Prince Vladimir

Appearance and image

Vladimir is depicted as a strong, stately warrior, corresponding to the epic image of a warrior prince:

wears armor and princely clothes that emphasize his status;

he has an expressive, masculine appearance, appropriate for the role of a leader;

In battle scenes, he sits confidently in the saddle and skillfully wields weapons.

The cartoon's visual style is hand-drawn animation with elements of computer graphics, so Vladimir's image is vibrant and cinematic, in the spirit of Russian epics.

Character and motivation

Prince Vladimir in the cartoon is a complex, ambiguous character:

warrior and ruler: he is used to solving problems by force, leads his squad on campaigns, and protects lands from enemies;

doubting and vulnerable: Vladimir is deeply affected by the rift with his brother Yaropolk and does not want a civil war;

A seeker of truth: as the story progresses, he increasingly thinks about how to unite the tribes and make Rus' strong, and gradually comes to the idea of ​​unity not only by the sword, but also by common faith and law.

Place in the plot

Vladimir is the central character, around whom the main intrigue is built:

Kryvzha's Manipulations. The evil priest and sorcerer Kryvzha weaves intrigues to drive a wedge between Vladimir and his brother Yaropolk, forging letters and turning the princes against each other. Because of this, Vladimir almost starts a war with Kiev.

Trials and epiphanies. Vladimir faces betrayal, loses trust in those around him, and gradually realizes he's being manipulated. A young boy, Aleksha, plays a crucial role in his epiphany, attempting to convey the truth to the prince.

Struggle with external enemies. At the same time, Vladimir confronts the Pecheneg raids led by Khan Kurya. The climax comes with a duel between Vladimir and Kurya, where the prince emerges victorious and halts the invasion.

Spiritual choice. In the finale, Vladimir realizes that the strength of Rus' lies in unity, and he considers baptism, which should unite the tribes.

Relationships with other characters

Yaropolk (brother) - their relationship is one of the main lines: due to the intrigues of Krivzhi, the brothers find themselves

Krivzha is the main antagonist, attempting to use Vladimir as a tool for his own plans; the confrontation between the prince and the priest is both physical and spiritual.

Aleksha is a boy who witnesses the conspiracy; he becomes Vladimir's voice of conscience and helps him see the truth.

Prince Vladimir is the ruler of Novgorod in the Drevlyan lands. He is a fair-haired, strong man with dark blond hair and blue eyes like the clear sky. On campaign, he wears armor and a red cloak, and at the palace, he wears a loose shirt and trousers. He is a powerful and just ruler, and he has a beard.

Dobrynya's appearance:

• A tall and stately man with attractive features.
• A thick, full beard, light brown curls.
• Light eyes. In everyday life, he wears a white shirt; on duty, he wears chainmail and a helmet. He belts himself with a rope and wears trousers and boots. He also has a striped shirt. — Armed with a spear, shield and sword. — Is in excellent physical shape.

Character and features of Dobrynya: — Wisdom, fortitude and courage. — He lives by the army regulations, is laconic and prudent. In peacetime, he is cheerful and optimistic. — He has vast life experience and is an exemplary soldier and commander, accustomed to working alone.

• Educated - considered the most educated hero He knows many things: he can play the gusli, shoot a bow, play tavlei (chess), and swim. Some tales mention that he knew 12 languages ​​and understood the language of birds. — Diplomatic—he is entrusted with delicate tasks by Prince Vladimir, for example, matchmaking and collecting tribute.

Dobrynya has a daughter, Olenka

Dobrynya Nikitich is Prince Vladimir's uncle and his main assistant, a loyal comrade

Dobrynya is depicted as a strong, stately man of mature age—a true military leader. He has an imposing posture, emphasizing strength and experience; his features are serious and strong-willed—it's immediately clear he's a man accustomed to making decisions and leading his retinue. His attire is traditional military attire of the era: chainmail or armor, a cloak, and elements of princely retinue gear; the image is maintained in the "epic" style, but with a historical stylization reminiscent of the 10th century.

Character and role in the plot

Loyalty and reliability. Dobrynya is always at the prince's side, supporting him in battle and in difficult moments of doubt.

Experience and prudence. He's not just a force to be reckoned with, but a wise advisor: he helps Vladimir see beyond immediate gain and consider the interests of the entire land.

Firmness. In the face of threats and intrigues (including the machinations of the sorcerer Krivzha), Dobrynya does not waver or succumb to deception.

Krivzha is a sorcerer and werewolf, a former student of a sorcerer. Out of a thirst for power, he killed his teacher, who, before his death, cursed his student, giving him the name "Krivzha" (from the word "krivda" - a lie, a deception). As a result of the curse, Krivzha instantly aged and gained the ability to transform into a bear.

Role in the plot

Krivzha strives to subjugate Rus' and rise above the gods themselves. To this end, he weaves intrigues and uses magic. His key actions in the cartoon:

A conspiracy with the Pecheneg Khan Kurya. Together, they want to weaken Rus': the Pechenegs plunder villages, and Krivzha manipulates the princes to foment hostility between them.

A schism between the princely brothers. Kryvzha is trying to turn Vladimir against his brother Yaropolk, so that the princes will weaken each other.

Aleksha's persecution. The boy witnesses a conspiracy, and Krivzha tries to prevent him from bringing the truth to the prince.

Appearance and image

Kryvzha has the appearance of a sinister old man. A distinctive feature of his appearance is his bearskin, which emphasizes his connection to werewolves and pagan magic. In his bear form, he becomes especially powerful and invulnerable.

Capabilities

Magic. Krivzha wields powerful black magic, can cast curses, and empower allies.

Transformation into a bear. In this form, he gains superhuman strength and resilience—for example, he can even withstand fire.

Manipulation. His main weapon is not only witchcraft, but also the ability to play on the fears and ambitions of others, skillfully sowing mistrust.

Character

Krivzha is a cold-blooded, power-hungry, and ruthless villain. He shows no compassion, readily betrays, and is willing to sacrifice anyone for his goals. However, he operates not openly, but from the shadows, preferring to rule through the hands of others.

Aleksha witnesses a conspiracy against the Russian princes: he learns of the Pechenegs' collusion with the shapeshifting sorcerer Krivzha. From that moment on, the villains hunt him—they are determined to prevent Aleksha from telling the truth to Prince Vladimir. Throughout the story, the boy attempts to save himself and simultaneously help the prince, becoming a vital link in uncovering the enemies' insidious plans.

Character

Despite his young age, Aleksha displays courage and resourcefulness. He doesn't give up even in the most dangerous situations, striving to act according to his conscience and protect those in need. He possesses sincerity and kindness—qualities that help him find allies.

Important plot points

Captured by the Pechenegs, Aleksha falls into enemy hands, putting his life in danger: Krivzha wants to sacrifice the boy to Perun.

Christianity. Over the course of his adventures, Aleksha becomes connected to the Christian faith—he is converted, and the Gospel becomes not only a book for him, but also a kind of talisman against Krivzha's machinations.

Helping the Prince. Aleksha not only survives, but actively participates in the fight against evil: together with his grandfather Boyan, he aids Prince Vladimir in his fight against Krivzha and the Pecheneg Khan Kurya.

Connection with Byzantium. Aleksha briefly visits the Byzantine palace and interacts with Princess Anna: it is he who, at the prince's request, plays the zhaleika for her, and this scene highlights his talent and openness to the world.

Appearance and voice acting

Visually, Aleksha is an ordinary teenager from Ancient Rus': simple clothes, appropriate to the era, unremarkable, emphasizing his "folk" origins. The character was voiced by Thomas Schlecker.

Olenka is the daughter of the governor Dobrynya Nikitich.

Role in the plot

Olenka helps the main character, a boy named Aleksha: she saves him when, on the orders of the villain Krivzha, he is tied up in the forest to be devoured by wild animals. She subsequently crosses paths with Aleksha repeatedly—for example, during rituals and in various dangerous situations involving Pecheneg raids and Krivzha's machinations. In the finale, she is shown as a girl in love with Aleksha.

Character

Olenka is kind and courageous, unafraid to act to help a friend. At the same time, she maintains a connection to tradition: she participates in folk rituals, emphasizing her connection to the world of ancient Rus'.

Appearance and image

In the cartoon, Olenka wears a typical outfit for an ancient Russian girl: a sarafan, ribbons in her braids, and simple jewelry. Her facial features are soft, and her expression is open and sincere. The color scheme of her costume is warm, natural tones (beige, red, brown), which stylistically matches the overall palette of the film.

Varangian (aka Redhead)

A Varangian ally of Prince Vladimir, he is an experienced warrior and advisor. In the hierarchy of military advisors, he ranks second only to Dobrynya Nikitich.

Character and role in the plot

Loyalty to the Prince. The Varangian is loyal to Vladimir and is not prepared to exchange this loyalty for any gain.

Decisive and straightforward. Acts boldly, speaks frankly, and is not prone to long hesitation.

Combat experience and tactics. Primarily assists the prince in military matters: offering strategic advice, participating in battles, and relying on strength and well-thought-out tactics.

Varangians in difficult situations. Supports Vladimir when tough decisions must be made or threats (including those from the Pechenegs and internal conspiracies) must be repelled.

A loyal comrade of Prince Vladimir, the second most important adviser after Dobrynya. He primarily assists the prince in military affairs, a reliable and devoted fighter. By nature, he is zealous, combative, a typical Varangian warrior.

Appearance and details

Hair color: bright red (hence the nickname redhead). Eye color: dark gray

and he has a beard

Clothing and equipment: a military outfit in the spirit of the era - a shirt, leather elements, a cloak; carries weapons (sword, shield), looks like an experienced warrior.