Gena the Crocodile is a 1969 Soviet stop motion animated film directed by Roman Kachanov in Soyuzmultfilm studio. This film introduces the characters Gena the Crocodile, Cheburashka, and the old lady Shapoklyak. The film was based on Eduard Uspensky's stories about the characters. This film was popular in the Soviet Union and spawned three sequels: Cheburashka, Shapoklyak and Cheburashka Goes to School.