June 10 Unites Soviet Animation and Global Ice Cream Love

June 10 marks two distinct celebrations: Soyuzmultfilm Studio Day and World Ice Cream Day. The date commemorates the founding of Soyuzdetmultfilm in 1936, the studio that would later become Soyuzmultfilm. It also coincides with the reported start of mass ice cream sales in the US in 1786. Soyuzdetmultfilm, the precursor to Soyuzmultfilm, was established on June 10, 1936. By 1938, the studio had already begun producing colour animations. Its golden age came decades later, between the 1960s and 1980s, when it released iconic series such as Nu, Pogodi! and Winnie the Pooh. Over the years, the studio has created more than 1,500 animated films.

The history of ice cream stretches back much further. Ancient Chinese nobles enjoyed chilled dishes of ice, snow, and fruit as early as the 3rd millennium BCE. In modern times, vanilla remains the most popular flavour worldwide. For those with deeper pockets, Japan’s Byakuya offers a luxury option at around $6,700 per serving. Soyuzmultfilm Studio Day is observed annually on June 10 to honour the studio’s legacy. World Ice Cream Day, also on June 10, celebrates the treat’s global popularity. Both events share the same date but highlight very different cultural traditions.