoon: http://youtu.be/bOjVeqTMn9k  the real worker and parasite cartoon: http://youtu.be/bOjVeqTMn9k

]]> By: Dan Hibiki http://boingboing.net/2012/05/15/animated-russian-winnie-the.html#comment-1425329 Dan Hibiki Wed, 16 May 2012 13:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161072#comment-1425329  well, stuffed animals in this case.  well, stuffed animals in this case.

]]> By: Tadas Jelinek http://boingboing.net/2012/05/15/animated-russian-winnie-the.html#comment-1425312 Tadas Jelinek Wed, 16 May 2012 12:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161072#comment-1425312 Dudes, if you enjoyed this you MUST see "Hedgehog in the Fog" ... We still can't figure out how this came out as a cartoon for kids ;) Dudes, if you enjoyed this you MUST see “Hedgehog in the Fog” … We still can’t figure out how this came out as a cartoon for kids ;)

]]> By: Summer Seale http://boingboing.net/2012/05/15/animated-russian-winnie-the.html#comment-1425298 Summer Seale Wed, 16 May 2012 11:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161072#comment-1425298 That's exactly what I thought of as well. And Krusty's face afterwards where he exclaims: "WHAT THE *HELL* WAS *THAT*???" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR7m-4Vc3MU That’s exactly what I thought of as well. And Krusty’s face afterwards where he exclaims: “WHAT THE *HELL* WAS *THAT*???”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR7m-4Vc3MU

]]> By: Dan Groom http://boingboing.net/2012/05/15/animated-russian-winnie-the.html#comment-1425252 Dan Groom Wed, 16 May 2012 08:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161072#comment-1425252 I too was suckered in with the promise of Nietzschean bummer and left feeling like I must be some kind of total pedant fact-nazi for actually knowing anything about Nietzche. Or maybe Xeni meant the guys from that sci-fi show with the thing... I too was suckered in with the promise of Nietzschean bummer and left feeling like I must be some kind of total pedant fact-nazi for actually knowing anything about Nietzche.

Or maybe Xeni meant the guys from that sci-fi show with the thing…

]]> By: Lemoutan http://boingboing.net/2012/05/15/animated-russian-winnie-the.html#comment-1425247 Lemoutan Wed, 16 May 2012 08:02:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161072#comment-1425247 Looks and sounds. But too kind and thoughtful.  One could not respect Vynny Pookh's arthoratair. Looks and sounds. But too kind and thoughtful.  One could not respect Vynny Pookh’s arthoratair.

]]> By: Lemoutan http://boingboing.net/2012/05/15/animated-russian-winnie-the.html#comment-1425243 Lemoutan Wed, 16 May 2012 07:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161072#comment-1425243 Deuce Deuce

]]> By: barsanuphe http://boingboing.net/2012/05/15/animated-russian-winnie-the.html#comment-1425241 barsanuphe Wed, 16 May 2012 07:53:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161072#comment-1425241 I second that. I watched it because I was interested to see how Nietzsche could be inserted in a children cartoon, but having read a lot a Nietzsche, I can tell you that nothing Eeyore says has anything to do with him. At one point he says there is no point in dancing and laughing while Nietzsche says precisely the opposite in Thus spake Zarathustra. In my experience, most people who talk about Nietzsche have not read him, and actually talk about the caricature that was made of Nietzsche at some point in history by people who misread him -- sometimes voluntarily misread him, such as some French philosophers at the beginning of the 20th century when they just wanted to find philosophical reasons to consider Germans as enemies, to get back at them for the 1870 defeat. I second that. I watched it because I was interested to see how Nietzsche could be inserted in a children cartoon, but having read a lot a Nietzsche, I can tell you that nothing Eeyore says has anything to do with him. At one point he says there is no point in dancing and laughing while Nietzsche says precisely the opposite in Thus spake Zarathustra.
In my experience, most people who talk about Nietzsche have not read him, and actually talk about the caricature that was made of Nietzsche at some point in history by people who misread him — sometimes voluntarily misread him, such as some French philosophers at the beginning of the 20th century when they just wanted to find philosophical reasons to consider Germans as enemies, to get back at them for the 1870 defeat.

]]> By: Arnaud Diederen http://boingboing.net/2012/05/15/animated-russian-winnie-the.html#comment-1425217 Arnaud Diederen Wed, 16 May 2012 06:54:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161072#comment-1425217 It means that Xeni apparently didn't quite bother (not hard enough by Michael's taste, at least) abstracting herself away from her very own culture, in order to pass judgement on material coming from a culture she probably doesn't know very well. Ergo, Russian  Eeyore is, relatively, «more depressing than» Disney Eeyore. But who said Disney's version is any more 'correct', more 'how it should be'? (And I too fail to see anything properly ``Nietzschean'' in what he has to say about life.) It means that Xeni apparently didn’t quite bother (not hard enough by Michael’s taste, at least) abstracting herself away from her very own culture, in order to pass judgement on material coming from a culture she probably doesn’t know very well.

Ergo, Russian  Eeyore is, relatively, «more depressing than» Disney Eeyore.
But who said Disney’s version is any more ‘correct’, more ‘how it should be’?

(And I too fail to see anything properly “Nietzschean” in what he has to say about life.)

]]> By: James Henson http://boingboing.net/2012/05/15/animated-russian-winnie-the.html#comment-1425184 James Henson Wed, 16 May 2012 05:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161072#comment-1425184 There's not a hint of Nietzsche in anything Eeyore says.  I have a lot of respect for boingboing, but find it sad that this post is perpetuating misconceptions of Nietzsche's writings. There’s not a hint of Nietzsche in anything Eeyore says.  I have a lot of respect for boingboing, but find it sad that this post is perpetuating misconceptions of Nietzsche’s writings.

]]> By: RJ http://boingboing.net/2012/05/15/animated-russian-winnie-the.html#comment-1425178 RJ Wed, 16 May 2012 05:26:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161072#comment-1425178 Disney's Pooh is fine and well, especially the old stuff with Sterling Holloway narrating. But this version is awesome. I love how Pooh is portrayed here; he seems a bit more "with it" than Disney's old syrupy milquetoast. Disney’s Pooh is fine and well, especially the old stuff with Sterling Holloway narrating. But this version is awesome. I love how Pooh is portrayed here; he seems a bit more “with it” than Disney’s old syrupy milquetoast.

]]> By: Frank Diekman http://boingboing.net/2012/05/15/animated-russian-winnie-the.html#comment-1425179 Frank Diekman Wed, 16 May 2012 05:26:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161072#comment-1425179 And now: Eastern Europe's number one cartoon - Worker And Parasite! And now: Eastern Europe’s number one cartoon – Worker And Parasite!

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/05/15/animated-russian-winnie-the.html#comment-1425157 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 16 May 2012 04:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161072#comment-1425157 <blockquote>It's difficult to imagine a more ethnocentric description of Russian Winnie the Pooh than what is written in this post. </blockquote>What does that mean?

It’s difficult to imagine a more ethnocentric description of Russian Winnie the Pooh than what is written in this post.

What does that mean?

]]> By: Michael Dougherty http://boingboing.net/2012/05/15/animated-russian-winnie-the.html#comment-1425139 Michael Dougherty Wed, 16 May 2012 03:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161072#comment-1425139 It's difficult to imagine a more ethnocentric description of Russian Winnie the Pooh than what is written in this post. Learn a little bit about Russian films or even just Russian cartoons before passing judgement, please. It’s difficult to imagine a more ethnocentric description of Russian Winnie the Pooh than what is written in this post. Learn a little bit about Russian films or even just Russian cartoons before passing judgement, please.

]]> By: Michael Dougherty http://boingboing.net/2012/05/15/animated-russian-winnie-the.html#comment-1425140 Michael Dougherty Wed, 16 May 2012 03:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161072#comment-1425140 It's difficult to imagine a more ethnocentric description of Russian Winnie the Pooh than what is written in this post. Learn a little bit about Russian films or even just Russian cartoons before passing judgement, please. It’s difficult to imagine a more ethnocentric description of Russian Winnie the Pooh than what is written in this post. Learn a little bit about Russian films or even just Russian cartoons before passing judgement, please.

]]> By: Joshua Bardwell http://boingboing.net/2012/05/15/animated-russian-winnie-the.html#comment-1425105 Joshua Bardwell Wed, 16 May 2012 02:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161072#comment-1425105 Honestly, it seems even more appropriate in Russian (the culture, not the language, which I don't speak at all) than in English. Pooh has always been kind of philosophical and verbally witty, and I think they really nailed it. Honestly, it seems even more appropriate in Russian (the culture, not the language, which I don’t speak at all) than in English. Pooh has always been kind of philosophical and verbally witty, and I think they really nailed it.

]]> By: Nikolai Drjuchin http://boingboing.net/2012/05/15/animated-russian-winnie-the.html#comment-1425090 Nikolai Drjuchin Wed, 16 May 2012 02:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161072#comment-1425090 I think you missed the charm of this cartoon. It definitely helps to know russian but its a very delightful cartoon, ive always loved it much more then the sleepy disney ones. His voice was done by the famous russian actor Yevgeny Leonov, who actually kind of resembles the bear. :) I think you missed the charm of this cartoon. It definitely helps to know russian but its a very delightful cartoon, ive always loved it much more then the sleepy disney ones. His voice was done by the famous russian actor Yevgeny Leonov, who actually kind of resembles the bear. :)

]]> By: Sekino http://boingboing.net/2012/05/15/animated-russian-winnie-the.html#comment-1425084 Sekino Wed, 16 May 2012 02:26:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161072#comment-1425084 This is delightful. Then again , as a child, my favourite animated movies included many Soviet  films (Captain Vrungel,  Hedgehog in the Fog, The Mystery of the Third Planet, etc...) so neither the style nor the delivery look  strange to me. This is delightful. Then again , as a child, my favourite animated movies included many Soviet  films (Captain Vrungel,  Hedgehog in the Fog, The Mystery of the Third Planet, etc…) so neither the style nor the delivery look  strange to me.

]]> By: Lennoxx Bllaze Wesst http://boingboing.net/2012/05/15/animated-russian-winnie-the.html#comment-1425079 Lennoxx Bllaze Wesst Wed, 16 May 2012 02:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161072#comment-1425079 And they already spell 'Hunny' with reversed letters. And they already spell ‘Hunny’ with reversed letters.

]]> By: OtherMichael http://boingboing.net/2012/05/15/animated-russian-winnie-the.html#comment-1425063 OtherMichael Wed, 16 May 2012 01:49:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161072#comment-1425063 the artwork is to die for the artwork is to die for

]]> By: bunnyvision http://boingboing.net/2012/05/15/animated-russian-winnie-the.html#comment-1425046 bunnyvision Wed, 16 May 2012 01:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161072#comment-1425046 Aw man, you have it all wrong. These cartoons are extremely delightful and are much more in keeping with the tone of the original Milne books. Aw man, you have it all wrong. These cartoons are extremely delightful and are much more in keeping with the tone of the original Milne books.

]]> By: BadIdeaSociety http://boingboing.net/2012/05/15/animated-russian-winnie-the.html#comment-1425026 BadIdeaSociety Wed, 16 May 2012 00:45:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161072#comment-1425026 Xeni, I am absolutely delighted that you posted this, but a little disappointed by the way you tore down the material. I like the Golden Book like backgrounds, the chirpy character voices, and the songs. I must admit, Russian Eeyore makes Disney Eeyore appear happy in comparison. Though, I always found Disney's Eeyore very one-note, I'm depressed and digging for attention with my attention-seeking Facebook post, but Russian Eeyore seems to have a transformation by the conclusion of the episode. Xeni, I am absolutely delighted that you posted this, but a little disappointed by the way you tore down the material. I like the Golden Book like backgrounds, the chirpy character voices, and the songs. I must admit, Russian Eeyore makes Disney Eeyore appear happy in comparison. Though, I always found Disney’s Eeyore very one-note, I’m depressed and digging for attention with my attention-seeking Facebook post, but Russian Eeyore seems to have a transformation by the conclusion of the episode.

]]> By: OldBrownSquirrel http://boingboing.net/2012/05/15/animated-russian-winnie-the.html#comment-1425011 OldBrownSquirrel Wed, 16 May 2012 00:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=161072#comment-1425011 I love these! I've known about them for years.  My son is growing up more on this version than on the Disney one. I love these! I’ve known about them for years.  My son is growing up more on this version than on the Disney one.

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