Robert Sahakyants: Famous Armenian Animator Dies September 24, 2009

Robert Sahakyants, Aug. 30, 1950 – Sept. 24, 2009, author and artistic-director of animation films, died in Yerevan after undergoing heart surgery for an aorta exfoliation. He was 59.

Sahakyants gained fame mostly in part to his animation film called “Knopka.” The film dealt sharp satire towards the Soviet reality of that epoch, and the animation film is shot in the genre of comic surrealism.

Others productions followed including “Tebye Armenia” (To you, Armenia), and “Taverna’ (Tavern). In the latter, he touched upon the contrast of present day and future Armenia and the issues of declaring independence. The root of his fame came, not only from his animations, but for the tough statements concerning different political issues, that were expressed with his work.

All told, Sahakyants authored approximately 30 scenarios of animation films, winning awards at international festivals in France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Japan as well as Kiev, Yerevan, Moscow, and Estonia. He was given the title of Honored Artist and became the Artistic Director of the Union of Animation Films at the ‘Hayfilm’ film studio.

In real life, however, his colleagues considered him easygoing, kind and friendly. Artistic director Erik Muradyan who worked with Sahakyants at ‘Zatik’ Studio commented, “Youth was kept in him, and it is impossible to create animation films without it. This is an irretrievable loss.”

Robert Sahakyants leaves behind his wife, four children and seven grandchildren.