Baby Yoda and Cheburashka, his Soviet relative

Richard WessFebruary 12, 2020

Ever since his adorable first appearance in the Mandalorian, Baby Yoda has rightfully shot to global internet stardom. Introduced at the end of the Disney+ series’ first episode, The Child, as he is officially known, was a complete surprise to long-term Star Wars fans.

However, to many children of the Soviet Union, Baby Yoda brought about Déjà vu. That’s because a similarly cute mini creature with airplane ears once graced the TV screens of the USSR. That character was Cheburashka.

The similarities between Baby Yoda and Cheburashka are undeniably uncanny. Here’s a number of side-by-side shots to prove it to you.

The visual proof: Baby Yoda and Cheburashka compared

First off, they simply look uncannily similar

Baby Yoda Cheburashka uncannily similar

They share the same eating style

Baby Yoda Cheburashka eating

Boxes seem to be both their cradles

Baby Yoda Cheburashka in box

They both share strong, inter-species relationships with larger friends – Gena and Din Djarin

At the core of the Soviet series is a friendship between Cheburashka and a friendly crocodile named Gena. In fact, as one Reddit user, oman-ra, pointed out, there is reasonable grounds to believe that Baby Yoda is Cheburashka and Gena’s child.

Baby Yoda Cheburashka larger friend

And those friends provide them with loving protection

Baby Yoda Cheburashka friend protection

I’m not the only one talking about the similarities between Baby Yoda and Cheburashka. Social media is abuzz with comparisons. Here are just a few of them.

The OG from r/russia

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Мутация Чебурашки #чебурашка #гремлины #йода

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Watch Cheburahksa

If reading this has inspired you to revisit the Cheburashka series or watch it for the first time, you can check it out here.

The Cheburashka series consists of four stop-motion animation episodes created between 1969-1983. A creation of prolific children’s author, Eduard Uspensky, Cheburashka is an “animal unknown to science.” He accidentally comes to Moscow from his tropical home, transported in a crate of oranges. From there, family friendly episodes of cuteness follow. It’s a wonderful show well worth the watch.