Aleksandr Lukich Ptushko (Russian: Алекса́ндр Луки́ч Пту́шко; April 19 [O.S. April 6] 1900 in Lugansk, Russian Empire – March 6, 1973 in Moscow, Soviet Union) is a Soviet animation and fantasy film director, and Meritorious Artist of the RSFSR. Ptushko is frequently (and somewhat misleadingly) referred to as "the Soviet Walt Disney," due to his prominent early role in animation in the Soviet Union, though a more accurate comparison would be to Willis O'Brien or Ray Harryhausen. Some critics, suc