'Rikki-Tikki Tavi' is not the only time Soyuzmultfilm adapted any work from Rudyard Kipling, with them also having 'Mowgli' (one of their best in my view) and two adaptations of 'The Cat Who Walked by Himself' (both very good, especially the latter). It is not one of my favourite works of Kipling, partly down to not being as familiar to me as 'The Jungle Book' and the 'Just So Stories' which were childhood favourites (whereas this was introduced to me quite late).

This 1965 adaptation does a very good job adapting it. There are significant changes to the original story, namely the setting (Indian family rather than British plantation owners) and the protagonist's primary role in the story (protecting humanity against deadly species rather than just foreign conquerors against natives). Those who like their adaptations to be 100 percent faithful will be disappointed, but those looking for something of high quality and that has successfully found ways of working around the more troubling aspects of the story. All of Aleksandra Snezhko-Blotskaya's solo work ranges between very good and must see, and this is one of the very good ones.

Not much wrong here, though other Soyuzmultfilm animations deliver more on the charm and the emotion.

As well as a slightly more appealing animation style for the characters, the stylised look occasionally lacking refinement.

On the whole though, the animation is impressive with very rich attention to detail in the backgrounds and great vibrancy and atmosphere. The music always fits in tone and placement and never sounded appropriate, it rouses and haunts and sounds lovely. The voice acting is expressive without being too theatrical.

Did like the way the characters were portrayed, with the mongoose being wonderfully heroic and relatable and the enemy in the form of snakes genuinely menacing. The conflict has real tension. The writing flows well and probes thought and the story is involving, inspires and has the right amount of tension and emotional impact.

In conclusion, very well done. 8/10.

Russian cinema is distinguished by its epic scale, philosophical depth, and innovative visual language. It often explores history, ideology, and the human psyche, with a tradition of psychological realism and artistic experimentation. Russian cinema contributed revolutionary theories of editing and later a spiritual approach to film language. It remains known for combining formal experimentation with profound explorations of endurance and belief.

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The action genre features fast-paced, thrilling, and intense sequences of physical feats, combat, and excitement. The characters of these stories are involved in daring and often dangerous situations, requiring them to rely on their physical prowess, skills, and quick thinking to overcome challenges and adversaries.

The adventure genre features exciting journeys, quests, or expeditions undertaken by characters who often face challenges, obstacles, and risks in pursuit of a goal. Adventures can take place in a wide range of settings, from exotic and fantastical locations to historical or even everyday environments.

Animation is a form of visual storytelling that involves creating visual art and motion through the use of various techniques and technologies. In animation, images are manipulated to create the illusion of movement, bringing characters, objects, and environments to life. Animation can encompass a wide range of styles, themes, and intended audiences, making it a diverse and versatile form of storytelling.

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The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

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