Have you ever felt useless or like a failure at home? Has being compared to others brought you down? Does trying to meet your parents’ expectations make you feel frustrated?

Don’t worry, The Myth of Maracuda, a Russian animated film, speaks directly to these feelings.

Inspired by old Slavic myths, the story follows a young boy named Maracuda in the Stone Age. He feels like a failure because he cannot hunt like others in his tribe. Maracuda loves nature. His father wants him to become a strong warrior, but he struggles to live up to that image.

However, things change when Maracuda meets Tink, a mystical bird who gives him the special ability to understand animals. With this gift, Maracuda returns home as a hero.

The Myth of Maracuda is a touching film that mixes folklore, emotion and the journey of growing up. The 90-minute ‘dubbed in English’ movie is directed by Viktor Glukhushin, who has worked as a visual effects director on films like Apollo 18, Wanted and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.

Russian animation itself has a long and rich history. It began in the early 1900s and became very popular during the Soviet era. After the 1990s, Russian animation grew again with new studios and modern styles. These films often use soft colours, deep ideas and stories inspired by folklore.

Coming back to The Myth of Maracuda, the film becomes most powerful when Maracuda meets Tink in the magical forest. It’s a turning point in Maracuda’s life, as the story shifts from failure to self-discovery and empathy. The film highlights kindness, understanding and emotional strength as true courage.

The film’s main conflict is also very powerful. Maracuda’s tribe believes that the sacred bird must be sacrificed for their prosperity. Maracuda makes a difficult choice between following tradition and protecting the one who helped him. This moment gives the film real depth and meaning and requires real courage.

Inspired by classics like The Lion King and Brother Bear, The Myth of Maracuda creates its own identity. It reminds us that true bravery is not about power, but about understanding, empathy and standing up for what is right.

Published in Dawn, Young World, April 18th, 2026

On a Sunday afternoon, I decided to study. It was the preparation week for my exams, and I knew I had a lot to cover. I took out my books, arranged my study materials neatly on the table and kept my phone beside me.

Before starting, I thought, why not watch some motivational videos to feel productive and maybe get ideas on how to plan my study routine for the upcoming week? But that was the mistake I made.

I opened YouTube and started watching videos of students who wake up at 5 am, follow perfect routines and study for hours without distraction. Their desks were clean, their lives seemed organised and everything about them looked perfect. For a moment, I felt bad about myself, but then something inspired me.

Right then, a notification popped up from Facebook. One of my friends had posted a story. I opened it and saw that she was enjoying time with her cousins, laughing and playing. One story led to another. Then another. I kept scrolling, completely unaware of how time passed. It felt like just a few minutes.

After some time, my mother came into my room and said, “Come for lunch.” That was when I looked at the clock. Almost two hours had passed! I felt a sudden wave of guilt. I had planned to study, but instead, I had wasted my time scrolling through social media.

During lunch, I couldn’t stop thinking. My mind was filled with questions. How do people manage everything so perfectly? How do they study, enjoy life, spend time with family and still achieve good grades?

At night, I tried to study again. I managed to focus for about half an hour, but my mind was still distracted. Soon, I gave up and went to bed. But as usual, before sleeping, I picked up my phone. It had become a habit.

I opened Instagram and started scrolling. My friends, their families, having perfect faces, perfect people, happy lives, achievements and success stories. Everything looked smooth and flawless. It felt like everyone was moving forward in life, doing something meaningful, becoming someone important.

And here I was, lying in bed, doing nothing. The same thought kept repeating in my mind: why am I not like them?

After a couple of hours, when my eyes started hurting, I put my phone aside. But I didn’t feel relaxed. Instead, I felt exhausted, not physically, but mentally. It was as if all that scrolling had drained my energy instead of giving me motivation.

The next morning, I went to coll­ege. I was sitting with my friend and somehow the topic of social media came up. I mentioned her Facebook story and told her how perfect everything looked. I also shared how I felt that everyone seemed to have everything under control, and I didn’t.

My friend looked at me and laughed, not in a rude way, but in a way that made me curious.

“Oh my dear, it’s just a part that we see online. It’s captured for that purpose only. It’s not the complete reality,” she said.

Then she opened her profile and showed me a picture from her birthday. She was wearing a beautiful white dress and smiling brightly. She looked truly happy.

“I was actually sick that day,” she said. “And I had a big argument with my brother, so I didn’t even feel like talking to anyone.”

I was shocked. The picture looked perfect. I would have never guessed.

Then she added, “Yesterday, my youngest sister fell and was bleeding from a cut in her head. We were at the hospital, all worried. But in my stories, didn’t you see me smiling at the ice cream parlour?”

I was speechless. People only share their best moments, the ones they want others to see. They don’t show their struggles or problems.

That moment changed my thinking. I realised I had been comparing my real life, full of ups and downs, with someone else’s carefully selected moments. And that was why I always felt like I wasn’t enough.

From that day, I decided to change my perspective. I didn’t stop using social media, but I started using it more carefully. I noticed how certain posts made me feel. If something inspired me, I appreciated it. But if something made me feel insecure, I tried to avoid it.

I also started managing my time better. I reduced my screen time, especially during study hours and avoided using my phone before bed. Instead, I focused more on my own routine and goals.

I stopped comparing myself to others. I realised that everyone has their own journey, their own pace and their own struggles.

Today, I still use social media. But now, I understand the difference between real life and reel life. Real life is not perfect, it has ups and downs, good days and bad days, success and failure. But it is real and that’s what makes it meaningful.

Published in Dawn, Young World, April 18th, 2026