Gena the Crocodile Vasiliy Livanov works as an attraction at an urban zoo, performing for visitors and returning each evening to his solitary apartment. Growing tired of playing chess by himself, Gena decides to find friends and posts advertisements around the city. His efforts soon bring responses from a variety of neighbors, and the first to answer is Galya Tamara Dmitrieva, who arrives with a homeless puppy named Tobik, offering companionship and a sense of hopeful change.
Shortly after, a mysterious and lovable creature Cheburashka Klara Rumyanova is discovered inside a box of oranges, endearing everyone with an openness that matches Gena’s own longing for connection. Not long after, a lion named Chandr enters the scene, confessing that he has no friends, and Tobik warmly extends his friendship to the newcomer, widening the circle of confidants and inviting more heart into the group. The ensemble grows to include a shared dream of friendship that transcends loneliness, and they begin to lay the groundwork for a larger project that can shelter many who feel left out.
With the idea of a common space taking root, the friends decide to build a House of Friends, a welcoming place where all the city’s loneliest residents can come together to share stories, games, and support. Their plan, however, runs into trouble from the mischief-making old lady Shapoklyak Vladimir Rautbart, whose pranks threaten to derail the project and test the group’s resolve. Despite her interference, the friends press on, transforming the construction site into a symbol of teamwork and mutual care. The experience strengthens their bonds as each member contributes in unique ways—through cheer, practical help, and steady encouragement—showing how unity can soften even the coldest corners of a busy city.
As the House of Friends takes shape, the group’s shared purpose deepens, and what began as a simple experiment in companionship grows into a community that feels like a home for many. When the building is finally completed, it is donated to a children’s daycare, where Cheburashka finds a new and meaningful role as a beloved toy that sparks joy in the youngest visitors and reminds them that they, too, can belong. In a final turning point, Shapoklyak experiences a genuine change of heart, handing Cheburashka a note that reads:
> I won’t cause trouble anymore! — Shapoklyak
This quiet reversal of the old rival adds a soft, hopeful coda to a story about friendship overcoming isolation. The tale remains a gentle, uplifting portrait of how unlikely friendships can grow into lasting, life-affirming connections, turning a city’s loneliness into a shared space of care, laughter, and possibility for everyone involved.
