Russia Warns Disney Against Distribution of ‘Out’

The government of Russia has warned the Walt Disney Company against distributing one of Pixar’s shorts films in the country, noting that the film violates Russian law.

Russia’s communications regulator Roskomnadzor on Friday warned Walt Disney Co against distributing content it said was harmful to children in Russia with its release of a short film, “Out”, which features a gay main character.

Russia’s internet and communications regulator Roskomnadzor wrote in a letter to Disney that the film was harmful to the country’s children because it “denies family values and promotes non-traditional sexual relationships.”

Vladimir Putin and his government introduced a 2013 Russian law that banned so-called “gay propaganda”, prohibiting the “promotion of nontraditional sexual relations to minors”. Under this legislation, sharing information about LGBT+ lives can earn a person a prison sentence or large fines.

“Out” was released on Disney+ in the United States last year.

Out was one of ten animated films that was shortlisted for an Oscar this year. Cartoon Brew’s editorial team discussed Out at length in our roundtable discussion of Oscar-shortlisted films.