A high-ranking Russian Orthodox Church official has criticized the lack of cartoons depicting complete and happy families in Russia. Metropolitan Yevgeny of Yekaterinburg and Verkhoturye voiced his concerns at the III International Women’s Forum in Yekaterinburg on May 30.

The Metropolitan contrasted the situation in Russia with the American animated series “The Simpsons,” which he cited as a positive example of a long-running show that portrays a “loving and strong family.” He highlighted the show’s decades-long run featuring a stable family unit with three children.

He contrasted this with Russian animation, stating that despite its merits, it has failed to create an attractive image of a happy and complete family.

The animated series “Smeshariki” and “Masha and the Bear” were specifically mentioned as examples of this issue. The Metropolitan noted that in “Masha and the Bear,” the character of Masha is depicted as overly independent, with no clear indication of her family structure or the presence of a father figure. Regarding “Smeshariki,” he pointed out that the characters, while friendly, live in isolation, suggesting a sense of loneliness that does not reflect real life.

He emphasized the importance of children and adults seeing ideal families on screen to provide a model for family happiness, especially for those who may lack it in their own lives. While he praised the “Three Cats” animated series, he considered it insufficient to address the overall lack of positive family portrayals.

It’s noteworthy that the Russian Orthodox Church has previously criticized “The Simpsons,” calling for an age rating increase due to a series about Pokémon in 2017.