British lawmakers have spoken out against Masha and the Bear over allegations of propaganda
In the United Kingdom, more than fifty members of Parliament have called on the government to review the Russian animated series “Masha and the Bear,” which they believe may contain elements of propaganda and Soviet symbolism. The issue came to a head after Netflix renewed its license for the series in many countries, including the UK.
A political debate has erupted in the UK over one of the world’s most famous children’s animated series—“Masha and the Bear,” which British lawmakers are asking the government to review due to possible propaganda elements and Soviet symbolism that, in their view, may be inappropriate for a child audience. The situation gained attention after Netflix continued airing the series and ordered new seasons of the show, which is already broadcast in more than a hundred countries.
The Guardian reported on the appeal, which was signed by more than 50 lawmakers from six political parties who sent a letter to Culture Minister Lisa Nandi. In the document, the lawmakers argue that certain scenes in the animated series may contain “propaganda,” including imagery reminiscent of Soviet military uniforms or symbols, and it is precisely this, in their view, that raises concerns about the show’s impact on children.
“We are calling for urgent government action following Netflix’s announcement that it has acquired two new seasons of the Russian animated series ‘Masha and the Bear’ and extended its licensing agreement for existing seasons and spin-offs in more than 100 countries,”, the lawmakers’ statement reads.
The lawmakers drew particular attention to the fact that the series is also available via the British platform ITVX, which, in their view, means that children have broad access to content they consider insufficiently vetted. The letter emphasizes that parents have the right to expect thorough content moderation, especially when it comes to global streaming services and national broadcasters.
Among the examples cited by the lawmakers are episodes in which the main character appears in outfits or headgear reminiscent of Soviet or military uniforms. They also refer to Animaccord Studio’s social media posts, where the character is depicted in a “military style,” which, in their view, could create incorrect associations in children.
The appeal also mentions the position of the Ukrainian Center for Countering Disinformation, which called the animated series a “soft power” tool and drew attention to the possible normalization of Soviet symbols in children’s content. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna expressed a similar view, stating that Soviet symbols are associated with repression and occupation in some countries.
At the same time, Animaccord Studio rejects all accusations and insists that the animated series is purely an entertainment product with no political messages. Company representatives emphasize that the project is produced by a private studio without government funding and has been broadcast in over 100 countries for nearly two decades, remaining popular among children.
The British government has not yet commented on the situation, noting only that decisions regarding content are made by the broadcasters themselves in accordance with regulatory rules overseen by Ofcom. This was reported by The Guardian.
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