Vladimir Popov

• Name — Vladimir Popov • Birth Name — Vladimir Ivanovich Popov • Born — 5 June 1930 • Birthplace — Moscow, Soviet Union • Died — 1 April 1987 • Place of death — Moscow, Soviet Union • Occupation — Animator

Vladimir Popov grew up in a communal apartment near Soyuzmultfilm. He was fond of painting since childhood and visited an art school. He also produced hand-made cartoons by drawing humorous scenes from the life of his neighbours on a transparent filmstrip and demonstrating them to a great success. In 1951, Popov was employed by Soyuzmultfilm; for the next ten years he had been working as an animator with Ivan Ivanov-Vano, Alexandra Snezhko-Blotskaya, Leonid Amalrik and other leading directors. Since 1960, he had been directing films together with Vladimir Pekar, also acting as an art director. Their most popular work of that time was Umka (1969), a traditionally animated short about a little polar bear loved by generations of children, along with the lullaby song performed by Aida Vedishcheva. Since 1975, Popov had been working alone. Among his popular films were adaptations of Nikolay Nosov's Bobik Visiting Barbos (1977) and Yuri Koval's The Adventures of Vasya Kurolesov (1981). Yet his biggest success was the Three from Prostokvashino trilogy produced in 1978–1984 and based on the comedy fairy tales by Eduard Uspensky. Despite the cold reception from the officials, the mini-series became incredibly popular and turned into the source of many catchphrases. It was named the third best animated film/series of all time in the all-Russian poll conducted by the Public Opinion Foundation in February 2014. Vladimir Popov died on 1 April 1987 aged 56. His death was sudden and unexpected. He was buried in the family tomb at the Vagankovo Cemetery in Moscow. In 1989, he was posthumously awarded the Vasilyev Brothers State Prize of the RSFSR.

• 1960: Animated Crocodile No. 1 • 1961: The First Time on the Arena • 1961: Animated Crocodile No. 5 • 1962—1986: Fitil • 1966: Letters from the Radio Operator's Box • 1968: It Happened in Winter • 1969: Umka • 1970: Umka is Looking for a Friend • 1971: The Adventures of the Red Ties • 1972: Are You My Enemy or My Friend? • 1972: Robbery in Broad Daylight • 1973: The Treasures of Sunken Ships • 1973: What is Scarier? • 1974: One Fairy Tale After Another • 1974: Stories about Shevchenko • 1975: Return Rex • 1975: The Rainbow • 1976: How the Dwarf Left the House • 1977: Bobik Visits Barbos • 1978: Three from Prostokvashino • 1980: School Holidays in Prostokvashino • 1981: The Adventures of Vasya Kurolesov • 1983: From Two to Five • 1984: The Winter in Prostokvashino • 1985: Sherlock Holmes and I • 1986: Academician Ivanov

Vladimir Popov is recorded as having received Vasilyev Brothers State Prize of the RSFSR and Honored art worker of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. Recognition and collections. Popov received Vasilyev Brothers State Prize of the RSFSR and Honored art worker of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic.