Prizewinning Animator Dies
Published: December 5, 2012 (Issue # 1738)
MOSCOW — Fyodor Khitruk, one of Russia’s most renowned animators and the creator of the Russian version of the “Winnie the Pooh” cartoon, died Monday morning at his home in Moscow at age 95.
Khitruk was born on April 18, 1917, in Tver, approximately 200 kilometers northwest of Moscow. He started working as an animator in the newly created Soyuzmultfilm studio in 1937 and returned there after serving in the Soviet army in World War II.
Altogether, Khitruk took part in creating over 200 cartoons for the studio, Animator.ru reported.
He went on to make his debut as a director in 1962 at the age of 43. He directed many cartoon classics, such as “Istoriya Odnogo Priklucheniya” (The Story of One Adventure), “Kanikuly Bonifitsiya” (Boniface’s Vacation) and, perhaps the most famous and beloved of all, the Russian adaptation of “Winnie the Pooh.”
Altogether, Khitruk took part in creating over 200 cartoons for the studio, Animator.ru reported.
Khitruk was awarded many titles and prizes during his career, including the title of People’s Artist of the USSR.
Along with several other prominent animators, Khitruk established an animation studio Shar (Sphere), where he taught until the age of 90.