The Complete Amateur's Guide to Moomin
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- Опубликовано: 30 июн 2024
- By popular demand, I have compiled every video in my 'Amateur's Guide to Moomin' into one convenient video, With additional footnotes, corrections, and a newly added section discussing the changes that have occurred with the Moomin series since the publishing of the original videos. Join me as I explore the series' history and its author, Tove Jansson, to discover what we can learn from this peaceful family of trolls.
Special Thanks to Kiki from @Transparencyboo for the Swedish translation and fact checking.
Watch @DrawpinionDump 's videos on Moomin here!
• Moomin videos
Chapters
0:00 Introduction
2:55 Chapter 1 - Tove Jansson
6:31 Chapter 2 - Entering Moominvalley
10:14 Chapter 3 - Facing the Apocolypse
18:03 Chapter 4 - Hobgoblins, Hats, and Hidden Love
24:15 Chapter 5: Memoirs and Memorabilia
32:33 Chapter 6: Midsummer Madness, Midwinter Melancholy
38:47 Chapter 7: Departing Moominvalley
50:00 Chapter 8: Adaptations and Appreciation
1:06:15 Chapter 9 - Revisiting the Third Moomin Renaissance
1:21:42 Into the Land of Dreams
Twitter: / kathmanhenry
Tumblr: / henrykathman
Podcast: pinkaisle.podbean.com/
Patreon: / henrykathman
Bibliography:
Augsburger Puppenkiste. Die Muminfamilie, ARD, 1959.
Boel Westin. Tove Jansson : Life, Art, Words : The Authorised Biography. London, Sort Of, 2014.
Bosworth, Mark. “Tove Jansson: Love, War and the Moomins.” BBC News, BBC, 13 Mar. 2014, bbc.com/news/magazine-26529309.
Box, Steve, et al. Moominvalley. Yle TV2 / Sky One, 25 Feb. 2019. 13 x 22 minutes.
Dębiński, Lucjan, and Maria Kossakowska. The Moomins, Episode 1-100, Se-Ma-For, 1977.
Gutsy Animation. “Moominvalley Crowdfunding Campaign.” Indiegogo, 8 Mar. 2017, www.indiegogo.com/projects/moomin#/. Accessed 30 May 2023.
Jansson, Tove, and Elizabeth Portch. Comet in Moominland. Puffin Books, 2019.
Jansson, Tove, and Kingsley Hart. Moominpappa at Sea. Puffin Books, 2019.
Jansson, Tove, and Kingsley Hart. Moominvalley in November. Sort Of Books, 2018.
Jansson, Tove, and Thomas Warburton. Moominsummer Madness. Puffin Books, 2019.
Jansson, Tove. Finn Family Moomintroll. Translated by Elizabeth Portch, Puffin Books, 2019.
Jansson, Tove. Moomin: The Complete Tove Jansson Comic Strip. Drawn & Quarterly, 2010.
Jansson, Tove. Moominland Midwinter. Paw Prints, 2008.
Jansson, Tove. Tales from Moominvalley. Penguin Books Ltd, 2019.
Jansson, Tove. The Exploits of Moominpappa. Penguin Books Ltd, 2019.
Jansson, Tove. The Moomins and the Great Flood. Drawn & Quarterly, 2018.
Karjalainen, Tuula, and David McDuff. Tove Jansson: Work and Love. Penguin Books, 2016.
Lamppu, Eva. “Big in Japan, but Could America Love Moomin?” Reuters, Thomson Reuters, 6 Oct. 2009, reuters.com/article/us-moomins/big-in-japan-but-could-america-love-moomin-idUSTRE59501Z20091006.
Miyazaki, Akira, et al. “Tanoshii Mūmin Ikka.” Tanoshii Mūmin Ikka, season 1, episode 1-78, TV Tokyo, 1990.
“Moomin Characters as Tove's Self-Portraits.” Moomin, 15 May 2019, moomin.com/en/blog/moomin-characters-as-toves-self-portraits.
“Moomin Products in the 1950s.” Moomin, 15 May 2019, moomin.com/en/blog/moomins-in-the-1950s.
Moomintrivia. “Psychology of The Invisible Child.” Moomin Trivia, 10 June 2019, moomintrivia.tumblr.com/post/185491696931/psychology-of-the-invisible-child.
Moyle, Franny. Moominland Tales: The Life of Tove Jansson. RUclips, BBC 4, 2012, • The Life of Tove Jansson .
“The Story of How Moomintroll Was Born.” Moomin, 12 Jan. 2020, moomin.com/en/blog/the-story-of-how-moomintroll-was-born.
“Who Inspired Tove When Creating Moominmamma?” Moomin, 15 May 2019, moomin.com/en/blog/who-inspired-tove-when-creating-moominmamma.
“Who Inspired Tove When Creating Moominpappa?” Moomin, 15 May 2019, moomin.com/en/blog/who-inspired-tove-when-creating-moominpappa.
Yamazaki, Tadaaki. Moomin, Fuji TV, 1969.
YLE News. “Finland’s Most Expensive TV Show: New Moominvalley Series.” Yleisradio Oy, the Finnish Broadcasting Company, 25 Jan. 2019, yle.fi/a/3-10614150. Accessed 30 May 2023. 
Развлечения
*If this is an amateur's guide, i can't even imagine what an expert's guide to Moominvalley would be, because this is a 10/10 guide*
I generally feel like 'expert' is a label to be given by others, not to oneself. Personally, I like the term 'Moomin Scholar' more cause there is always more things to learn.
What a terrifyingly interesting idea.
@@HenryKathmanMoominscholar! That's a fun word
"Expert" is not the opposite of "amateur"; "professional" is. Thus, this title makes no sense, as "professional" in this context doesn't make sense.
Expert guide is only given in drunken Finish.
thank god she didnt sell her work to disney
Disney could not handle Snufkin alone
I was doing dishes and noticed we had a Moomin measuring cup.
I remember asking when we got it and why.
My mom said "I don't know. We needed a measuring cup, I found one at the store and it had a cute little creature on it and couldn't pass it up."
Snufkin and the invisible girl are the most interesting characters I've ever seen in a children's book.
I'm glad to see them continue to resonate with people after all of these years.
100% agree! Snufkin was my first crush haha. I always related a lot to little My, turns out I have adhd and I was a misunderstood, angry little energetic child.
"the books received criticisms about the usage of sarcastic languages"
20 years ago my dad reading me the moomin books for my bedtime stories: "OHHHH That's a great comeback you can try this one on the other kids!"
There was a comic magazine with Moomin and his friends in the early 90s until 2006. I was one of the main writers and Tove's brother Lars was one of the editors until his death. It was a fun and creative period of my life.
Thank you for your contribution to Moomin 🫶
Woah!!! So cool that you worked on that. Thanks for your work! ❤
She did illustrations for the Hobbit as well, and they are pretty good.
I love that cover!
Alice in wonderland also. They are cute!
Tolkien actually saw her illustration of a tall, terrifying Gollum and that’s apparently what made him go back and add that Gollum was short.
as a Finn who grew up with the Moomins and continues to love the series to this day, I commend you for creating such a thorough and detailed video about them!
As a Norwegian cousin growing up in the 70s, amen my friend.
When I was a kid in the 80’s I had the flu and I was pretty delirious, it was snowing outside and my mum had given me a heap of medicine. The strong syrupy stuff. I fell to sleep on the sofa and woke up to the moomin’s playing on the tv. I’ll never forget my 1st moomin experience
And my first moomin experience was with a frame from the first anime with moomintrol holding a knife
My first moomin interaction was I discover moomin book
Im from Iceland and so i grew up with the Moomins as they are really popular here and im glad that american audiences among others are starting to enjoy the moomins. Im most familiar with the 1990 anime which was dubbed in Icelandic and shown on morning television these other adaptations seem really neat. I've not watched the new series but perhaps i should. My mom collects the moomin mugs and i myself have a number of moomin things. Moomins has such a serenity to it. its such a raw reflection of life. This guide was really great and really well researched and definitely showed how the evolution of the moomin stories were a reflection of not only the life of Tove but also the people around her and in some ways the world. Excellent work.
Yup, me too. I always watched the anime as a child in the early 90's here in germany. Loved it so much. And it did age very well, because I re-watched the series a few years ago, and it was just as fantastic as back in the good old days.
As a Finn who grew up with the "oldies" in the 90s, I can't watch the new series. It doesn't have the heart with it, for me, and many of the episodes seem too much hassle like an american children's show. Calm pace of the 90s series is much better.
For some reason, The Moomins are extremely popular in Poland (and have been since I can remember)
I live in Canada where the situation is nearly identical to the USA. When it comes to this kind of things like books, anime, movies, and TV shows, we have a strange cultural isolationism that seems odd for first world countries
As a Canadian, I'm now experiencing Moomin for the first time through this video. This series is really not popular at all in Canada and no one I know has seen it. It looks really cute though!
i don't know what it is, but something about this guide was so emotional. there's just something about moomin, something that makes me oddly...sad. but not in a negative way, but more of a bittersweet way. 'bittersweet' maybe isn't the first thing one would think of watching me bawl my eyes out after watching this, but 'bittersweet' describes the feeling perfectly.
In my experience it really brings on a bittersweet nostalgia, for me it makes me wish for the security of childhood because the show embodies it. Its a gorgeous show and its very comforting.
@@AshIzDeadThat’s part of what I feel. Another part of the Moomins (this is something I like) is how sad they are, and I guess that’s why they make me sad, but in a good way
aye got the same feeling whenever the moomins come up. Still cant figure out why it makes me feel like that. Felt like that since i was a kid, watching the show. Even as a kid I always felt somewhat uneasy when watching the moomins. Always the feeling, of something lost forever, yet getting a final glimpse of it, before it is gone, as if too say farewell,
There is definitely a bittersweet vibe to the moomins and I'm never quite sure why
Maybe “melancholy” describes it? I think a lot of children’s books/tv etc that have that feel.
What makes the "moominvalley in November's" name a bit more sad is that November in Finnish is "Marraskuu", literally meaning the Month of Death
It was poetic to end the series in that time
I just got a Moomin plush as a gift and I still have no idea what it is. Looking forward to this
Hobgoblin character in Finnish is simply "Taikuri", "The Magician". I remember how I was slightly fearful of him as a kid. I was born in 1990 so I saw the series when it came out, got the Moomin and the Comet movie as VHS for my 3rd or 4th christmas present. Recorded almost all the episodes from tv to vhs, too, and watched those tapes till they broke.
I mean he was accompanied by very scary music, sounds and even a jumpscare. By the second appearance children had also been utterly broken by Groke in last couple of episodes.
this really is the complete guide ❤️ the ending was so beautiful as well that I'm tearing up
Glad you enjoyed it!
The Invisible Child stuck with me throughout my childhood, I never knew quite why until I rewatched the Moomins recently and was brought to tears by the episode, I related on such a personal level to Ninny and that one singular story has reignited my love for these stories so much that within a month I bought a load of Moomin merch and watched a bunch of the episodes online and I was even to find some old Moomin toys, I’ll always be thankful for Moomins for being such a big part of my childhood
Man i cried. As a finn i grew up on Moomins. My first movie was Moomins and the comet, i red the books, i watched the show, my home was/is full of Moomin mugs, toys, sheets and plates. I learned to love nature, to love art and to be kind to myself and others from the Moomins. Its a part of my soul now and my dream as an artist is to someday make something that would impact someone as much as Moomins impacted me.
I've been wanting to get into Moomin for a long time now. I think this video is going to finally make me go for it.
I'm glad! Let me know which parts of the series you get started with!
The fact that you added Good Omens to a Moomin video is very satisfying for me. Two of my favorite shows that have nothing to do with eo in one video. Love it ❤❤❤
Same i was smiling so hard :D
This is such a beautifully constructed video! I've been trying to reconnect with my Finnish side and found out about Moomin, and I've been obsessed. Can't wait to see the next video
Glad you enjoyed it!
I came across "Finn Family Moomintroll" in a used bookstore when I was 8 or so, and fell in love with it, but never found any of the other books. It was only as an adult that I learned this was a sprawling and beloved series.
edit: just like the very first time i watched these videos i wanna cry bc it got me all emotional
watching this as a prep for my trip to finland in a bit!! i have watched the videos separately already but i will not get tired of the moomins
Oh that's neat!
Happy to have had you here! How was your trip?
Snufkin with a rifle: "Sometimes reasonable Moomin must do unreasonable things."
Amen brother
I remember when Moomins removed their ”noses”! Probably one of the most epic and horrifying moments on Swedish television
The 90's cartoon is always going to be the "definitive" moomin-story for me, because its the one I grew up on...
Its a bit scary that we are apparently in a "Moomin renessanse" though, someone is going to steal my fanfiction-idea at this rate
Did you write it?
@@MrsFurbalicious partly
This is a genuine treasure.
Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I am from Finland and for us I feel like the Moomins are a part of our culture already. Everyone knows them, has watched the tv-series and perhaps read a book or two, and most importantly everyone owns a Moomin mug! Thank you for this very well-made video!
Despite living overseas as a kid and liking non-American media, I somehow managed to miss out on the Moomins until maybe my late teens or early adulthood. I saw people use them as avatars and was like, "What is that marshmallow hippopotamus thing?" I proceeded to find out while learning what a cool person TJ was. This is a great introduction/recap of the Moomins! I'm glad it randomly came up in my recommendations. Now I really wish I had grown up with them.
Me and my boyfriend were watching the 3 parts when you uploaded this video compiled and we're laughing a lot here because it was right when we started haha but we loved it! Your organization and edition is superB!
I'm Brazilian and I met Moomins for the first time when I was a little child wih a random toy which is ... a mystery for me, because I searched and it appears Moomins weren't popular here in Brazil, the animation series wasn't aired here and I think only one of the books were translated when I was a kid... But now, with the boom in popularity, I'm finally reading the books and comics (also want to watch later!) and I'm loving the series. Not sure quite why, it's just a very comforting read.
But I think something caught my attention in your video essay: The way Tove wrote about mental illness. I won't go further in details because it's very personal, but the Invisible Child is a way of talking abuse that is so... I don't have words, it's just great. I'm going through therapy and learning to be more assertive, be angry, show and find more of myself because I kind of lost "myself" in the way of the abuse I suffered. I bet when I reach this story in the books I'll probably cry a lot. Honestly, I wish I had these stories available for me when I was a kid, but I'm glad now Moomins are gaining more and more translations, so more children (and even adults) can access stories like these, because they help much more than others may think.
Thank you for sharing. Though to your point of mental illness: while I find the pursuit of 'comforting' and 'cozy' media an understandable and vital pursuit, I also think it is crucial that people have the means to explore specific uncomfortable topics within the relatively safe confines of fiction, which I think is something that the Moomin stories do well for young children. That said, I once again would want to recommend any adult Moomin fans to check out Jansson's other novels like "The Summer Novel" or "The True Deceiver" as they are able to similarly explore those topics from an adult lens.
@pietrabraz4756 - I am sorry for the pain you had to endure, physical, verbal, emotional. I hope your therapy and the Moomins are helping you. Virtual hugs and chocolate.
i discovered the moomins through eco-terrorism, that's the greatest testament to the the universality of jansson's work
What?
@@MossyMozart there was a guy hu chained himself 2 a tree 2 save the big AL, but his dumb ass gat squiched and befre he died he yelled "READ M@@mIN"
I watched Moomin the first time when I was 4 or 5 years old. Now, 30+ years later, I still return to the series, whenever I'm ill.
With the music you played, I could tell about scenes takingplais alongside the music.
I never noticed or thought about the storry of the invisible chield, but now I get it.
After seing a loved one disapear or lose herself in a mentaly abusive relationship,
and seing the struggle for my loved one to finde herself on the other side of that relationship...
I now see Nini in a new light.
Thankyou
I grew up in England with the 90s Moomins on TV. Enjoyed the fantasy elements and the art style. But being a child, I didn’t know that it was broadcast in other parts of Europe.
Then while working in a restaurant in London, on break or sth, I randomly started singing the English version of the ending theme and my Norwegian co worker was like I GREW UP WITH THAT SHOW! And joined in with the Norwegian lyrics to the same melody 😂😂
That was such a cool moment knowing that our childhoods had something really interesting in common.
“They love the laughter and they love the living, the MooooMiiiinnnsss!!”
incredible video
As I said, stories like this should be motivation to help make more places in the world like Moominvalley. I believe we can get there, but I does mean learning from the history of people like Tove and collectively engaging with the issues we face today.
@@HenryKathman it can be hard sometimes but i appreciate you spreading that message-- thank you for making this
Thank you for this guide. I'm in the making of a presentation for my university design class about Tove and now I' ve seen the point behind her and the Moomins. I didn't know much about them, I just saw the Augsburger Puppenkiste play, (I'm from Germany) when I was a child. It was a bit eerie and strange for me. Then I saw the growing popularity for Snufkin on social media and at last the Moomin comics in comic stores. Now, with the choice of making a presentation about Tove, I had the chance the dive in this world I've seen so much and also so little of. Thanks again, I will recommand this video in my presentation, maybe someone will give you a click ;)
Thank you very much! I don’t know what kind of citation style your university uses, but if you use MLA, here’s a citation to use:
Kathman, Henry, “The Complete Amateur’s Guide to Moomin” RUclips. June 26, 2023. ruclips.net/video/FRCzmBd5psI/видео.htmlsi=wIIdyj8ck85ZOzAI
Always cite your sources, kids!
This "little" documentary is why I love YT. Thanks, Henry.
Wow, this was such an enjoyable watch! I only recently started watching the 90s animated adaptation of the Moomin stories, and the way you put everything into context makes me appreciate the characters and themes so much more. I also liked the added perspective of why Moomin resonates with younger audiences today. Thank you for making this!
Also pls don't judge my username I made it in like middle school 🥲
Moomin is the Adventure Time of the 20th century
I'm also sensing some parallels to another series of children's books: one whose first was published in 1945, second in '46 and third in '48. They also started out as Modern Fairy Tales, but got more complex as time wore on. They slowly gained an international following and a niche, understated fan base, despite being a very British product, just like how the Moomins are very Scandanavian.
Final hint: it's about trains. 😉
I will forever remember how I got introduced to this series. I was very young and my family recommended me the Moomins (Polish dub of the anime if anyone's curious), so I decided to watch it... until Episode 6 ended and Episode 7 began, as that's when The Groke appeared.
Im from Tasmania and born in 1971. Every library, big or small had all the books including "The Summer Book". From Finland to a library "must have" in Tasmania; every school and every public library, in the exact opposite southern geographic spot on the globe, in the 70s. This says something. These books were the first paperback length books i read as a grade 3 student. As an adult i read every book over and over, and what i realised was that Tove increases the maturity of the books as the reader developes in their own age and maturity in proportion to the publishing dates. This is first seen in 'Midwinter', and compare 'Exploits of papa' to 'lighthouse papa'. The same applies to the illustrations. In grade 3 i thought "good, its got pictures". As an adult every illustration has a deep emotion feel, from light hearted resting on hobgoblin ridable clouds, to the dark house at the start of "Midwinter". One masterpiece is Fillyjonk's house among the dark pines in "Autumn". Autumn had a big effect on me as an adult. The contented privacy of the lone Toft, and you the euthanasia allmost decision by Granpa Grumble to 'go to sleep'. I hope Tove's legacy is properly managed and copywrite licensed, in light of some very shallow cutsie pie exploitation i have seen regarding a brand of Asian cosmetics
I have Finnish heritage that I was unfortunately isolated from once my grandparents died. I never got to meet my Finnish grandmother and only fragments of the culture were mixed in with my other immigrant cultural upbringing. I was searching for Finnish culture and came across Moomin. As a queer mixed WOC, this series was a great awakening. It was like finding my lost family. I saw how my own family mirrored Tove's and how much I related to her as an artist myself.
Your video essay has been unmatched to others and there is so much love put into it, thank you so much.
This brought me so much joy! I watched the Moomins as a kid growing up in Mexico. I love seeing more people become acquainted with the characters and stories I still love so much 🥰
I had no idea kids all the way in Mexico were watching moomins growing up, that’s so cool! I’m finnish and the series was a huge part of my childhood as you can probably imagine. For some reason I always thought that only people in Finland knew of it’s existence lol
@@Ros4.87 And everyone thought they were hippos all the time hahaha
They were broadcasted by a public television channel (canal 11), spanish dubbed and in a children bar.
I used to watch it after school and I loved their sweet colors and mostly peaceful pacing.
We also had the Moomin in the Rivera on cinemas for about a month and the new CGI series in the new children only channel of Canal 11, both spanish dubbed!
Not a big fandom but they are beloved here.
@@CherryNahYes!
The fact that it was available on a public channel meant that anyone with access to a TV at that time had a chance to fall in love with the darling world of Moomins.
I have a friend that moved to Finland from Mexico and it filled me with such joy to see her collect different Moomin items that we didn't have access to where we are.
Despite not being as globaly popular, it is one of the spritually-nostalgic franshise to ever exist. Even now I still remember the beauty of moomin ever since my early 2nd years of age. We have Tove Jansson to thank for the gift she has offered.❤❤❤
Cheers from Sweden.🇸🇪
This was absolutely amazing! So well-researched and so beautifully presented. Thank you!!
@1:17:15 there were some small scale moomin games in 90s in Finland, like the Magicians Hat and others. Windows 95 type games. I have always wanted to make a Moomin platformer with the Tove draw style. Snuffkin game looks interesting!
EDIT: Ending brought tears to my eyes, good tears.
Muumit ja taikatalvi was such a good game
What an amazing video, thank you! I can understand and appreciate the world of the Moomins and Tove Jansson a lot better now. ❤
What a beautiful video. It popped up in my recommended and I’m glad it did. The moomins have been my childhood series and I’ve continued loving the stories since I saw them for the first time - every time they seem just as magical as when I first experienced them :)
It's really nice to see this resurgence in interest in Jansson and her work. I do have to note that the surname Jansson is not pronounced like this. The letter o in the name is pronounced like o in oligarch. In the video, you pronounce the name like that of a Danish variant Janssen. Also for advanced fans: the o in Tove is not pronounced the same way, but somewhat like the word "to" or "Moomin" (more like the vowel u) but with stress and therefore elongated slightly.
As someone who speaks Danish, I agree, though he can’t pronounce the “E” correctly because it’s pronounced as an “Ø”
Which is a foreign almost incomprehensible letter to most English speakers
"Jansoon"?
Like tovelo
This video itself is a master piece! Thanks a lot for putting it together
i haven't finished this video yet, but im already blown away by your production quality! the editing and research and writing is amazing, excellent excellent work
Wow, this was a great update for the three episodes which I've rewatched multiple times. As a Finn growing up with the 90s Moomin series was the best time of my life and I still love Moomin with all my heart and am glad that my daughter also gets to enjoy them.
Also: goodness gracious, I didn't know you could sing so beautifully. Gave me goosebumps when you started singing during outro 😁❤️👍
Genuinely an amazing video. Thank you so much for making it. I'm a more recent Moomin fan. Just ordered the collection of comics. I simply can't wait!
This was extremely heartfelt and wholesome, thank you for making this!
This guide has calm me and make me see how much moomin is a safe place for me because this is the sencod time hearing the whole thing after a anxiety meltown, also I love your soothing voice.
Thankyou so much! I love the characters & the books, but didn't know there were nearly so many adaptations. She is a really inspiring person.
59:10 this is definitely the most memorable version of the Moomins for us Finns too
Just as the ones you uploaded before, I found my new calming go-to video. Thank you very much!
To be honest, I had some hesitancy reuploading these in a single collection like this, but I am glad that people are able to enjoy my work like this more easily.
This is such a great documentary! Fantastic work; thank you for your scholarly efforts. So interesting. I might be watching this “again”-nostalgia is a real thing.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful video. I grew up watching The Moomins on TV, and I hold them dearly 💜 There's nothing quite like their stories, and your video describes the feeling perfectly. Greeting from Chile!
Amazing work. Thank you for this gem of a video
Thank you for this beautiful Video. The fact that I had tears in my eyes in the final minutes of the video, shows how deebly the series affected me.
As a child I just looked at the pictures in my mothers book of "Moominsummer Madness". Years later I rediscovered the Moomins for me, by finding that 1990s show on RUclips. I immediately admired Snufkin and found in him my spiritual twin.
Luckily there was an Tove Jansson exhibition at a museum in my hometown with a lot original drawings of her.
Thanks again, for the tons work you put into this Video.
51:50 The king was lazy enough to be corrupted into Moomin's way of life.
Honestly one of the best ways that a story like that could have ended. Highly recommend giving it a watch if you haven't
Thank you for making this. I'm s Finn who grew up on the 90's anime and I was able to learn so much from this.
As the 90's series being my mother's milk, I cringed so hard when seeing some of the new anime shows a couple of years ago. I couldn't watch it for long.
The one character I was missing when watching this was Stinky. He is one of my favourites along with little My, who kept bringing discord to the Moomin valley. The episode of stinky and the invisible girl is one of the most memorable to me, where Moomin, while previously having entertained or endured Stinky's troubles, becomes so upset at him for bullying Ninni. As a someone who was ostracized and bullied at school, this hit me so hard at the time.
I'm not the first one to do this, but at the naming celebration of my child, I read the bit about Snufkin giving a name Teety-Woo to this small adulating creature. It's also a great commentary of Snufkin's compassion and simultaneous disdain for adulation, saying it so nicely that one should not worship someone whom they do not really know.
A couple of hints on pronunciation:
Tove is said somewhat like this: Tuu-veh.
Number 2 in swedish is said: twoh ("två" has a swedish oh).
I am so glad for your compassionate take on curating this, what seems to be a "neutral" look at the evolution of Moomin. Like you pointed out, many of the tv adaptations, notably the first and last anime ones, wanted to cater it to some specific purpose, without staying true to the original books and comics. While I understand this, and I am happy that people can find them through this medium, I hope that it helps them discover the books and original art, which has the most profound effects on the emotional themes that Tove so bravely brought forward. I think these books are so great because both adults can get so much from them, while they are reading them as bedside stories to their young children.
My introduction to the Mommins was at about age 10 in the public library's child section, Hudson River Valley, NY. I found "Moominland Midwinter" and sat right on the floor in the stacks until I finished the book. I love them through today. I will eventually paint their portraits on my walker when it comes to that. (I always related especially to Little My.)
Great video summing up all of this moomin lore, and including analysis and jokes throughout. Even as a moomin fan for a few years now I learned a lot 😊❤️❤️
this was a delightful watch, thank you
12:02 My favorite character from the Movie Moomin and the comet
referring to the Philosopher that lives under the bridge
(keeps saying "not that it really matter anyways" and "nothing really matters")
MoominMom asks does he want to come in for some tea and cookies?
And he answers " cookies? at the time like this? Maybe just one."
This was such a helpful video! I’ve known about the moomins for a while, but I didn’t really know what they were or where they came from, so thank you for this!
You ve done a very good and professional job. A wonderful intake into the Moomin stories but also phenomenon, with a background into its creator all through the video. Not to forget the other details making this video even more special ( editing and images/video sources used , choice of music ,english subtitles etc...) Complemented by a great narration. Which is much appreciated now that we re in an era of AI generated stories /narrations.
I'm excited to discover your* other video essays.
Bonne continuation 💜💐
I saw this video and clicked on it bc i was curious after seeing a few gifs around the internet. I’ve definitely been sold on the franchise now. I ended this video with tears in my eyes.
I think, even if Moomin ends up getting watered down even more in the future for a wider audience, its okay. Because we live in a culture where it’s necessary for media success now and it will be a good gateway for newbies like me to discover the original sources.
Also it can be a good tactic to start out really basic and slowly ease into something more originally moomin feeling I think. Lots of very successful cartoons in america started out very basic and then slowly eased into darker themes and thats a huge reason they were able to succeed.
Amazing video! For a while I actually lived in a building in Helsinki that had paintings in the corridor walls made by Tove Jansson in the 50s :-)
Rad!
Thanks for making this video!
After learning the context and background of the Moomins, a series I grew up with during the late 90's and early 2000's, I'm still grateful of how much of Tove is spilled and absorbed with each iteration of her work and how relatable it can be regardless of how little of her own identity it can be really shown.
I haven't watched the film, but I intend to after doing my own research about her story to better understand it.
That said, I really think this documentary superbly encompasses most of it, and I really appreciate stumbling upon it.
Thank you for such great work 🎉
I went nearly an hour watching and being in awe at how beautifully this story was told. This video captures so much and does it in a classy way. Thank you
Glad you enjoyed it!
This deserves wayyyyy more views!
I’m an American with Finnish heritage and was not familiar with the Moomins until my first visit to Helsinki in my thirties. I was baffled by all of these strange characters on mugs and gift items in the airport shops. It was like they had taken over, almost the way the Simpsons did in America for many years). I still haven’t explored much of the Moomin world (or this video) but I am looking forward to it. I have read a few of Tove Jannson’s novels.
As someone who grew up with moomins and whose family watch the winter episodes at Christmas, I love this. It used to air on Norwegian children's television channels wayyy back in the day. I can't believe there's so much I didn't know! Fantastic. You did an amazing job with this! 😍
I’ve never heard of the Moomins. Now I’ll be diving in!
Gorgeously well done!
I actually saw the 90s Moomin adaptation when I was very young. Totally forgot about it since it really didn't make much impact in the States at the time, but then I made friends with some Swedes. Every so often now I just dive back into the Moomins, watching old adaptations and reading the books.
I learned about Moomin when I was living in Japan. They really are so popular out there, despite never hearing about them when I was growing up in the U.S. Everyone in Japan seems to love Moomin.
i think all the gods that moomin never became a disney product...
Truly enjoyed this. Thank you.
The only thing I would have like to see was some deeper history on Lars Jansson’s impact on Moomin as he wrote so many of the comics and had direct involvement with the anime series.
Ett, tva, ett tva trhe fyy 😂
Loved the video! Cried a couple of times. As a Swede Mumindalen was a big part of my childhood. This reminded me why I loved it so much, and still do. One of the best media for children I've ever known.
Also, forgive me for laughing at your Swedish! Loved it everytime you tried! But as I heard an turist sat once, "If you want to make a Swede laugh, speak swedish with them"
Thanks for the laughs and cries❤❤❤
Tack för skratten och tårarna❤❤❤❤
The 90s show has given me great memories and horrible nightmares. Idk much about any other show or movie but I love that show specifically
Dude, that quote about the invisible child made me friggin cry. How beautiful ❤
Wow! I thoroughly enjoyed this.
I’ve never seen or read a Moomin story, but I did draw fan art of Snufkin years ago for a friend. I think it’s my turn to explore this wonderful valley. Thank you for making such an informative and compassionate video on it. I know I’ll need to take special care of myself during a certain storyline because of you. I greatly appreciate that.
Also, this made me tear up. The end was such a great touch btw- it definitely helped lift some of the heaviness of it all, just enough so that my depression goblin is content to stay asleep. I hope that one day I can inspire the world like Tove. Thank you for introducing me to such a remarkable person!
We're moomin now
Excellent video, thank you very much
This really helped me understand what Moomins are all about. Thanks for the detailed research.
My pleasure!
Thank you for introducing me to the wonderful world of Tove Jansson, i feel like i can learn a lot from not only the moomin's but from her life in general. Today i went to the library to pick up "the invisible guest in moominvalley" and "The Moomins and the Great Flood" and i will start my journey there.
As someone who grew up with these stories and characters, it makes me really happy to see new people find them, no matter in what form. I think they're some of the best in the world, and the older I get the more I realise how they helped me process complex emotions even at a young age, and every time I revisit them I feel like I understand myself and other people just that bit better. I hope all new fans can find the same fulfillment from them.
cried, thank you for sharing your research and views on such a talented and mostly unknown author to most parts of the world... I am from Brazil and I learned about Moomin Valey through a friend in 2018~2019, they were of Japanese descendant( which now may make a little more sense and how they knew of Moomin I suppose) and I miss them very much( they didn't die, we just do not have contact anymore sadly, as I met then while I was traveling to São Paulo and went to the neighborhood of Liberdade :) cool place for someone who lived in the countryside of another nearby state and doesn't have that much contact with such a rich and melted pot cultural capital) but what has remained from that relationship was the shallow knowledge that such story exists, didn't even know who wrote it, let alone being a north European woman who had such an interesting and deep story. I loved meeting a little more of Tove, learning about her lovers and sorrows, her dual relationship with respect and different opinions with her father( it really makes me appreciate and try to understand better my own parents...) and how much her mother and her girlfriend helped shape her self-confidence. Her views on politics were also somewhat refreshing to know about, because again, I knew mostly nothing about Tove except a few days ago in a RUclips pst about moomin reading she was queer.
Maybe I am not as understandable as I wish to be( as English is not my mother tongue) but what I wish to convey is my admiration, respect and deep foundness for her works. This has also let me know of other works of hers and a new sense of curiosity and desire to read her books ^^! One of the things I most appreciated in her designs, is that moomins started with a childhood drawing made in a fighting instance that grew up to be such a recognizable and lovable creatures. I dearly love as well her approach to a form of harmless scapism, idealism and as a way to mirror and honor the people she cared for in her life together with her own struggles and consciousness embedded in the story line.
The discussion of mental problems and relationships was portrayed in such endearing and whimsical way? She talked about self doubt, abuse, depression and many other situations but in a way that is palatable and that even children could access, with rich tones and a sweetness that kickstarted the project: fairy tales.
No consolidated romance per see, lofs of love and growth in many forms even. The one I was most touched by were her last pieces while she was grieving( the one where the moomin family is on another land and adapting, and the one where guests who we knew deeply of briefly, some even recently introduced learn with each other and the lack of the moomin family...). Tove ways of story telling, even though I have yet to read and consume an original piece of hers, even on the words of others bring a certain peace and comfort, an embrace and genuine safe port where one can just rest or get in a more introspective space of mind.
In the end what I mean to say is that I feel in love more deeply after years of only scratching the surface of this wonderful work and its creator, and to thank you for letting me know.
Wonderful origin story of Moomin; what a pity American children aren't familiar with the wonderful world of Moomins and friends in Moominvalley 💖❤️
Bro every time I hear that someone doesn’t like musicals my brain automatically goes to Starkid’s musical “The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals.” God I love that musical
as a finn gotta respect how you pronounce Jansson correctly
Oh thank god, I was so worried about mispronouncing Tubi Jansport’s name lol
Naaah. As a Dane, I disagree lol. Jarn-sen doesn't sound like Swedish Jansson.
this is a lovely video!
I'm german and i remember as a kid having a copy of finn family moomin and being a bit scared of the illustration of snorkmaiden with the really big lashes. that image stayed in my mind for years lol. it was also the only thing i could clearly remember and I'm honestly not sure if i ever read the whole book back then. when i saw the moomins getting popular online and eventually connecting the familiarity of these lovely hippos to the scary drawing in a children's book i of course took the book back down from the attic and read it whole, as well as watching most of the 1990 anime and the first season of the recent adaptation. I've also cosplayed as snufkin the last time i went to an anime convention (dokomi in 2019, one of germany's bigger anime conventions) and had probably the greatest time I've ever had before and after with cosplaying lol (several ppl being very lovely and asking for pictures and seeing a handful of other moomin cosplayers was my highlight of probably that whole year haha)
I remember seeing one (probably the latest one) anime back in the 90s on french TV. I was too young to understand anything or be interested in it. I lived until today thinking it was purely Japanese work. I came back from a trip there and remember seeing some merch for it in a Ryokan in the mountains. Thank you for all this information.
Tanoshii Mumin Ikka was televised in Mexico during the 90s on Channel 11, never missed an episode, love it to this day