Cheburashka vs. Mickey Mouse: Russia discusses an alternative to Disneyland
26 January 20:54
Russia has proposed creating its own theme park, which would be an alternative to Western franchises such as Disneyland. The initiative was announced by Airat Gibatdinov, a member of the Russian Federation Council’s Committee on Culture, according to the propaganda agency TASS, as reported by "Komersant Ukrainian".
He proposed a working title for the project — “Cheburlandia.“
According to him, the idea is to use characters from Soviet cartoons and films as part of an import substitution policy and a tool for cultural influence on children.
What exactly is being proposed
According to the senator’s plan, the park should combine:
- attractions;
- interactive themed areas;
- theatrical shows;
- multimedia formats for family leisure.
At the heart of the concept are famous Soviet characters: Cheburashka, Crocodile Gena, Winnie the Pooh, Carlson, and heroes from the cartoon series “Just You Wait!” and “Prostokvashino.”
Gibatdinov stated that this “cultural universe” is allegedly capable of competing with Western brands in the entertainment industry.
Import substitution in the field of culture
The author of the initiative directly links the project to the policy of import substitution, which, after the start of a full-scale war against Ukraine, spread in Russia not only to the economy, but also to culture and education.
According to the senator, Russian society allegedly needs to “strengthen its domestic cultural code,” and the popularization of Soviet heritage is seen as a response to the decline in the presence of Western brands and content.
At the same time, the sources of funding, the location of the project, and the timing of its launch have not yet been announced.
