Hrachya Beyleryan

Lesson

A Soviet Armenian animation from the glasnost era about cosmonauts invading a serene planet where they pay a price for their cruel actions.

The Giant Who Dreamed of Playing Violin

How a dwarf taught a giant to play the drum.

Planet 888

Two cosmonauts arrive on a barren world and begin a clean-up operation. In the course of their duties, they revive the planet’s civilisation and discover the real reason for its devastation- thermonuclear war. Produced after the peak of tensions in the late Cold War, this animated short from Armenfilm reflects a muted optimism that humanity might- just- avoid total destruction. It also demonstrates the strength of animation under the Soviet system, where even the smaller state studios were capable of inventive but technically polished work.

Who Painted the Red Sea?

A little liar on the back desk during a geography lesson talks about his summer adventures.

Wow! A Talking Fish!

Created in 1983, the animated movie uses the plot of Ovanes Tumanyan's tale "Talking fish".

The Most Comfortable, Solid and Beautiful Home

When all the animals have finished building their houses, the little turtle is still making and making his own. He tries to build the most comfortable, solid and beautiful home.

Unlucky Panos

Panos is one of the unluckiest men in the world. One day, while he was swimming in the lake, some villagers found his clothes on the shore and announced he had drowned.