Cartoon based on the Ukrainian fairy tale of the same name by Ivan Franko. A fearsome beast arrived in the forest to impose its order in it and called Ostromysl. His formidable appearance frightened all the forest animals, and even Mikhail Potapych himself. When Ostromysl fell into the river and the paint was washed away by the water, the animals were convinced that it was just an ordinary fox. The rascal was chased out of the forest. The movie ends with Hedgehog's admonition: "Whatever the beast looks like, don't take his word for it!“
