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Several interesting things I noticed about that film.

First off, why would the atheist Soviet Union produce a cartoon about the Christian St. Nicolaus? Did they de-Christianize the holiday of Christmas? Did they still refer to Nicolaus as a saint or revise that out of history?

Secondly, were those dancing mushroom heads the same from the Disney cartoon Fantasia? They looked awfully similar, right down to the funny little dance they did.

Also the Red Star atop the Christmas tree was hilarious.

IRG CommandoJoe wrote: First off, why would the atheist Soviet Union produce a cartoon about the Christian St. Nicolaus? Did they de-Christianize the holiday of Christmas? Did they still refer to Nicolaus as a saint or revise that out of history?

They had the Saint and a VERY strong Russian tradition of celebartion even after Communism. Find me present godless but goodheavy Santa in the bible yet so many American's Christian's celebrate the holiday.

One of the HAB could probably confirm it, but that 'br-br-br' sound the 'airplane' made sure sounded a lot like the descriptions of the sound of the German V1 pulsejet engine.

Contrary to what has been said, this is not "Santa Claus" in the Western understanding (as St. Nicolaus).
This is "Ded Moroz" (Father Frost), a pagan figure that has merged in the West with the figure of said Christian saint.

"Ded Moroz" remained to be a favourite fairytale characted in the USSR 1917-1991, and in Russia "Santa Claus" received a meaning only in the last 15 years or so. Before that, "Santa" meant nothing for a general Russian/Soviet citizen. "Ded Moroz exists" was the tagline of small kids.

Usually Ded Moroz is accompanied by Snegurochka (Snowgirl). However, in this particular animation Ded Moroz is communicating with "New Year" as his grandson (the young boy in the rocket plane).

This little animation glorifies scientific and industrial progress in face of old "fairytale" wonders - a recurring theme in many Soviet works of art, poetry, propaganda - both in war and peace old mythical figures and wonders were compared to the enormous scientific achievements of the XX century.

But also this animation speaks of respect to the old, national traditions and fairy tales or myths (hence the final conversation of Ded Moroz with the antagonist Leshiy - Leshiy says that old tales must "bow down" to the new tales of progress, to which Ded Moroz replies that he shouldn't say such things and that "Old fairytales help creating this brand new tales"

Actually, the quality of animation is very good and I quite liked the general idea of this animation. It's certainly naive-optimistic and a tad propagandistic, but I like it.

Also the Red Star atop the Christmas tree was hilarious.

Elka is not a Christmas tree, and placing the shining star above it is a common beauty even today. It had been "Christmas" tree before the Revolution, but it's "New Year Tree" now and nothing more. The red star was and is a common beauty for Elkas in the USSR/Russia - it's introduction in 1935, I believe, had political meaning, but in a few years it had lost it completely. The star became a tradition incorporated into the Elka beauties, just like placing small statues of Ded Moroz and Snegurochka under it so that they may bring their gifts.

P.S. Also, did those of you even slightly familiar with Russian notice that almost all the dialogue in the animation from start to finish is said in poetry, not prose?