Headlines
Russian Oscar hopeful believes in the power of animation
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on January 24, 2026
2 min readLast updated: January 24, 2026
Quick Summary
Konstantin Bronzit, a top Russian animator, is nominated for an Oscar with 'Three Sisters'. He shares insights on the animation industry's challenges.
Russian Animator Konstantin Bronzit Embraces Animation's Power
The Journey of Konstantin Bronzit
ST PETERSBURG, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Konstantin Bronzit may be one of Russia's most celebrated animators, but he still gets the jitters during awards season.
Oscar Nominations and Recognition
The 60-year-old writer-director is nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film this year for the 15-minute "Three Sisters", competing alongside productions from the United States, Canada, Ireland and France. The winners will be announced on March 15.
Challenges in the Animation Industry
Bronzit has received two Oscar nods already for films released in 2007 and 2015, but getting recognition from the Academy never gets old, he told Reuters in an interview in St Petersburg, where he works at one of Russia's largest animation studios.
The Making of 'Three Sisters'
"Every time, the chances of getting to Olympus are basically zero, and every time it's a miracle," Bronzit says of receiving another Oscar nomination.
His new film, which follows three sisters whose harmonious lives on an isolated island are upended by the arrival of a sailor, took him five to six years to make, Bronzit estimates. He carried the characters around in his head on weekends and holidays, brainstorming different bits of plot.
"There is this endless, full-fledged internal work going on," he says. "Nothing comes together quickly and easily."
Bronzit, who has been working in animation since the 1990s, says he is amazed at how many young artists still seek to join what he calls a "time-consuming, difficult profession."
Even as Russian studios receive generous state support, they too have been hit by what Bronzit casts as a "global crisis" in the animation industry, in part caused by a glut of content.
"It's always an up-and-down situation," he says. "We will dig into this problem, reach the bottom, and then new production will begin again."
(Reporting by Reuters in St Petersburg; Writing by Lucy Papachristou;Editing by Tomasz Janowski)
Key Takeaways
- •Konstantin Bronzit is a celebrated Russian animator.
- •He is nominated for an Oscar for 'Three Sisters'.
- •The film took five to six years to create.
- •Bronzit discusses challenges in the animation industry.
- •Russian studios face a global crisis despite state support.
Frequently Asked Questions about Russian Oscar hopeful believes in the power of animation
1What is animation?
Animation is a method of creating moving images through the rapid display of a sequence of static images that minimally differ from each other. It is widely used in films, television, and video games.
2What is an Oscar nomination?
An Oscar nomination is a recognition by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of a film or individual in various categories, including Best Animated Short Film, which honors outstanding achievements in filmmaking.
3What is a global crisis in the animation industry?
A global crisis in the animation industry refers to challenges that affect production and distribution, such as oversaturation of content, budget constraints, and competition from various media platforms.
4What is a writer-director?
A writer-director is a film industry professional who is responsible for both writing the screenplay and directing the film, overseeing its artistic and dramatic aspects.
