PHENAKIFF

Among the many genres of music, jazz stands apart as something truly unique. It refuses to follow strict rules, often sounding chaotic, almost like mischief, yet from this seeming disorder emerge captivating melodies. The animated short Jazz Fool Around captures this very spirit, transforming the passion, humor, and improvisation of jazz into animation, where sound and image intertwine to reveal the double charm of music and film. Animated short film Jazz Fool Around Produced by the Armenian studio ArtStep, Jazz Fool Around is part of the Music Collection series. From its very first moments, the film immerses viewers in a fantastic jazz world. On screen, there is passion, jealousy, and rivalry — but all of it is playful, a kind of musical battle. The musicians challenge each other, showing off their improvisational skill. As the playful chaos winds down and the concert comes to an end, the musicians receive applause and cheers from the audience, and a unique melody is born on stage....

Have you ever pondered what true freedom is? Is it following the rules to secure a stable life, or staying true to yourself at the risk of being out of sync with the world? In today's society, fame and success often seem to be the only benchmarks for measuring a person's life. But what happens when someone chooses not to conform to these standards? The animated short film Happy BluesDay tells the story of a group of once-glorious blues musicians, offering a profound reflection on freedom, art, and reality. Animated short film Happy BluesDay Happy BluesDay is an 8-minute, dialogue-free musical animation produced by the Armenian studio ARTSTEP-STUDIO. It is part of the Music Collection animated series. The story follows two elderly street blues musicians—former bandmates who once stood in the spotlight, full of ambition and dreams, but now find themselves living on the streets, with the sky as their roof and passersby as their audience. Meanwhile, their former bandmate has chosen...

  ✨ At the beginning of 2025 Piwooz’s very first comic book – Piwooz and the Guide of Emotions – was officially launched in China and is now available for purchase!  This release marks a significant milestone for the Piwooz brand, as we take our first steps into the Chinese market, sharing the colorful and meaningful world of emotions with young readers. This achievement would not have been possible without the dedicated efforts of Phenaki Animation, whose expertise and collaboration have made it possible to successfully import and publish this book in China. Together, we are opening new doors for children to explore their emotions through this engaging and meaningful story. Reaching Families Across China Piwooz’s comic is available on Chinese major e-commerce platforms like Tmall, Taobao, Dangdang, and JD.com, as well as in physical bookstores such as Xinhua Bookstores in key cities. This ensures families across China can experience the magic of Piwooz and its guides on emo...

Have you ever felt that the world is becoming increasingly “standardized”? The mechanized pace of life, one common language for everyone, comfortable clothes and hairstyle, food not for taste, but for survival... self-expression and freedom in creativity and in life in general, seem to be gradually suppressed and diluted in modern society. But does humanity have to be confined to such a rigid mold? The animated short film Back To Rock offers us a potential answer to this question. Back To Rock Created by Armenian studio ARTSTEP-STUDIO, Back To Rock is part of the animated short films series Music Collection . The team had envisioned a similar plot many years ago but was unable to bring it to life until the launch of this music-themed series. They soon realized that with some changes the plot could be perfect for a film on the topic of Rock. So the duet of history and Rock music happened. The film imagines a world where evolution played a cruel joke on humanity - people turned in...

Armenia, a country with a long-standing history and tradition of music, traces its musical roots back to the Armenian Highlands as far as the third millennium BCE. The profound love Armenians have for music naturally led them to blend it into various art forms, and animation is no exception. Since the release of Armenia’s first animated film in 1937, Armenian animators have excelled at integrating music into animation narratives. Today, they have taken the fusion of music and storytelling to new heights, and one of the most representative works of this new generation is the *Music Collection*, a series of animated short films created by the Armenian studio ARTSTEP-STUDIO. The three completed short films in the *Music Collection* series are, from left to right: *Jazz Fool Around*, *Happy Bluesday*, and *Back To Rock* The three completed short films in the *Music Collection* series are, from left to right: *Jazz Fool Around*, *Happy Bluesday*, and *Back To Rock* The birth of the *Music C...

When you think of Armenia and Armenian animation, what comes to mind? For many, the name of this country might seem unfamiliar. Located between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, the Republic of Armenia lies in the mountainous region of the South Caucasus and boasts a rich history. Despite its small population of approximately three million, Armenia has a profound foundation and a rich history in the cultural and artistic fields, particularly in animation. This is evident from the fact that the first animated film in Armenia was produced as early as 1937. Over 87 years, Armenian animation has developed its own unique style—primarily characterized by short films where the focus is on a sharp plot and vibrant folk humor. The expressive means include masterfully crafted drawings that vividly reflect national color.These elements not only enhance t he visual and auditory appeal of Armenian animated works but also deeply imprint them with national identity, making Armenian culture a unique ...