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Yuriy Norshteyn's 'Tale of Tales (1979)' is an undisputed masterpiece of Russian animation, a spectacularly beautiful journey into the depths of the mind, and sometimes held as the single greatest animated film of all time, a title that I would wholeheartedly endorse. The direct predecessor to 'Tale of Tales,' Norshteyn's 'Hedgehog in the Mist' is held in much the same high regard and, whilst I don't think it is quite as good, the fact remains that it is a stunning piece of Russian animated cinema.

I had to watch this film twice. The first time around, not understanding a word of Russian, I decided to sit back and just enjoy the images presented to me. Though I greatly enjoyed the beauty and intricate detail of the animation, I was ultimately unsatisfied with some parts of the story that I couldn't quite decipher, without which I was unable to unlock the deeper meaning of the work. Where, for example, was the hedgehog heading that night? What was he carrying in the bundle? Why was he compelled to follow the white horse into the unknown of the mist? After viewing translations for some of the key pieces of dialogue and narration, I approached the film a second time. Armed with a better knowledge of the finer points of the story, I was able to more fully appreciate the beauty of Norshteyn's film, and how the stunning animation and spoken words complement each other. For example, on that fateful evening, the hedgehog was going to meet his friend the bear, whom he meets with every time to drink tea, count the stars and have conversations. In the bundle, he carries a jar of raspberry marmalade that he has prepared for the occasion.

As for why the hedgehog decided to descend into the mist, we are told that it is because he wonders if the beautiful white horse would suffocate if he lies down in the fog. I think, however, that it is something much more than that. It is the lure of the unknown. The low-lying mist presents to him all life's beauty and terror, satisfying an underlying desire for the excitement and adventure of the unfamiliar, a means of breaking down the monotony of his usual safe and routine existence. This unconscious thirst for adventure exists in all of us, and the hedgehog is one who felt compelled to take that extra step into the mist. Despite being terrified and shaken by the experience, it nonetheless has changed him, and he will carry the memory with him for the rest of his life, and his daily routine will forever seem mundane in comparison. For the first time in his life, rather than merely counting the stars in the sky, the hedgehog was inspired to reach towards them.

The animation itself, it need not be said, is truly a beautiful achievement. Like in all his films, Norshteyn's animation has a certain timelessness about it, seeming to exist in a world that I'm sure we've all visited in our dreams. The fog effects, so crucial to the atmosphere of the film, were created by putting an extremely thin piece of paper on top of the scene and slowly lifting it frame-by-frame toward the camera until everything behind it became blurry and white. To describe this film as beautiful would simply be an understatement.

This film is made in Russia (At that time, The Soviet Union republic) in 1975. Original name is "Ёжик в тумане / Yozhik v tumane ". Director is Yuriy Borisovich Norshteyn. This film is very popular in Russia and in the world. For example, "Hedgehog in the Fog" is also used at the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics as a masterpiece of Russia. This film is animation; however, this film is not used only painting. This film's characters of the hedgehog, owl, and bear and so on are drawn by paper cutout picture, and background is made by the picture which the actual landscape photos are processed like drawing. This film is beautiful. A main character is a hedgehog. When a hedgehog brings the jam to bear, he sees a white horse. After that time, the hedgehog has entered into deep fog. Then, a small adventure of the hedgehog begins. The hedgehog becomes lonely in the fog. The hedgehog moves forward to rely on bear's voice bear sometimes calling hedgehog. The film becomes a picture book, and the books are sold all over the world. This film and also picture books would be able to enjoy for not only the children but also adult.

Russian, and for that matter, most East European animation, is a world away from Disney's sanitised world where nothing bad ever happens. While Disney strived for animation perfection, where the movement of Snow White's dress is more important than the story, the European and Soviet school of animation was always more about the story.

"Hedgehog in the fog" is one of the best examples of the difference between the two schools of animation. If Disney had made it, the little Hedgehog would probably have been reduced to a Winnie the Pooh type creature and no doubt there would have been a catchy song or two to jolly it all along. All the other animals would have had speaking parts, there would have been jokes and no doubt there would have been a big musical finale when Hedgehog and Bear are re-united around the camp fire.

So it's a good job that it was made by Yuri Norstein instead.

What he made is a beautiful, lyrical and deceptively simple animated story of how a curious little hedgehog takes a detour through the mysterious fog on the way to see his friend, the little bear, gets lost and then finds his way out again. But there is much, much more in this little movie than just that. Like many great works of art it adopts the philosophy that less is more. There is nothing superfluous here. Not a single frame is wasted. The stop motion animation, like the illustrations, has a magical, dreamlike quality. The unsaturated, almost monochrome colours of the backgrounds takes us into the real magical world of fairy tales and fantasy in a way that Disney et al could never manage. Indeed, it is the absolute simplicity of this wonderful little movie that makes it so beautiful to watch. The dreamlike quality of the images is enhanced still further by the haunting musical score. The sparse narration is gravely intoned like a beautiful Russian poem. The words themselves don't really matter, it is the effect of the sound of the voice that is important. It doesn't matter if you don't understand Russian, the story is told by the images.

Images and symbolism, music and dreams, all combine to make a great little movie. Or you can see it just as a simple story if you wish. With Disney and the others you just get the simple story.

There are moments of exquisite beauty that transcend description. When the Hedgehog first walks into the mist, like an awe struck child he whispers that he can't even see his paw! This moment alone is worth the price of the movie. As is the moment when he calls to the white horse. All he says is "Loshad!"(horse, in Russian) but it's the way he says it. Almost everything about this film has the innocence and wonder of a child's view of the world. The inquisitiveness of a child exploring an unfamiliar and slightly frightening world for the first time. A journey into the unknown, like the journey through life. To get somewhere you sometimes have to leave the well trodden path. It ends up in the same place but you see a whole new world on the way. The world is a beautiful place and there are many places to see. There are countless paths we can take and most of them have no maps to guide us. All we need is a little courage, a little fear and the belief that there is always a light to show us the way through the mist. The light of love and friendship.

The final moments tell another story too. Watch the expressions of the bear and the hedgehog as they talk. The bear is so relieved to know his friend has arrived safely but also because it means his life of routine and order is restored. He needs the hedgehog to count the stars and to bring raspberry jam because that's how it has always been. Without the hedgehog his world would fall apart. He is safe within his comfort zone, happy to live his life without change, without challenge, without fear. He's happy to count the stars but would never once think about reaching for them. But the hedgehog is different. Watch the expression, almost of regret, as he listens to the bear. He has seen the world in a different way, he has seen the magical world inside the mist, another dimension. He has felt the excitement of exploring new worlds, the fear of being lost, new emotions, new friends. And as he sits on the log with the bear, he thinks about the white horse in the mist. How is she?

You can draw your own metaphorical conclusions.

But we know that the Hedgehog's world will never be the same again.

Neither will mine.

Thank you to Annushka for the light.

@->>-

Yozik v tumane seems to be one of the best cartoons ever. It's both simple and very philosophical, but I like it best because it's very lyrical.At first it all seems to consist of nothing but vague images, but what is our whole life but not wandering in the fog? There's almost no story told, but it's all there - friendship and warmth, lyricism, fears and hopes, wanderings and search for something evasive, something all of us long for and almost never get. More than that - it's full of beauty, high-strung and piercing a human heart. And beauty is something we all search for, even if do not admit it.

This is one of the most brilliant animated movies I've ever seen. It shows all the little things and the way you can possibly look at it. The Story is touching, and there's something magical at the images...And the whole "world" you see in the movie. This really might change the way you look at the world...

His name is enough for know define a special animation universe. In same measure, "Yozhik v tumane" is different. Each time when you see. Because the trip of little hedgehog remain message, characters, symbols. But all is so simple. A film about friendship and travel and initiation s magic. Sure, many explanations and definitions and opinions about art. In essence, it remains one of the greatest short animations for the inner child. A pure gem. Or a classic. The emotion and not the words defines it.

This short film follows an easily startled hedgehog through some dense fog. He is initially searching for his bear friend but he wanders and finds much more. To be honest, I found this more inscrutable than insightful. Perhaps Norstein just isn't for me. There are only so many metaphors I can handle.

This has to be one of the best animated films ever made! It never fails to move me with its simple, touching story and fantastic images. I think about the little things which we often fail to appreciate every time I watch this marvellous little film. See it - you might discover something new about yourself.

I was truly amazed when I read through all the glowing comments for this short Soviet film from 1975. One referred to it as the best film ever made and all the many reviews from people from the ex-Soviet Union (such as Lithuania and Russia) absolutely were in rapturous tones about the brilliance of this film. My assumption is that these reviewers grew up with it and associate many happy memories with it. However, to an outsider who saw it for the first time in his 40s, I did not have the same perspective and wasn't the least bit in love with the film. Now this isn't to say I disliked it--I just didn't have the same emotional connection. My bet is that if many of these same reviewers saw cartoons I adored as a child, they might feel equally unimpressed. It's all just a matter of perspective.

As for the art, this style cartoon is unusual in the West because it consists mostly of lovely drawings of creatures that were then cut out and animated by moving the pieces of paper about the backgrounds. This is a very, very simple method for animation and probably won't impress kids today--who are used to amazing CGI or smoothly animated cartoons (which this is not). Still, despite this, there is a certain charm in the characters--much like looking at the drawings in E.B. White's book "The Wind in the Willows".

The story itself is, well, very simple. A cute little hedgehog goes to see his friend the bear and gets lost in the fog...and that's about it. I just didn't see the magic.

Overall, I thought the film was only moderately diverting but can understand the love of the film for people who grew up watching it. For the Western audience, however, I doubt if such rapturous approval is forthcoming.

Norshteyn, master of underrated Russian animation, has created a breathtakingly beautiful short about a cute hedgehog visiting his friend, the bear. What differs "Yozhik v tumane" from the typical American/Japanese animations is that it could be described as artistic poetry which definitely is not for everyone. You'd better not expect funny dialogues, happy songs and colorful landscapes. Quite the contrary, it is rather gray, dark and mysterious. It builds a blur atmosphere supported by a magical soundtrack. Haunting yet beautiful, it won't ever get out of your mind.

However, it still covers everything good animations are made of (and more) - it will make you smile especially because of its cuteness, but it also is lyrical, symbolistic and metaphorical. The hedgehog's adventure is about innocence, new (positive AND negative) experiences, friendship, fear, going one's own way - maybe even the subjective sense of life.

To conclude, this is a brilliant philosophical short for children, teenagers and adults equally.

With an average user rating of 8.4 HEDGEHOG IN THE FOG is one of the most highly regarded animated short films you will ever see but personally speaking I fail to see what all the fuss is about

I notice some of the people on this page have mentioned that the story is full of ideas but I can't really see any type of subtext . To me all I can see is yet another animated film featuring humanized anthromophised animals working in some sort of symbiosis . I suppose being a Soviet made film there might be the vague subtext that humanity is better off working together - Hence all animals are shown to be friends - but that's open to discussion . I also notice that this site gives the original Soviet cast in the credits and the version I saw was an English language version so maybe something was lost in translation ?

As for the animation it is like the story very basic and features what is effectively a cardboard cut out of a hedgehog stuck on a foggy background and I must admit I found it a somewhat static type of animation and I'm afraid I saw the brilliant screen version of Richard Adams WATERSHIP DOWN which is quite possibly the greatest piece of animated storytelling I have ever seen which made HEDGEHOG IN THE FOG even more disappointing

I know, I know, it is supposed to be artsy but I frankly did not get it. I thought it was a good movie for children that shows a bedtime story, really nothing more than that.

I guess I could ask myself, well what does the horse mean? What does the dog mean? What does the alligator mean? What does any of it mean?

I don't know, and I guess it was intriguing enough for me to care.

I know, I know, it is supposed to be artsy but I frankly did not get it. I thought it was a good movie for children that shows a bedtime story, really nothing more than that.

I guess I could ask myself, well what does the horse mean? What does the dog mean? What does the alligator mean? What does any of it mean?

I don't know, and I guess it was intriguing enough for me to care.

Because it is a very watchable poetry, an example of magic, which makes me play this DVD again and again. It is 11 minutes of excellence.

I've seen a number of other cartoons by Mr Yuriy Norshteyn but I did not like them much. To me they are all right. But this one is something absolutely out of this world.

Craftsmanship at its best. The soundtrack is a symphony of sounds and catch-phrases, which vary in depth and attitude. It can be a simple "Psycho!" ("Psih!" in Russian) or a reflection on one's life and death (cf. the scene where the hedgehog falls into the water).

The only thing I'm very sorry about is that this animation legend ends so quickly.

10 out of 10 - this is what I call excellence (I would give it an 11 for its 11 intoxicating minutes). Thank you for attention.

This is the cartoon film that I love, love with all my heart. This is the little wonderful story that I adore and still watch every time it is on the TV. Why? Well, the plot is amazingly simple - a little sweet helpless hedgehog is lost in the dense fog on his was to his friend, a bear, who awaits him for a tea with jam. The hedgehog is afraid, he is overcoming his innate fear of the dark, of some imaginary evil creatures, of the unknown and the new. He is encountered by a kind dog, a hilariously nervous owl, a kind fish that helps him out of the river, and finally he is at the bear's place... But the music, the very magic, sweet, mesmerizing feeling! This is a touching little story about a kid lost in the dark alone and trying to get out of it. This is a deep philosophical story about the quest for new and unknown things... This is a grand Anthem to the Freindship, Bravery and Curiosity. I love this excellent film. It is incredible...

It is quite possible this will not appeal to Western audience. You cannot explain what it's about. All you have are those vague emotional harmonics, and image is too subtle, too airy and blurry, and has almost no color... I remember a guy working in a game publishing company explaining the differences in national color perception to me - Russia prefers barely saturated colors, while in the US and especially Japan it's all about contrast and max saturation. The same for emotions, and the same for the plot - the stuff which appeals to westerners is always literal and to the point, while for Russians it should always be about hints and fuzzy shadows, as no one knows what he's living for...

However, I would still advise you to try this short cartoon - you might love it...

If you want to ask me why, the answer is simple - HITF is highly philosophic though it's just a simple children story. Such combination is very difficult to create. Lets say Shrek, for example. It's a great movie due to fantastic technical side. It's very pretty, just look at that lovely green ogre. I can say no more on that point - it was a great pleasure to see that film. But where is a great idea in Shrek? Love? Yeah... And? What could it be more important that love? That's where the HITF comes. It's a film about a prickly little creature, which is lost in the fog. Not a huge ogre, who can confront any danger without any silly donkeys. Not a Schwarzenegger with a big bazooka or something like that. It (hedgehog) can nothing to do against the evil life around him. By the by, there's love in this film, love of another kind, a sympathy to the poor curious hedgehog, or a closely friendship between Hedgehog and Bear. Sergei Kozlov made a whole book about them (named "Yozhik"), and any short story in it could pretend to be a film like that.

More than very easy to see why Hedgehog in the Fog is so well regarded, coming from a non-Russian(but who is learning the language as part of her vocal-singing studies degree) it is that good to be considered one of the best shorts ever made. The animation and visuals are gorgeous, care clearly went into the detail, some of it is simple- though there are many clever camera angles- but never to the extent that it's too basic. The soundtrack is also hauntingly beautiful with a great use of sound effects, a previous commentator likening it to a symphony of sounds couldn't be more right. The story- with lovely and relateable themes, friendship for one- is charming, lyrical and very touching with an atmosphere of sheer beauty and emotion, the whole short is beautifully and poetically written and the characters are very well-integrated and make a strong impression. Everything maintains interest and well sustained over the 11-minute running time, while short never is it simplistic or thin. These characters are nimbly and nobly voiced too, the sweet little hedgehog lead character is particularly true to that. The ending is contemplative and thought-provoking, if perhaps ever so slightly abrupt. Overall, simple, lyrical, poignant, sweet, atmosphere and gorgeous, an animated masterpiece and one of the best shorts ever made. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Every piece of this cartoon is interesting. There are people that help us in this sometimes fearful world. Like dog helped and ran away, like fish said "its my pleasure" and float away. World in the fog can be mysterious. Some things out of this world. Like that beautiful horse. Hedgehog, essentially, is ourselves, but without our shell that we obtain throughout our lives. This cartoon has much to do with our souls than to simply entertain. Our life became big Entertainment. If cartoon does not entertain than (Simpsons, Futurama and so on), people don't watch it. But there are only few examples when cartoon deeply touches our souls. And "Hedgehog in the Fog" is definitely one of few of them.

You might think that Yuri Norstein's "Yozhik v tumane" ("Hedgehog in the Fog" in English) is based on an old story, but it's an original screenplay. This clever little short features a hedgehog on his way to visit a friend, only to get caught in the fog and get a sinister feel for the animals in his vicinity. I guess that the cartoon is about facing one's fears. On its own it's a perceptive piece of animation. Shorts like this remind us that cartoons don't need big budgets or fancy production to be good. The plot is what matters, and the Soviet Union turned out some good cartoons in that respect. Indeed, "Hedgehog in the Fog" is more interesting than the average animated feature that stars the celebrities of the moment. I recommend it.

In 2006, Norstein published a book based on the cartoon. It listed him and screenwriter Sergei Kozlov as the authors.

All you need to know is some European philosophy and you'll get. Those negative reviews are sad, you guys are lost in the fog:) Just try to find your way out. The hedgehog did.