Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- A network of animation studio schools will be opened for the production of the cartoon about Khoja Nasreddin.

The production of Timur Bekmambetov’s new animation project about the adventures of the legendary hero of the East, Khoja Nasreddin, will partially unfold in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Together with the National Agency of Cinematography of Uzbekistan and the Kazakhfilm studio, Timur Bekmambetov’s Bazelevs film company will open animation schools in the republics, which should later turn into full-fledged studios. They will take part in the production of the cartoon "Khoja Nasreddin" and other animation projects. 

The parties agreed on this during the Days of Russian Cinema organized by ROSKINO and the Russian Film Festival within the framework of the Tashkent International Film Festival in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Aziz Abdukhakimov and Deputy Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Olga Yarilova. The corresponding agreement was signed as part of a panel session dedicated to co-production between Russia and the countries of Central Asia.

“In the countries of Central Asia, Khoja Nasreddin is respected and loved and it is believed that his homeland is here. We are glad that together with KION we will work on an animated film about the adventures of our beloved hero of fairy tales and parables in his home - in the East, in Central Asia, and local artists will be responsible for the creation of the animation,” says Timur Bekmambetov.

Bazelevs plans to open the same schools in Russia - in Kazan and Perm. The network of production studios will strengthen the animation division "Bazelevs Animation", known for the projects "Smeshariki", "Alice knows what will happen", etc. Ilvis Razumov will head the new animation school-studio.

The new cartoon "Khoja Nasreddin" will be based on the story of Bekmambetov’s puppet show of the same name, which premiered at the beginning of the year at the Theater of Nations in Moscow. In the play, the puppets spoke in the voices of Yevgeny Mironov, Konstantin Khabensky, Viktor Verzhbitsky, Igor Zolotovitsky, Chulpan Khamatova, Elizaveta Boyarskaya and Inga Oboldina. The actors are expected to take part in the animation project.