He studied at the St. Petersburg Polytechnic Institute (1908-10), at the Jean-P. Laurens in Paris (1910-11), at the Academy of Arts in Petrograd (1912-14), at the Institute of Civil Engineers (1921 -22). Before joining the cinema, he served in different institutions, in 1924-1925 he illustrated children's books. In 1926, he made his debut as a director and artist of animated films. From 1934 he worked as an animator in the film factories "Lentekfilm" and "Reklamfilm". He died during the siege of Leningrad.