Hedgehog in the Fog

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.

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 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...

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...

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.