Melnitsa Animation Studio
Melnitsa Animation Studio is a Saint Petersburg-based, full-service animation studio producing theatrical films, TV series, and games for Russian and international family audiences, built on franchises like Three Bogatyrs, Luntik, and Ivan Tsarevich.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersSaint Petersburg, Russia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Melnitsa Animation Studio does
Melnitsa Animation Studio (Студия анимационного кино «Мельница») is a privately held, Saint Petersburg-based full-service animation studio founded in 1999 (predecessor Midi Cinema sound studio dates to 1992) and co-owned by Sergey Selyanov and Alexander Boyarsky. The studio produces feature-length animated films, episodic television series, and computer games for Russian-speaking and international family audiences, with 150+ in-house artists, designers, editors, and engineers producing approximately 8 hours of finished animation annually. Core franchises include Three Bogatyrs (epic heroes, theatrical series since 2004), Ivan Tsarevich and the Gray Wolf (since 2011), Luntik (preschool TV series since 2006, 489 episodes), Barboskins (children 5-12 TV series), and Urfin Jus (studio's first 3D feature, 2017). The vertical stack spans storyboarding, character and background design, 2D and 3D animation, compositing, editing, and Dolby Digital-certified sound via the wholly owned Midi Cinema subsidiary.
Revenue is generated across theatrical box office (latest Three Bogatyrs sequel grossed over $32M in Russia), television licensing (Russia-1, Karousel), international streaming (Amazon Prime, HappyKids, HOP!, Planet Sony via INK Global), consumer product licensing managed in-house through Melnitsa Agency (3,000+ Luntik licensed articles), computer games with 1C Games, and commissioned advertising work. Distribution is primarily Russia and CIS (Nashe Kino theatrical), with international expansion underway via streaming and Scholastic/Google partnerships targeting North America, UK, Israel, and Turkey. The studio has earned two Oscar nominations (Lavatory-Lovestory 2009; We Cannot Live Without Cosmos 2015), multiple Golden Eagle and Government/Presidential prizes, and Grand Prix wins at Annecy, Zagreb, and Hiroshima animation festivals.
Melnitsa Animation Studio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Melnitsa Animation Studio
- Legal name
- Studio Melnitsa (Студия «Мельница»)
- Website
- https://melnitsa.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Melnitsa Animation Studio is a Saint Petersburg-based, full-service animation studio producing theatrical films, TV series, and games for Russian and international family audiences, built on franchises like Three Bogatyrs, Luntik, and Ivan Tsarevich.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Melnitsa Animation Studio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Animated Film Production
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Production (512110)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Animated Feature Film Production (MPADACAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Animated Series Production (TV/Streaming) (MPADACAG), 2D Character Animation (MPAHACAA), Character & Creature Animation (MPADACAE), Outsourced Art/Audio Production Services (2D/3D, Animation, VFX, Audio/VO) (MPAFAKAM)
Keywords
Where Melnitsa Animation Studio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Saint Petersburg
- HQ country
- Russia
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Melnitsa Animation Studio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Theatrical film distribution: Feature-length animated films released in Russian and CIS cinemas, generating box office revenue. Films include 'Три Богатыря' franchise, 'Иван Царевич и Серый Волк' franchise, and others. Latest sequel grossed over $32 million in Russia alone.
- Television licensing: TV broadcasting rights for animated series like 'Лунтик и его друзья' (aired on Russia-1 and Karousel since 2006) and 'Барбоскины' (aired on Spokoynoy nochi, malyshi!).
- Consumer product licensing: Licensing of characters and brands for toys, board games, books, magazines, clothing, accessories, and other merchandise. Luntik has over 3,000 licensed articles. The Pooches had 1,500+ positions licensed in 2011-2014.
- Computer games: Games based on animated features produced with strategic partner 1C Games. Includes 'Илья Муромец и Соловей-Разбойник The Game', 'Алеша Попович и Тугарин Змей The Game', educational games from Luntik series, and others.
- Licensing agency operations: Melnitsa's own licensing agency (melnitsaagency.ru) handles all licensing matters for the studio's content.
- Advertising and commissioned work: Production of advertising videos, titles and special effects for external clients. Projects include commercials for various Russian brands (Pyaterochka, Maksidom, etc.) and title sequences.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom animation production services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
Melnitsa Animation Studio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Melnitsa Animation Studio produces full-length animated feature films, long-running children's television series, and branded computer games through a full-service in-house pipeline (2D and 3D animation, from storyboards through final delivery), with sound production handled by its wholly-owned Midi Cinema subsidiary. The studio's franchise portfolio centers on Russian folk-tale epics (Three Bogatyrs, Ivan Tsarevich and the Gray Wolf, Urfin Jus), preschool education series Luntik, and family series Barboskins, monetized through theatrical release, television licensing, international streaming, character merchandising, and games.
Product overview
Melnitsa Animation Studio is a St. Petersburg-based animation studio producing feature films, television series, and computer games. The studio operates as a full-service animation house with over 150 artists handling all production stages in-house. The product portfolio centers on major animated film franchises including the 'Three Bogatyrs' franchise (featuring Russian epic heroes Aleksey Popovich, Dobrynya Nikitich, and Ilya Muromets), the 'Ivan Tsarevich and the Gray Wolf' series, and the 'Urfin Jus' adaptations of Alexander Volkov's works. Supporting these theatrical releases are television series such as 'Luntik' (a long-running educational preschool series with over 389 episodes and 2 billion YouTube views) and 'Barboskins' (a family comedy series). The studio also produces computer games including educational titles based on 'Luntik' and adventure games based on its animated films. A sound production subsidiary, Midi Cinema, handles all audio production including Dolby-certified surround sound mixing. The studio works with strategic partners including 1C Games for computer games and CTB Film Company for live-action co-productions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Midi Cinema (Миди Синема): Sound division of Melnitsa handling all audio production including recording, sound design, editing, Dolby Digital mixing, Russian dubbing, and music composition.
Products and services
- Three Bogatyrs (Три богатыря) Franchise Flagship theatrical franchise featuring Russian epic heroes Alyosha Popovich, Dobrynya Nikitich, and Ilya Muromets. Sequels are released in Russian and CIS cinemas during New Year holiday windows and consistently rank among Russia's highest-grossing animated features. The latest sequel grossed over $32 million at the Russian box office.
- Ivan Tsarevich and the Gray Wolf (Иван Царевич и Серый Волк) Franchise Animated film series about Ivan Tsarevich and his helper the Gray Wolf. The first film became the most profitable Russian film of 2012 with $24.62M in box office receipts from Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Belarus. Franchise has produced multiple theatrical sequels.
- Urfin Jus (Урфин Джюс) Franchise Animated films based on Alexander Volkov's books about the Wizard of the Emerald City. The first film marked the studio's first full-length production using 3D animation technology.
- Luntik (Лунтик) / Moonzy Animated Series Educational animated series for preschoolers about a small purple creature born on the moon who fell to Earth. Each episode is a small lesson teaching children to distinguish good and evil, developed with kindergarten pedagogy experts. The Luntik YouTube channel reached 2 billion views, the largest animation channel on YouTube worldwide.
- Barboskins / The Pooches (Барбоскины) Animated Series Animated series about a fun modern dog family in relatable everyday situations with humor suited to children aged 5 to 12. Ranked 3rd in Top 5 Most Successful Russian Animation Projects after three years on air. The series generated over 1,500 licensed merchandise positions during 2011-2014.
- Krepost / Fortress (Крепость) Animated Film Historical full-length animated film depicting the heroic defense of Smolensk in the 17th century. Released in theaters for the Day of National Unity holiday window.
- Karlik Nos / The Dwarf Nose Animated Film Full-length animated fairy tale based on Alexander Volkov's novel. One of the first three domestic Russian full-length animated feature films released in post-Soviet Russia, marking the studio's theatrical breakthrough.
- Pro Fedota-Streltsa (Про Федота-стрельца) Animated Film Full-length animated feature based on a Russian folk ballad about Fedot the bold archer and his adventures.
- Lavatory Lovestory (Уборная история — любовная история) Short Film Award-winning short animated film about a love story in an unexpected location. Won Best Screenplay at Suzdal Animation Festival and received an Oscar nomination in 2009 in the Best Animated Short Film category.
- We Cannot Live Without Cosmos (Мы не можем жить без космоса) Short Film Short animated film by director Konstantin Bronzit about two friends who dream of spaceflight. Won Grand Prix at Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Zagreb Animation Festival, and Hiroshima Animation Festival, plus Oscar nomination in 2015.
- Little Vasilisa (Маленькая Василиса) Short Film Author's animated fairy tale by Darina Shmidt using patchwork sewing technique, presenting a collection of children's fairy tale elements.
- Box Ballet (БоксБалет) Short Film Short animated film that won Best Animated Film at the IN THE PALACE International Short Film Festival in Sofia, Bulgaria, qualifying it for Oscar nomination consideration. Directed by Anton Dyakov.
- Luntik Educational Computer Game Series Collection of educational computer games for children aged 5-7 built on the Luntik brand, produced with strategic partner 1C Games. Includes titles on preparation for school, mathematics, Russian language, and English language — each teaching reading, counting, alphabet, and basic skills through interactive mini-games featuring Luntik characters. Distributed on PC (1C Games), App Store, and Google Play.
- Ilya Muromets and Solovey-Razboynik Adventure Game Adventure/quest game based on the animated film about legendary hero Ilya Muromets, produced with 1C Games using the QD Engine development tool. Players join the hero to find the golden treasure and restore justice.
- Midi Cinema Sound Studio Services Wholly-owned subsidiary handling all in-house sound production for Melnitsa and external clients, including speech recording, sound effects, TV and film re-recording, music composition, Russian language dubbing, and Dolby Digital surround sound mixing. Certified by Dolby Lab in 2005.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $32 million box office gross for 'Три богатыря на дальних берегах' - greatest success among Russian full-length cartoons
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Melnitsa Animation Studio
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Melnitsa Animation Studio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Melnitsa Animation Studio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- INK GlobalcoreInternational licensing agent representing Melnitsa for global markets. Licensing agreement signed autumn 2017. Handles distribution to Amazon Prime, HappyKids, HOP! (Israel), and Planet Sony (Turkey).
- 1C Games (Moscow)coreStrategic partner for computer game development. Melnitsa produces games based on animated features with 1C Games. Includes 'Илья Муромец и Соловей-Разбойник The Game', 'Алеша Попович и Тугарин Змей The Game', 'Добрыня Никитич и Змей Горыныч The Game', 'Три богатыря и Шамаханская царица The Game', and educational Luntik games.
- CTB Film Company (St. Petersburg)coreStrategic partner and co-producer of feature films alongside Melnitsa. CTB is one of Russia's most successful live-action film producers. Joint projects include the Three Bogatyrs franchise, Ivan Tsarevich and Gray Wolf franchise, and others.
- Nashe Kino (Distributor)coreFilm distribution company handling theatrical releases of Melnitsa films in Russia. Distributed all parts of the Three Bogatyrs franchise and Ivan Tsarevich series. Films compete successfully at box office against Hollywood imports.
- Russia-1 Television ChannelcoreCo-producer of animated series 'Лунтик и его друзья' (since 2006 premiere on 'Спокойной ночи, малыши!') and 'Барбоскины'. Also co-producer of 3D film 'Урфин Джюс и его деревянные солдаты'.
- Karousel TV ChannelcoreRussian children's television channel broadcasting Melnitsa content. Luntik and Barboskins rank among top-3 most popular children's programs on the channel.
- Amazon Prime Video (VOD)majorStreaming platform acquiring rights for 'Лунтик и его друзья' and 'Барбоскины' for USA, Canada, and UK markets.
- HappyKids (OTT)majorOver-the-top streaming platform acquiring rights for 'Лунтик и его друзья' and 'Барбоскины' for USA, Canada, and UK markets.
- Scholastic Entertainment (USA)minorAmerican educational media company ordering animated shorts from Melnitsa. Projects include 'There Was an Old Lady' and 'House That Jack Built'.
- Poseidon Film Distributors (London)minorLondon-based company that ordered 'Look Before You Leap' animated short. Previously collaborated on 'Medvedi-Spasiteli' (Rescue Bears) series.
- Google (USA)majorPartnership for entering US market. Collaboration with Google to distribute Melnitsa content to American audiences.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Melnitsa Animation Studio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Melnitsa Animation Studio social profiles
Digital presenceMelnitsa Animation Studio compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Melnitsa Animation Studio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Melnitsa Animation Studio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Melnitsa Animation Studio subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Melnitsa Animation Studio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Melnitsa Animation Studio M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Melnitsa Animation Studio
What does Melnitsa Animation Studio do?
Melnitsa Animation Studio produces full-length animated feature films, long-running children's television series, and branded computer games through a full-service in-house pipeline (2D and 3D animation, from storyboards through final delivery), with sound production handled by its wholly-owned Midi Cinema subsidiary. The studio's franchise portfolio centers on Russian folk-tale epics (Three Bogatyrs, Ivan Tsarevich and the Gray Wolf, Urfin Jus), preschool education series Luntik, and family series Barboskins, monetized through theatrical release, television licensing, international streaming, character merchandising, and games.
Is Melnitsa Animation Studio a public or private company?
Melnitsa Animation Studio is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Melnitsa Animation Studio founded?
Melnitsa Animation Studio was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Melnitsa Animation Studio based?
Melnitsa Animation Studio is headquartered in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in the Europe region.
How does Melnitsa Animation Studio make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Theatrical film distribution is the primary driver. The others are television licensing, consumer product licensing, computer games, licensing agency operations and advertising and commissioned work.
Does Melnitsa Animation Studio have an API?
No public API is recorded for Melnitsa Animation Studio.
What industry is Melnitsa Animation Studio in?
Melnitsa Animation Studio's product category is Animated Film Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADACAH, Animated Feature Film Production, with a secondary code of MPADACAG, Animated Series Production (TV/Streaming). Its NAICS code is 512110 and its SIC code is 7812.