Editing Cheburashka (section)

==Cheburashka sightings==
[[File:Antonov An-72 Cheburashka.jpg|thumb|The [[Antonov An-72]] is said to resemble Cheburashka when viewed from the front.]]
Cheburashka is now a staple of Russian cartoons, and there are several licensed products on the market, such as children's joke books and stuffed toys. He is also one of the few Russian animation characters to be the subject of numerous [[Russian joke]]s and riddles. The popularity of Cheburashka grew a lot after it became an animated film.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.efsyn.gr/tehnes/ekdoseis-biblia/161210_o-syggrafeas-poy-megalose-genies-sobietikon|title=Ο συγγραφέας που μεγάλωσε γενιές Σοβιετικών|date=2018-08-17|website=Η Εφημερίδα των Συντακτών|language=el-GR|accessdate=2023-07-06}}</ref>

The word "Cheburashka" is also used in a figurative sense to name objects that somehow resemble the creature (such as an [[An-72]] aircraft which, when seen from the front, resembles the character's head) or are just as pleasing as it is (e.g. a colloquial name for a small bottle of lemonade{{snd}}from the brand name "Cheburashka"). There is also a rocket launcher called Cheburashka, used during the [[Russo-Ukrainian war]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.armyrecognition.com/ukraine_-_russia_conflict_war_2022/discover_firepower_russian_cheburashka_thermobaric_rocket_launcher_striking_ukrainian_forces.html|title=Discover firepower Russian Cheburashka thermobaric rocket launcher striking Ukrainian forces {{!}} Ukraine – Russia conflict war 2022 {{!}} analysis focus army defence military industry army|website=www.armyrecognition.com|accessdate=2023-07-06}}</ref>

In the 1990 satirical  [[claymation]] film ''[[Grey Wolf and Little Red Riding Hood]]'', produced by [[Garri Bardin]], Grey Wolf eats Gena and Cheburashka, along with other fantasy characters.

Cheburashka was chosen as the official mascot with the main mascots for the Russian Olympic Team in the following games:
* [[2004 Summer Olympics]] in Greece
* [[2006 Winter Olympics]] in Turin, Italy (with white fur)
* [[2008 Summer Olympics]] in Beijing, China (with red fur)
* [[2010 Winter Olympics]] in Vancouver, Canada (with blue fur)

''Cheburashka'' also became known in some countries outside the former Soviet Union (and of the [[Soviet Bloc]]). He became very popular in Japan after an animated film series about him was shown in 15 cinemas all over Japan and was watched by about 700,000 between summer 2001 and spring 2002. In 2008, the Cheburashka films (as part of the "[[Ghibli Museum Library]]") were made available to Japanese cinemas<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ghibli-museum.jp/cheb/top.html|title=映画『チェブラーシカ』全四話完全版公式サイト|website=www.ghibli-museum.jp}}</ref> on the same date as [[Hayao Miyazaki]]'s ''[[Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ghibli.jp/works/ponyo/|title=崖の上のポニョ – スタジオジブリ｜STUDIO GHIBLI|first=Shinichi|last=Takai|website=www.ghibli.jp}}</ref> An English-dubbed edition of the first 3 animated films was released in 1987, titled ''The Adventures of Charlie and Cubby''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmovie.com/work/adventures-of-charlie-cubby-925|title=The Adventures of Charlie & Cubby (1987) – – Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related – AllMovie|website=AllMovie|access-date=4 December 2017}}</ref> 

During the [[2018 Armenian protests]] Cheburashka was used from many protesters as a symbol to mock [[Serzh Sargsyan]] due to the similarity on their appearance. Among others, during a protest, a protester masqueraded as Cheburashka urged Sargsyan to resign, while another one lit his on fire.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://armenianweekly.com/2018/04/15/political-protests-continue-in-armenia-highlights-from-our-correspondent/cheburashka/|title=Cheburashka|website=The Armenian Weekly|language=en-US|accessdate=2023-07-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hromadske.ua/en/posts/protests-in-yerevan-the-face-of-change|title=Protests In Yerevan: The Face Of Change|date=2018-04-20|website=hromadske.ua|language=en|accessdate=2023-07-07}}</ref>

{{Portal|Animation}}