Submarine Berets (partially lost Soviet animated film; 1989-1991)
Screenshot of Iceberg's Surface Part
Status: Partially Lost
Submarine Berets (Russian: Подводные береты) is a 1989 Soviet animated film directed by Rasa Strautmane, Alexander Gorlenko, Alexander Mazaev, Vladimir Tarasov & Polina Lobanova and produced by Soyuzmultfilm in association with Fora-Film & StoryFirst Entertainment. It's a film cycle of 8 animated short films called "Lucky Start", "Agent Goes to Ocean", "In the Arms of Russian Intelligence", "Escape", "Secret Ocean Garbage", "Iceberg's Surface Part", "Mikko the Son of Pavlova" & "The Lake at Bottom of Sea" based on same name novel by Eduard Uspensky.
Plot
After studying at the dolphin intelligence school, dolphin Tristan was sent on an important mission to a secret military base of the USSR to extract information about a new strategic weapon of the Russians, a submarine transforming into an airplane. After receiving a message that an unidentified object was found in Soviet territorial waters moving towards a secret base, the Soviet command ordered an experienced special agent, Isolde the dolphin, to be urgently sent to intercept it.
Lucky Start (Russian: Счастливый старт)
In this film, the acquaintance of the main characters Tristan and Henry, whose friendship began in a fight with a shark[1].
Agent Goes to Ocean (Russian: Агент уходит в океан)
Dolphin Tristan is being trained at a naval base. The whole process of this specific training is wittily parodied.
In the Arms of Russian Intelligence (Russian: В объятьях русской разведки)
The plot is based on an event that has become decisive in the fate of the heroes. Tristan and Pavlova met and took a liking to each other.
Escape (Russian: Побег)
In this film, Pavlova helps his friend Tristan regain his freedom and after breaking out of the cage he demonstrates the wonders of dexterity and ingenuity[2].
Secret Ocean Garbage (Russian: Секретная океанская помойка)
In this film, Tristan, Pavlova and Henry act as environmentalists[3].
Iceberg's Surface Part (Russian: Надводная часть айсберга)
In this film, the brave dolphins Tristan, Henry and Pavlova manage to defeat a flying monster that appeared from a melted iceberg and thereby help people[4].
Mikko the Son of Pavlova (Russian: Микко — сын Павловой)
Tristan and Pavlova adopt the boy Mikko, who remained after the shipwreck[5].
The Lake at Bottom of Sea (Russian: Озеро на дне моря)
In this film, Pavlova, Tristan, Henry and the boy Mikko find a city built by a mysterious ancient civilization at the bottom of the ocean. The discovery of the wonders of the underwater city and meeting with an embrasure terrorist make up the plot of the film[6].
Production
Vladimir Tarasov decided to fit into a new reality working on an ambitious and new project for that time is a joint Soviet animated film about the adventures of dolphin paratroopers from Soviet and American military bases. These were the first animated films about the soldier brotherhood of Russian and American berets. Like many other attempts of Soviet animation to fit into the market situation at the turn of decades, animated film doesn't had sequel. The music of Eduard Artemyev, Todd Hayen and Philip Koltsov was used for this film.
Availability
Currently, only 5 animated short films are available online is "Lucky Start", "In the Arms of Russian Intelligence", "Secret Ocean Garbage", three versions of "Iceberg's Surface Part", "Mikko the Son of Pavlova" and original soundtracks of "Secret Ocean Garbage" & "The Lake at Bottom of Sea". Other 3 animated short films "Agent Goes to Ocean", "Escape", "The Lake at Bottom of Sea" and original version of "In the Arms of Russian Intelligence" with Todd Hayen's soundtrack are considered lost.