On August 20, Cheburashka – mascot of the World Youth Festival events and one of the most recognizable characters in Russian literature and animation – celebrates his birthday. The character first appeared in 1966 in Eduard Uspensky's story "Crocodile Gene and His Friends," and three years later took on the image familiar to millions of viewers in Roman Kachanov's animated film. Big ears, a kind nature, and the story of a hero searching for friends and his place in the world made Cheburashka a favorite of several generations. Over time he moved far beyond the bounds of Russian culture: cartoons about him were translated into other languages, and the character gained popularity abroad. He is known and loved in many countries around the world for the modesty, friendliness and spontaneity that make him so charming despite his unusual appearance.
In 2024, Cheburashka became the mascot of the World Youth Festival, held in the Sirius federal territory and bringing together 20,000 participants from 190 countries. The character was chosen for good reason: it was Cheburashka who embodied the Festival's core values – friendliness and mutual respect. Cheburashka is unlike anyone else, yet at the same time close in spirit to every kind-hearted person in the world; he is open to everything new and believes in a better, fairer future for everyone.
During the World Youth Festival, the "Cheburashka" art installations greeted guests at the airport and in the World Youth City, and the character became one of the Festival's most recognizable symbols.
“I love Cheburashka because his whole story is about friendship. He is looking for people with whom he can be himself, and eventually he finds true friends. When I saw Cheburashka at the World Youth Festival in 2024, I felt that he captured the spirit of the Festival perfectly: thousands of people from different countries meet for the first time, yet quickly becoming friends,” said Ribal Abu Zaki, a participant of Lebanon in the WYF‑2024.
When the Festival ended, every guest and participant took home a plush toy of Cheburashka as a keepsake – and thousands of the toys scattered across the world. The big-eared character became a symbol of the festival movement: international participants regularly share fresh photos and videos of him on social media, recall highlights of the Festival, take the toy along on their travels, feature it in international campaigns, and tell their compatriots with genuine enthusiasm about this outstanding Russian character.
“When I first saw Cheburashka, I immediately took a liking to this unusual character. He is so simple, kind and sincere, and that is exactly what makes him so easy to love, even if you did not grow up watching Russian cartoons. At the festival, Cheburashka was always there with us — we took photos with him, joked around and gave Cheburashka toys to each other. I took one home with me, and now, every time I see it, I remember Russia, the festival and all the people from different countries I met there,” said Santos Daniel Hugo, a participant of the Philippines in the WYF‑2024 and the IFY-2026.
In 2026, Cheburashka will once again serve as the mascot of the largest international youth event – the International Festival of Youth, to be held in Ekaterinburg in September. The friendly character will inspire participants to seek out new friends and acquaintances from every corner of the globe. Cheburashka figures will greet participants and guests at the Accreditation Center and at the entrance to the Ekaterinburg-EXPO International Exhibition Center. Over 10,000 plush toys will be produced for the Festival, so that every Russian and international participant can take their own big-eared hero home, continuing the festival tradition.
“I like that Cheburashka is completely different from other characters. He has big ears and an unusual appearance, but that is exactly what makes him so charming. He shows that you do not have to be like everyone else to be accepted and loved. I think that is a very important message for young people around the world,” said Lassine Traore, a participant of Mali in the WYF‑2024 and the IFY-2026.
On the character's birthday, the World Youth Festival Directorate organized a series of themed activities. One of the standout moments was the premiere of a cover version of the legendary "Crocodile Gene’s Song," performed by musician and blogger Calem OG from Ghana. The artist is already well known to Russian audiences for his heartfelt cover of the song "Sedaya Noch" ("Grey Night"), which has racked up millions of streams. Calem noted that, on Cheburashka's birthday and ahead of the IFY, he decided to pay tribute to the beloved fairy-tale character and his outlook on life and the people around him.
It should be reminded that Calem OG's cover of "Sedaya Noch" has amassed more than two million streams on audio streaming platforms and over 25 million views on social media and video platforms. Calem OG ranks 14th worldwide on Shazam and 1st on Apple Music by number of people searching for the song.
Overview:
The World Youth Festival took place in Sirius on March 1-7, 2024, according to the Decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the development of international youth cooperation. The WYF-2024 brought together 20,000 young leaders from 190 countries.
In line with the Russian President’s instructions to preserve and further develop the legacy of the World Youth Festival, festival events are now held annually across the Russian Federation. In 2025, the World Youth Festival Assembly was held in Nizhny Novgorod, bringing together 2,000 young people from 120 countries. In 2026, the International Festival of Youth will welcome 10,000 participants. The next World Youth Festival for 20,000 participants will take place in 2030.
The World Youth Festival Directorate continues its work to strengthen international youth cooperation and develop a global community of young people committed to shaping a better future.