"Who knows": the premiere of an animated satire in the universe of the new Russian epic with the voice of Vilsakom on Rutube

      On July 7, the animated film "Hmar' Knows" premiered on Rutube – the first animated project of the media franchise "Sineus," which the creators call a new Russian epic. It is a smart satire on modernity, told through the lens of the dark fantasy world of Svemir – a story for those who are tired of choosing between "funny" and "smart." The cartoon will serve as a teleport to the first media universe of global scale based on Slavic mythology and the history of Ancient Rus, a journey that began with the launch of the cooperative action roguelike Sineus Arena Survivors on the Steam platform.

      What the cartoon is about

      The action unfolds in the world of Svemir – a land after a catastrophe, where surviving settlements cling to the Light Sources, while the space between them is consumed by Hmar': an ancient manifestation of human weakness and vices. Against this epic darkness, lively, funny, and painfully recognizable characters emerge, through which the authors ironize modernity: from office routines to digital addiction. Humor coexists here with real drama, and the fairy-tale backdrop raises very adult questions about choice, words, and responsibility.

      "We consciously made the first animated project a satire. Russian culture is not only about heroes and feats; it also includes self-irony and the ability to laugh at oneself. In our world, Hmar' is defeated not by the sword, but by inner strength – and humor is part of it. Every great universe began with a first step: with one film, one game, one hero. Today, our world is taking this step towards a mass audience. Svemir has already proven its global demand – the game was awaited by tens of thousands of players from Brazil to China even before its release. Now we are opening the universe to everyone: the cartoon, followed by a series, books, and a global online game. We are building the first Russian media franchise of global scale – and we are doing it seriously and for the long term," says Andrey Krylov, the author and CEO of the "Sineus" media franchise.

      Voices familiar from the first phrase

      The wise and ironic Dobrozhir – a character who reconciles, advises, and jokes – is voiced by Valentin Petukhov, known as Vilsacom, one of the largest Russian-speaking bloggers with a multi-million audience.

      "When I was offered to enter this universe – I realized that it was serious. There are real heroes, a real story, and a real team here. Dobrozhir is not just a character; he is an archetype. I am very happy to be part of something so large-scale," says Vilsacom, the ambassador of the animated film "Hmar' Knows."

      Part of a large universe

      "Hmar' Knows" is not a separate short film, but the first animated step of the "Sineus" media franchise, built on Slavic mythology and ancient Russian legends. In June, the first game of the franchise – Sineus Arena Survivors – was released on the global Steam platform, gathering 85,000 wishlists even before its release, 40,000 of which were from foreign players. Ahead lies a full season of the animated series, comics, books, a board game, and a large-scale online game "Sineus" in 2027.

      "The game opened our world to gamers, the cartoon will open it to everyone else. 'Hmar' Knows' is a door to Svemir for those who do not play: for families, for those who love smart animation. Each product of the franchise is a new entry into one large universe," notes Andrey Krylov.