
Robert Sahakyants
Directing
Biography
Robert Arshavirovich Sahakyants (Armenian: Ռոբերտ Սահակյանց, Russian: Роберт Аршавирович Саакянц, 30 August 1950 – 24 September 2009) was an Armenian animator in the former Soviet Union and Armenia. Sahakyants was born in Baku, in Soviet Azerbaijan, on 30 August 1950. In 1964, he and his family moved to Yerevan, Soviet Armenia. Since 1970, he has worked at the Armenfilm film studio as an animator, and since 1972 as an animated director. He was the author of many cartoons and in 1987, was awarded the title of Honored Art Worker of the Armenian SSR. In the same year, his animated film, The Lesson, was shown at the Soviet Union film festival where it won an award. In 2008, he received the title of Honored Artist of Armenia. He died on 24 September 2009 in Yerevan, Armenia. A memorial was erected in his honor in Yerevan in 2013.
Known For

An animated adaptation of twelve of Shakespeare's best-known plays. The series was produced by S4C for the BBC, but animated by some of the foremost artists of Soyuzmultfilm, the former Soviet Union's main animation studio. Each 26-minute play is directed by a different animator, in a wide variety of styles: cel animation for Macbeth, stop-motion puppets in Twelfth Night, and paint on glass for Hamlet.
Shakespeare: The Animated Tales

An educational animated series about the rise and fall of civilisations. Using a magic door to the "storehouse" of history, a wise grandfather and his curious grandson travel into the distant past – they go to Babylon, befriend a group of ancient humans, and stop by Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece.
World History

Animated short about presidential elections of 1991 and its consequences in the Armenian people’s life under the rule of Pan-Armenian National Movement. Based on a song by Armenian poet and songwriter Ruben Hakhverdyan.
Elections

The Norfins are in for a delightful surprise when a charming alien with magical powers drops in for a visit.
The Norfin Adventures: A Norfin Noel

A fisherman catches a talking fish and spares its life. After that, he meets a grotesque, evil monster in a state of constant change.
Wow! A Talking Fish!

The magical trolls are in for a night full of ghosts and goblins as they enter the "Castle of Doom" on Halloween night.
The Norfin Adventures: Castle of Doom

No description available.
A Midsummer Night's Dream

Panos is one of the unluckiest men in the world. One day, while he was swimming in the lake, some villagers found his clothes on the shore and announced he had drowned.
Unlucky Panos

Musical fantasy based on Armenian fairy tales.
In the Blue Sea, in the White Foam...

There was a priest in the village and he had a dog. The priest owned a big shed in which he kept a huge amount of meat. The dog guarded this shed from other dogs, but one day the dog could not resist and ate one of the sausages. The priest noticed this and killed his pet. Then he buried the dog near the fence and made an inscription: "Priest had a dog, he loved it, it ate a piece of meat, he killed it, buried it in the ground, and wrote this inscription so that...", but, fixated, begins to write it on the ground. Thus he, continuing to write, visits various parts and countries, and eventually returns to his home and finishes writing near the place where he buried his dog. But upon entering the barn, the priest sees various animals greedily eating everything in it.
The Priest Had A Dog

A clever boy punishes a greedy landlord. Based on the Armenian folk tale by Hovhannes Tumanyan.
Wow, Butter Week!

No description available.
Optimus Mundus 4. The Best City on Earth

"...whoever tells me a story and I say, "It's not true, I don't believe it," will receive half the kingdom as a reward." decided the bored king.
Who Will Tell A Fable?

A king believes the peasants are hoarding all the good food.
The Resourceful Peasant

A Soviet Armenian animation from the glasnost era about cosmonauts invading a serene planet where they pay a price for their cruel actions.
The Lesson

A short animation with the participation of the cabaret duo "Academy."
The Little One

A large pink bunny has adventures and many drinks at the tavern in between.
Taverne

He's been called a 'wonderful troublemaker', 'comet man' and 'the last hippy of the pink city'. Robert Sahakyants was a renowned Soviet and Armenian animator. He was a director, writer and artist who created animated films. Robert Sahakyants used his work to express his particular view of the world around him. His animated films feature constant movement, whirls of colour and myriad wonderful characters inspired by Armenia. Robert Sahakyants was a true patriot to his motherland. The love for his people drove Robert Sahakyants to openly criticise everything and everyone he disagreed with. He boldly spoke his mind about anything he found troubling, from political events to ugly sculptures in nearby houses. The film features recollections from Robert Sahakyants's friends and family.
Rob Saakyanc. The Last Hippy of the Pink City

A little liar on the back desk during a geography lesson talks about his summer adventures.
Who Painted the Red Sea?

No description available.