{"id":544,"date":"2010-03-12T10:00:29","date_gmt":"2010-03-12T10:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/?p=544"},"modified":"2014-07-16T19:48:51","modified_gmt":"2014-07-16T19:48:51","slug":"soviet-classics-hedgehog-in-fog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/soviet-classics-hedgehog-in-fog\/","title":{"rendered":"Soviet Classics: Hedgehog in the Fog"},"content":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s a rumor that Russian is much more difficult to learn than English. \u00ab\u0427\u0435\u043f\u0443\u0445\u0430<\/span>, <\/strong>\u0433\u043e\u0441\u043f\u043e\u0434\u0430<\/span><\/strong>!\u00bb [Nonsense, ladies and gentlemen!] For one, you can learn to read Russian in less than a day since it is a very phonetic language. \u00ab<\/strong>\u041a\u0430\u043a <\/strong>\u0441\u043b\u044b<\/span>\u0448\u0438\u0442\u0441\u044f, <\/strong>\u0442\u0430\u043a <\/strong>\u0438 <\/strong>\u043f\u0438<\/span>\u0448\u0435\u0442\u0441\u044f!\u00bb<\/strong> [The way it sounds is the way it spells.]<\/p>\n

\u00a0Admittedly, we do have our own issues, as with unstressed vowels, when \u00ab\u043e\u00bb<\/strong> sounds like \u00ab<\/strong>\u0430\u00bb,<\/strong> \u00ab<\/strong>\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> sounds like \u00ab<\/strong>\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> and such. Still, the only difference between \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u043e\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [cow] and \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u0430\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [misspelled cow] is in a grade you get on your Russian language test.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Really once you have all 33 of Russian letters memorized, you can read anything, from street signs to War and Peace<\/em> (hey, I\u2019m not saying you\u2019ll understand it). By comparison, English is a \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u043e\u0448\u043c\u0430<\/span>\u0440\u00bb<\/strong> [nightmare] of illogical spelling; a system that makes mountains of altered meaning out of molehills of the teeniest-tiniest \u00ab<\/strong>\u043e\u0448\u0438<\/span>\u0431\u043e\u0447\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [small mistake].<\/p>\n

\u00a0So I just hope that I got the title of today\u2019s post right. Yes, I want to talk about something very dear to my heart – \u00ab<\/strong>\u0451<\/span><\/strong>\u0436\u0438\u043a\u00bb<\/strong> [hedgehog] that roams in \u00ab<\/strong>\u0442\u0443\u043c\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u00bb<\/strong> [the fog]. I\u2019m talking about an award-winning cartoon<\/a> which recounts a story of a little hedgehog taking some \u00ab<\/strong>\u043c\u0430\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0435 <\/strong>\u0432\u0430\u0440\u0435\u043d\u044c\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> [raspberry jam] to his friend \u00ab<\/strong>\u043c\u0435\u0434\u0432\u0435\u0436\u043e<\/span>\u043d\u043e\u043a\u00bb<\/strong> [the bear cub] so they could sit by the bear\u2019s house, drink tea from \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u0430\u043c\u043e\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0440\u00bb<\/strong> [samovar] and \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u0447\u0438\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u0437\u0432\u0451<\/span>\u0437\u0434\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> [count stars].<\/p>\n

\u00a0As I said, this cartoon is an award winner, including \u00ab<\/strong>\u043b\u0443<\/span>\u0447\u0448\u0438\u0439 <\/strong>\u043c\u0443\u043b\u044c\u0442\u0438\u043f\u043b\u0438\u043a\u0430\u0446\u0438\u043e<\/span>\u043d\u043d\u044b\u0439 <\/strong>\u0444\u0438<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u043c <\/strong>\u0432\u0441\u0435\u0445 <\/strong>\u0432\u0440\u0435\u043c\u0451<\/span>\u043d\u00bb<\/strong> [the #1 Animated Film of All Times]. Now, that\u2019s pretty big, right? Yet I remember that as a child I absolutely hated watching it.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Back in the days, we had a nightly children\u2019s program on TV, \u00ab<\/strong>\u043d\u0430 <\/strong>\u0432\u0442\u043e\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u043c <\/strong>\u043a\u0430\u043d\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> [on Channel 2], called \u00ab<\/strong>\u0421\u043f\u043e\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0439\u043d\u043e\u0439 <\/strong>\u043d\u043e<\/span>\u0447\u0438, <\/strong>\u043c\u0430\u043b\u044b\u0448\u0438<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [Good night, little ones]. When the 15-minute show was over we were herded off to bed. And yet we looked forward to this show as our only predictable cartoon-watching time. And let me tell you, the nights \u00ab<\/strong>\u0401<\/span><\/strong>\u0436\u0438\u043a <\/strong>\u0432 <\/strong>\u0442\u0443\u043c\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0435<\/strong>\u00bb was\u00a0the featured \u2018toon were pure misery. We, my brother and I, felt \u00ab<\/strong>\u043e\u0431\u043c\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0443\u0442\u044b\u043c\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [cheated] and \u00ab<\/strong>\u0440\u0430\u0437\u043e\u0447\u0430\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u0430\u043d\u043d\u044b\u043c\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [disappointed].<\/p>\n

The reason was simple – this \u00ab<\/strong>\u043c\u0443<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u0442\u0438\u043a\u00bb<\/strong> [cartoon] was exceptionally unappealing to young children. Thinking about it, it was the exact opposite of what kids would be attracted to – bright colors, jokes, easy-to-remember action sequences.<\/p>\n

\u00a0There are many beautiful animated films in Russia. Unfortunately, many older, Soviet-era, ones do not show well on \u00ab<\/strong>\u0447\u0451<\/span>\u0440\u043d\u043e-<\/strong>\u0431\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u044b\u0445 <\/strong>\u0442\u0435\u043b\u0435\u0432\u0438<\/span>\u0437\u043e\u0440\u0430\u0445\u00bb<\/strong> [black-and-white TVs]. It\u2019s always been \u00ab<\/strong>\u0437\u0430\u0433\u0430<\/span>\u0434\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [a mystery] to me since B&W was what most everyone I knew had until late 80\u2019s – early 90\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Ironically, as we grew up, we became more and more enamored with old cartoons in general and \u00ab<\/strong>\u043e\u0441\u043e<\/span>\u0431\u0435\u043d\u043d\u043e\u00bb<\/strong> [especially] with \u00ab<\/strong>\u0401<\/span><\/strong>\u0436\u0438\u043a <\/strong>\u0432 <\/strong>\u0442\u0443\u043c\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0435\u00bb.<\/strong> Now digitally re-mastered and played in full color, it\u2019s a magical and beautifully animated short, practically \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u0442\u0438\u0445 <\/strong>\u0432 <\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0437\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> [a poem in verse].<\/p>\n

Many of the phrases from this simple story became \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u0440\u044b\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044b\u0435 <\/strong>\u0432\u044b\u0440\u0430\u0436\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u044f\u00bb<\/strong> [proverbial expressions], including the title itself which took on a meaning of “being emotionally lost or adrift”. There are printed articles and online forums that discuss \u00ab<\/strong>\u0444\u0438\u043b\u043e\u0441\u043e<\/span>\u0444\u0438\u044e <\/strong>\u0451<\/span><\/strong>\u0436\u0438\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [the hedgehog\u2019s philosophy]. If you are wondering how it is possible to discuss philosophy behind a 10-minute cartoon, here\u2019s an excerpt from one such attempt<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00ab\u041a\u0430\u043a \u0438 \u0401<\/span>\u0436\u0438\u043a, \u043c\u044b \u043e\u0431\u043c\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u044b\u0432\u0430\u0435\u043c \u0441\u0430\u043c\u0438<\/span>\u0445 \u0441\u0435\u0431\u044f<\/span>, \u0441\u043f\u0438<\/span>\u0441\u044b\u0432\u0430\u044f \u043d\u0430<\/span>\u0448\u0435 \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0448\u0435<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0438\u0435 \u0432 \u0422\u0443\u043c\u0430<\/span>\u043d \u043d\u0430 \u043a\u0430\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0439-\u0442\u043e \u0438\u043d\u0442\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0441\u0443<\/span>\u044e\u0449\u0438\u0439 \u043d\u0430\u0441 \u0444\u0430\u043a\u0442 \u0438<\/span>\u043b\u0438 \u043d\u0430 \u043e\u0431\u044b<\/span>\u0447\u043d\u043e\u0435 \u043b\u044e\u0431\u043e\u043f\u044b<\/span>\u0442\u0441\u0442\u0432\u043e. \u0414\u0430<\/span>\u0436\u0435 \u0441\u0430<\/span>\u043c\u0438 \u0441\u0435\u0431\u0435<\/span> \u043c\u044b \u043d\u0435 \u043c\u043e<\/span>\u0436\u0435\u043c \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0437\u043d\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f \u0432 \u043f\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u0434\u0435. \u041c\u044b \u043b\u0438\u0448\u044c \u0445\u043e\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u043c \u0441\u043a\u0440\u044b<\/span>\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f \u0432 \u0422\u0443\u043c\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0435 \u043e\u0442 \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0431\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u043c, \u043d\u0430\u0445\u043e\u0434\u044f<\/span> \u0440\u0430\u0437\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u0447\u043d\u044b\u0435 \u043e\u0442\u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e<\/span>\u0440\u043a\u0438.\u00bb<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0[Like Hedgehog, we deceive ourselves by attributing our descent into the Fog to some curious fact or common nosiness. We are unable to admit the truth even to ourselves that those are but excuses and we are simply trying to hide in the Fog from our problems.]<\/p>\n

\u00a0Admittedly, this is not the stuff little children do (or should) contemplate \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u0435\u0434 <\/strong>\u0441\u043d\u043e\u043c\u00bb<\/strong> [before bedtime].<\/p>\n

\u00a0If you want to read the ENTIRE Hedgehog story, of which cartoon is but a small part, you can find it (in Russian) – http:\/\/lib.ru\/KOZLOW\/ezhikwtumane.txt<\/a>.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=oW0jvJC2rvM<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0P.S.<\/strong> Two important notes about Russian letter \u0401 \u0451:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \u00ab<\/strong>\u0411\u0443<\/span>\u043a\u0432\u0430 <\/strong>\u0401 – <\/strong>\u0432\u0441\u0435\u0433\u0434\u0430<\/span> <\/strong>\u0443\u0434\u0430<\/span>\u0440\u043d\u0430\u044f\u00bb<\/strong> [Letter \u0401 in a word is always stressed]<\/li>\n
  2. Most of the time, it appears in print without its two \u201cdots\u201d, looking like its alphabet neighbor, letter \u0415 \u0435.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"Russian

    Stop aimlessly browsing the Net. Watch one of the best cartoons of all times and learn some new Russian words.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":547,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[3,178],"tags":[7758,7757,7755,7759,7756],"class_list":["post-544","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture","category-history","tag-best-cartoons","tag-hedgehog-in-fog","tag-russian-cartoons","tag-russian-letters","tag-soviet-cartoons"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/544","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/39"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=544"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/544\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6140,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/544\/revisions\/6140"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/547"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=544"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=544"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=544"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}