Leo and Tig: Big Screen Teaser Released
16.09.2025
The animated film “Leo and Tig: The Road to Baikal” will hit theaters on May 14, 2026
Digital Television Russia Group, the company NMG Kinoprokat (part of the National Media Group), and the animation studio Parovoz have released the official teaser for the feature-length animated film “Leo and Tig: The Road to Baikal”, which will premiere in wide release on May 14, 2026.
According to the plot, the little leopard Leo and the tiger cub Tig embark on a long journey to Lake Baikal to help a lost seal pup named Lufi return home. Along the way, they meet new friends: the red panda Ju and the monkey king Ukun, while also facing the evil leader of a wild horse herd, Tengri Khan, who wants to capture the seal for himself. The one who brings Lufi back will be granted any wish by Baikal’s master — the great dragon Lusud.
“We’ve taken a step from the television format to the big screen, where we can show epic scope, drama, and humor all at once. In the series, we told short stories, but here the audience will experience one big adventure meant to hold their attention for over an hour. That requires deeper storylines, stronger emotions, and dramatic twists. For us, it was important to portray not only Baikal as the heart of Siberia, but also the journey toward it — a path through different cultures, landscapes, and challenges. The main message of the film is that your dream comes true when you walk toward it yourself, overcoming obstacles and believing in your own strength,” says Parovoz studio creative director Evgeny Golovin.
Baikal has become the heart of the story. The lake is shown not only as a destination but also as a symbol of wonder, depth, and power. It inspired the creators to invent a fictional legend about the Baikal dragon — a majestic being whose appearance combines features of the flora and fauna of the world’s deepest lake.
Special attention has been given to the musical score, which creates a unique atmosphere and helps viewers immerse themselves in the characters’ world.
“I wanted the music not just to accompany the visuals but to live within them. Shamanic rhythms and the breath of flutes seem to intertwine with the sound of the wind and the voices of birds. Drums, reed flutes, and ocarinas highlight the wildness and primordial nature of the landscape, filling the space with sounds as if born from the earth and the wind themselves. For themes connected to King Ukun, we used traditional Chinese instruments — guzheng, hulusi, and erhu — to reflect his personality and cultural spirit. Their deep vibrations and melodic tones evoke a sense of antiquity and mystical power, while the hang drum adds a soft, meditative sound that balances the energetic rhythms,” notes composer Alexander Billion.
The animated film “Leo and Tig: The Road to Baikal” is created for a family audience: children will find fun adventures, teenagers — a story of choice and coming of age, and adults — metaphors about the value of nature and the importance of protecting it.
The feature-length film is based on the animated series “Leo and Tig”.
