Russian model Anna Shakhovskaya has brought to life Rima Trofimovna, the iconic mother of Uncle Fyodor from the beloved Soviet cartoon ”Prostokvashino.” Photographer Alyona Morgan’s latest shoot captures Shakhovskaya embodying a summer version of the character, inspired by the 1980 animated film ”Holidays in Prostokvashino,” where Rima escapes to the resort town of Sochi to ”show off” her evening gowns-leaving her husband to manage their son and talking animals solo.

This is Shakhovskaya’s second take on the role. Her original winter-themed cosplay went viral for hitting the cultural sweet spot; ”Prostokvashino” isn’t just a kids’ cartoon, it’s a generational touchstone ingrained in Russian pop culture.

Rima Trofimovna’s full name appears in Eduard Uspensky’s original books, where the family’s surname is Svekolnikov. The cartoons, however, kept the parents nameless, simply ”mom” and ”dad.” Rima works as a pop singer, often giving the impression that her career comes before family. Yet beneath the stern exterior lies a caring, sensitive woman juggling ambition and maternal concern.

The episode in ”Holidays in Prostokvashino” where Rima heads south has become a cultural meme in Russia. Her line about evening dresses ”nowhere to wear in town” is one of the trilogy’s most quoted moments. It perfectly captures the character: a woman with ambitions who finds her husband and son’s rustic lifestyle absurd but loves them deeply.

Interestingly, Rima’s appearance varies across the ”Prostokvashino” films-sometimes fuller-figured, sometimes slim. Animation experts have discovered that the character’s shape reflected the number of male artists working on the episode-the more male animators, the curvier the mom. This is a surprising detail behind Soviet animation production.

Rima was modeled after a real person: Levon Khachatryan, one of the animators, used his wife, Larisa Myasnikova, as the visual prototype. She initially felt shy upon seeing herself on screen but was reassured by the character’s angular, square glasses-different from her own rounded frames.

Vladimir Popov’s ”Prostokvashino” trilogy-”Three from Prostokvashino” (1978), ”Holidays in Prostokvashino” (1980), and ”Winter in Prostokvashino” (1984)-remains a defining benchmark of Soviet animation. The franchise’s popularity persists: a 2025 feature film adaptation grossed a hefty 2.4 billion rubles at the Russian box office, proving the fanbase is as dedicated as ever.

Cosplay inspired by Soviet animation is a niche where passion for the original source rules out shortcuts. Anna Shakhovskaya’s winter and now summer renditions of Rima Trofimovna set a high bar for authenticity and dedication.

For more of Shakhovskaya’s work, see her cosplay of Sonya Blade from ”Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3” and explore the full cosplay collection on itzine.ru.