gena the crocodile and his friends
1966 soviet novel by Eduard Uspensky, later adapted into a series of animated stop-motion films by Soyuzmultfilm.
The series follows Gena the Crocodile, who originally works as a zoo animal, in his various encounters with the citizens of Moscow and Cheburashka.
Its most well known character is Cheburashka, who became a massive cultural icon in Soviet Russia and the countries following its dissolution.
He's also garnered popularity in Japan due to an animated film series broadcasted in its theaters from the summer of 2001 to the spring of 2002.
Cheburashka and Gena have since appeared in postage stamps, coins and as the mascots of Russia in Olympic events, as well as in tons of merchandise and a few remakes.