In 2003, at the international animation festival in Tokyo, Hedgehog in the Fog was named the best animated film of all time. Not just of the year — of all time. And it’s not hard to see why.
Do you remember the lasting impression this short film left on you as a child? It once seemed strange — even eerie. But it's much deeper than it first appears.
Why did the world fall in love with our little hedgehog?
The story follows a hedgehog who loses his way in a dense fog. Confused and alone, he starts to fear the ordinary — shadows, trees, sounds. He runs around in a panic, looking for his way home or a familiar face.
Then suddenly, he sees a beautiful white horse. She becomes a symbol of calm and stillness. In the end, the hedgehog realizes the river will carry him back home — he just needs to trust it, wait, and let go.
For children, this animation captures the fear of the unknown they face as they grow up. For adults, it’s a quiet reminder: we rush around, searching for answers — but sometimes, all we need is to stop and float with the current. Director Yuri Norstein shared his own thoughts on the deeper meanings in an interview with the Russian culture portal Kultura.rf.
Who Created the Hedgehog
The film is based on a short story by Sergey Kozlov, who wrote an entire series about two friends — the hedgehog and the bear cub.
Each tale is a gentle, philosophical conversation between friends about life and the world around them. The film adaptation was directed by Yuri Norstein — one of the most respected animators in the world.
The original story was heavily reworked for the screen, with Kozlov collaborating on the script. That creative partnership gave birth to one of animation’s most thoughtful and poetic works.
Norstein received more than ten international awards for Hedgehog in the Fog. But it’s only one highlight in his career — the director has earned nearly a hundred prizes for his work. Still, not all of his projects have made it to the screen.
He’s been working on The Overcoat, an animated film based on Gogol’s short story, since 1981. More than forty years later, the project remains unfinished.
Why Kids Should Watch Hedgehog in the Fog
Some say children’s cartoons should be bright and cheerful. Hedgehog in the Fog is not that kind of cartoon — and that’s exactly the point.
This short film isn’t just entertainment. It helps children make sense of big emotions and shows them that even in the thickest fog, there’s always a way forward.
🌫 Press on and go through the fog.....
