Usavich (ウサビッチ Usabicchi, from うさぎ "usagi", rabbit, with "vich" giving it faux Russian flavor) is a series of animated short films originally created for MTV's Japanese mobile service "Flux" and still being created for MTV Japan by Satoshi Tomioka and his studio Kanaban Graphics since 2006. It is about an odd couple of rabbits imprisoned in a Soviet prison. While the first season shows the absurd everyday occurrences of the two rabbits' prison life, the second season tells the adventures of their escape and life on the run. Season 3 revolves around their adventure to the 13th and top floor of a shopping complex in a city.
Characters
Kirenenko
Kirenenko (キレネンコ?) wears a prison uniform with red stripes, number 04. He has a safety pin stuck through his left ear. Originally a mafia boss, he was sentenced to death. He once had a twin brother. Generally quiet, but very dangerous when he becomes angry and goes berserk. He likes order and does not forgive anyone who crosses his path or otherwise "meddles" in his life. He collects sneakers and is generally oblivious to, or apathetic about, the world around him while he reads his magazine advertising sneakers. He cares for nothing but his sneakers. He is also almost invincible as normal weapons such as bullets and clubs won't even harm him. Poisons don't work on him either. When he dies, he is easily revived if pieced back together. He is the main protagonist, along with Putin.
Putin
Putinプーチン Pūchin) wears a prison uniform with green stripes, number 541. Has his ears tied together and is good-natured. He likes to dance kozachok on his bed (episode 12 shows him dancing kozachok in his sleep). Likes fun but often gets in trouble. He was an honest laborer who once missed a day of work due to a hangover and was sentenced to 3 years in jail as a capitalist agent. However, he enjoys life in prison with its free food and is a master of cooking. He was only one day from being released when he followed Kirenenko out of the cell. He panics very easily, enough so that his face will turn blue, red, and/or white when he is nervous depending on the situation. He will also screams loudly He also has low tolerance of alcohol; a single cup of wine making him extremely drunk. He is however a very capable mechanic, able to build robots, assemble cars and disassemble guns, each within a split second. He and Kirenenko are the main protagonists of the series.
Leningrad
Leningrad (レニングラード Reningurādo?) is an Argentinian Horned Frog living in the toilet in Putin and Kirenenko's cell. He does little more than croak, eat Komanech, and defecate her out again.
Komanech
Komanech (コマネチ Komanechi) is a transvestite chick found by Putin while sorting chicks by gender in Episode 2. Her mother visited during episode 6 and was eaten by Kirenenko. She is repeatedly killed throughout the series, but comes back to life on a regular basis.
Prison workers
Several guards and other prison workers visit Putin and Kirenenko in their cell. They are never fully visible, and the character on the other side of the door is indicated by one of several door designs that slide into place. Episode 3 briefly reveals that they too are rabbits.
- Kanschkov (カンシュコフ Kanshukofu) – various guards (from kanshu, Japanese for prison guard)
- Roudov (ロウドフ Rōdofu) – work boss (from rodou, labor)
- Zenirov (ゼニロフ Zenirofu) – paymaster (from zeni, cash)
- Shokeisky (ショケイスキー Shokeisukī) – executioner (from shokei, execution)
They only appear in season 1, where they are the primary (and only) antagonists. (Kanschkov also appear in the last episode of season 3.)
Boris (ボリス Borisu) and Koptsev (コプチェフ Kopuchefu) are militsiya (police) officers, who chase Kirenenko. Koptsev is a driver while Boris a rifleman. Both characters appear in season 2, where they are the antagonists, and the last episode of season 3.
The Boss
Zrzolov (ズルゾロフ Zuruzorofu) is the owner of the tower, venue of season 3, in which he is the main antagonist. He is usually seen with his two mistresses. He is rich, greedy and narcissistic. Throughout the season he tries to kill Kirenenko and take his money. His name is Zrzolov, and he is wanted with reward of 1,000,000 Roubles. During the last episode, he was portrayed to be the one who had killed both Kirenenko and his twin brother by entrapping them in a warhead with bait of sneakers, and blast them off sky high, although Kirenenko doesn't seem to remember this.
Mechanenko
Mechanenko (メカネンコ Mekanenko) is a robot built by Putin in episode 35, to scare away the snipers sent by the Boss. It follows the cast thereafter.