[1][2] Gennadi Kazansky was born on 18 November 18 or December 1910 in Voronezh.
From 1946 to 1947 he was an employee of the Ashkhabad Film Studio, then again returned to Lenfilm, where he worked for the rest of his life.
In 1956 he staged a children's film Old Khottabych based on the fairy tale by Lazar Lagin, which won a number of prizes at international festivals.
The film Amphibian Man, codirected with Vladimir Chebotaryov, became the leader of Soviet distribution in 1962 (65.5 million viewers).
It is little-known in the West, but has become a cult classic in Soviet Union.