Usavich
Rabbits in a Soviet prison, escaping through music and absurdity.
Usavich is an animated short series made for MTV Japan by Satoshi Tomioka and his Kanaban Graphics studio, running from 2006 to 2015. It centers on two odd rabbits locked in a Soviet prison in 1961. The first season covers their absurd daily life behind bars, while later seasons follow them fleeing law enforcement. A total of 78 episodes across 6 seasons have been produced.
Quick Facts
- Creator
- Satoshi Tomioka
- Studio
- Kanaban Graphics
- Original network
- MTV Japan
- Number of seasons
- 6
- Number of episodes
- 78
- First season setting
- Soviet prison, 1961
Facts from the source article.
Setting
The episodes are quite musical, with almost every action accompanied by a sound. Most first-season episodes begin with a quiet jazzy beat and the rhythmic squeaking of Putin dancing Kozachok on his bed. Each season includes at least one entire episode consisting of a song created by characters and environmental sounds. Episodes usually end with a punchline accompanied by the chorale Jesus bleibet meine Freude from J.S. Bach's cantata BWV 147. The animation style is clean, sparse, linear, with broad swatches of color. Incomprehensible whispering is common, but no intelligible speech appears until the second season, where some Russian phrases are heard. Communication occurs through incidental sound or character emotions.
Characters
Kirenenko wears a prison uniform with red stripes, number 04, and has a safety pin through his left ear. Originally a mafia boss sentenced to death, he rarely talks but becomes dangerous when angry, entering a demonic rage form. He likes order, collects sneakers, and is oblivious to the world while reading his sneaker magazine. He is practically invincible: bullets, clubs, and poisons do not harm him, and he can be revived if pieced back together after death. In season six/zero, it is revealed he and Putin did not begin as cell mates, and he was heavily bandaged upon incarceration, limiting movement but allowing strong hits. Putin wears a green-striped uniform, number 541, with his ears tied together. He is good-natured, enjoys dancing kozachok on his bed, and often gets into trouble. An honest laborer sentenced to three years as a capitalist agent for missing work due to a hangover, he enjoys prison life and is a master cook. He followed Kirenenko out of the cell one day before his release. Putin panics easily, his face turning blue, red, or deathly pale depending on the situation. He has low alcohol tolerance and is an extremely capable mechanic, able to build robots, assemble cars, and disassemble guns in seconds. In season six/zero, he was still drunk when incarcerated and became confused and scared upon sobering.
Episodes
For every fifth episode of each season except Season 6/0, an impromptu percussive performance occurs, often involving Leningrad's ribbits, Putin's gasps, and Kirenenko's punches. In Season 6/0, such a performance plays in the eighth episode, 'The Beginning of Dancing'. Season 1 consists of 13 episodes plus a half-episode, with titles like 'Time for Food', 'Time for Work', and 'Time for an Exit'. Season 2 has 13 episodes plus a half-episode, all titled 'Beware of...' such as 'Beware of Road Rage!' and 'Beware of Assaults!'. Season 3 features 13 episodes plus a half-episode, each named after a floor number, from 'The 1st Floor' to 'The 13th Floor', with 'The Sound Floor' as the half-episode. Season 4 includes 13 episodes titled with 'Machine', such as 'Cooking Machine' and 'Car Machine'. Season 5 has 13 episodes titled 'Forest of...', including 'Forest of Fur' and 'Forest of Dash'. Season 6, titled Usavich Zero, is a prequel with three episodes: 'The Beginning of Revival', 'The Beginning of Food', and 'The Beginning of Nap'.
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