Sniff is super relatable and adorable to me. He's riddled with character flaws and so often in the wrong, but in the end he wants to do good. The others show him unconditional love regardless and that's really heartwarming to me.
@@Lil72722 I'm pretty sure it was episode 47, where three strangers come to the valley in search of hot springs to create a resort. Sniffs sees a business opportunity to sell towels to possible tourists. But others don't want their valley to be ruined by tourism. Hence the moomin are somewhat upset to Sniff who feels conflicted between his greed and his friendship with the moomin. Stinky tells Sniff to follow his dreams and ignore everyone else. Sniff tells him his conscience doesn't allow that.
This video made me cry.... as a Swedish person who grew up watching the moomins I didn’t really realize that others just didn’t. This video gave me a new perspective and inspired me to go back and rewatch this childhood favorite!
I think the beauty of Snufkin and Moomin’s relationship is that it really doesn’t need to be defined. Whether romantic or otherwise, the love they have for each other is undeniable and so so beautiful. It’s something that anyone, queer or not, can find great comfort in.
I never found it romantic at all, I find it more like... a big brother... I mean, making it gay would be easy, but canonically, in something like Kingdom Hearts, Riku is like Sora's big brother but they both love Kairi until Riku gave her up, right? XD But his like desire to see him again just like Kairi between I and II and so, like all the times Snufkin migrates like a bird for winter for unknown reasons to like discover himself or something... I don't think it has to be romantic at all, it can be anything, they can even be more like... a teacher whose a father/mother figure... if their an important person to you, their an important person to you, it doesn't have to mean anything like romance, friendship, or even familial love... love doesn't always have to be specific and defined, love is love. :p And what love really means is... caring about a person's wellbeing, as well as the kindness they always seem to share with you, in one way or another. :? Their like just best friends, but Snufkin also always seems to like that older kid who seems to know everything and is above it all, except for times where he probably isn't. :p Snufkin isn't good at dealing with little kids besides his social group in some episodes and so on, right? ^^; Yeah, like that, LOL. XD For me at least, that's the role Snufkin plays, the smarter, older kid, though he's probably not THAT much older than them. :p But yeah, I wonder whose the usual pro at hide and go seek, like Riku is the best at swordfighting and other stuff, ha ha. XD I feel like it's definitely either him or the sneaky Little Mai. :p
Hey there. In the Finnish version the relationship of Snufkin and Moomin is very much platonic. They’re friends and Snufkin is sort of a cool smarter big brother to Moomin, and the way Moomin always wonders if Snufkin will return after winter kind of signifies that in my opinion. On the other hand, the relationship between Moomin and Snorkmaiden is romantic.
I won't lie... I have a bf and I have a best friend.... but I'd legit marry my best friend. It's a different stronger love. We are SNUFMIN and Frog and Toad
I feel you, I always felt like Moomin and Snufkin's relationship was a brotherly relationship. Moomin was like the baby brother looking up to his cool older brother.😊
As a Finn who grew up on Moomins, i love that more people are getting into it and were getting quite a resurfacing with analyses like this. I wish i could find the entirery of the 90's Finnish dub somewhere to have a nostalgia trip
Snuffkin was based on the author's betrothed, who had a habit of leaving for long periods of time, travelling around the world. They were very much in love, but there was also a sense of distance between them, which translates to the longing between Moomin and Snuffkin. So much so that they broke their engagement eventually. Tiuhti and Viuhti, (Thingumy and Bob) were based on her affair with a married woman, who would be greatly involved with bringing moomins on stage for the rest of their life. The King Ruby was their love that had to be hidden. And Tuutikki (Too-ticky) was her life partner until her death. So Tove was very much Bi, and wrote it carefully in her stories. Fun fact: some conservative women tried to ban moomins when her preference to women became known, as "the love between snorkmaiden and moomin was CLEARLY a lesbian affair and not fit for children". They failed to see all the real relationships put on a plate for them. So you are not wrong :) i'm sorry to comment on an old video, but i enjoyed it very much. You have a calming voice and you explain your point very well. Thank you 😊
@@joseanurkkalainen2832 Just wanted to add; Tove wrote the books in swedish, so the original name for Tiuhti and Viuhti is Tofsland and Vifslan (To and Vi). So yeah, it is very obvious they were based on their, back then, forbidden relationship. (And I really don't like the translation to Thingumy and Bob. And yes, I get it, it's a pun on thingamabob. But the subtext is lost. Also, if I remember correctly the english translation gendered bob male, but in the original swedish (which I read many times, so I know) Tofslan and Vifslan are never gendered. They might be two females, two males, one of each or two non-binary or any other combination).
As a finnish person it’s so weird to think that many people from other countries have no idea what moomins is, since it’s so ingrained into our culture, our national treasure I guess :DD Nice to see you bringing awareness of it to more people, everyone should watch it at least once💪
As someone who grew up on the 90s Mumin troll series, when I first saw a studio Ghibli film on the TV (Howl's moving castle) I thought it was Finnish. The only experience I had with Japanese anime at the time were Sailor Moon, Digimon and Pokemon. I had never thought that animation could have been done in another country than the place of its origin.
I know this is supposed to be more about the moomins, and I do love the moomins, but the way you described your love and connection to Kiki's Delivery Service is very familiar to me too. I haven't seen the film yet, but I feel that same love for Ponyo instead. I saw it when I was really young with my mom so whenever I watch it I associate it with her and her high energy just like Ponyo. I'm just rambling but :') I understand that feeling too and it's nice to know other people have connections to the movies like that too.
The Tenchi series is so nostalgic for me, mannn And yeah I remember catching this on tv a few times too haha. All I remember though is that the American version of the op was super repetitive and an ear worm. A stark contrast to the Japanese opening which is extremely calming and soft
Grew up with the moomin books as bedtime stories (Australian). Watched the 90's anime as an older kid - watched the 69/70's two anime as a teenager. Never once did I ever consider Moomintroll and Snufkin as a couple - which seems to be REALLY popular now!! I've always seen (and struggle to NOT see) Moomintroll as a kid and Snufkin as a young adult. Moomintroll is a boy who always hears of his fathers adventures. He has a shallow, rose-tinted view of the world that often gets him into trouble that he just isn't prepared to handle alone... he needs the supervision of his parents or of others, whether he likes it or not, to remind him that things are more complex than how he imagines them. When I was a little kid Moomintroll was my peer. Snufkin is a guy that doesn't need supervision, he acts as the supervisor. He smokes snuff from a pipe and loves coffee. He probably originally came to visit his fathers best friends - his older peers - and hangs out with their kids, in that weird place of "youngest adult in the room who doesn't usually need to care for children". Snufkin is my peer now. To me, as a kid and as an adult, Snufkin can't be anything other than "older cousin" to moomin. Too distant to be a brother, but not just a friend who met by chance either. As the youngest in my family ALL of my cousins were like 7 years older, but we would go on adventures together. Now with new adopted cousins - they gravitate towards me to play with them, not allowing me to sit down and talk with the other adults... but I don't mind much. They ask me of my adventures and I show them my scars, take them down the creek to look for all the bugs they didn't know existed - walk just a little way into the bush and spin scary stories of monsters to keep them on their toes while we look for emus. Their parents would never let them look for emus - that's what makes having a Snufkin rad as a kid B)
As a person from Finland, I definitely grew up watching 90s Moomins. Even to this day, I still love and enjoy it. The happy tone made me happy, the funny lines made me laugh (especially in the original Finnish dub), the sad moments made me cry and scary scenes scared me and even gave me nightmares. As I have grown up, I got over my fear of Groke, Lady of Cold and Antlion but some of the scary scenes scared me so hard, I don't even dare to watch them. 90s Moomin introduced me to the world of anime, like Studio Ghibli movies. I also grew up watching Avatar: The Last Air bender at my late childhood years. This video is so great. The only criticism I have towards this video is the fact, you didn't talk about the outstanding soundtrack by Sumio Shiratori. I love how you start this video by talking about Studio Ghibli movies. I find the fact Sniff and Snorkmaiden are your least favorite characters funny because I ship Sniff x Snorkmaiden. I definitely ship Moomintroll x Snufkin too.
Nostalgia isnt just nostalgia. The person who defined it hadn’t experienced that bittersweet feeling outside of looking back at their young years. Nostalgia is the bittersweet feeling of hope, a deep but sophisticated sadness, and pangs of happiness. Its something you have a subtle yearning for, but at the same time can never experience again, or just cant experience anyway. It can vary in intensity, and isnt usually quite as strong as I described it above, but its still a feeling you can experience outside of what nostalgia is defined as traditionally.
I honestly teared up around 25:00. You shouldn't have to separate larger scale social issues from this show because they're so closely tied. The show quite obviously addresses family, friendship, and other social interactions and ideas. No wonder it's gotten so popular in the last few years, especially with COVID keeping us literally "socially distancing". So glad I found this video and your channel; I'm going to go watch some Moomins and paint now!
I love you. I am on a Moomin nostalgia marathon right now and i am so happy to find more than one moomin related video essay. Only thing none of you guys have mentioned is the dreamy and absolutely fantastic soundtracks of the 90's japanese version. Love from Nepal.
I live in America, and yet when I first saw the moomins on RUclips, I could of sworn I had seen the moomins before. The show gives me a sense of nostalgia, even though there wasn't any way I could of watched it before. I might of seen it in passing, or maybe a commercial - but there was no way I could of seen it as a child. And yet it had such an impact that I remembered it. Or maybe it just reminds me of my childhood.
I remember I was feeling like I couldn't draw anything, I was feeling empty most of the time and everytime I try to draw something I just ended up watching random videos on youtube with my sketchbook in my lap. Then I watched Kiki's Delivery Service and loved it so much! It inspired me to get out of that artist block and draw again. Right now I'm feeling burnt out again, so maybe I'll watch Kiki again, or maybe give Moomin a try! Thank you so much
Thank you so much for your thoughtful words and warmth infused during its entirety! I absolutely loved your sketches and as others have pointed out your open nature and voice are incredibly soothing. Watching this was exactly as how you described what Kiki’s Delivery Service provides for you; a home cooked meal. I actually watched with a cup of matcha tea! 🍵 Also, I absolutely agree that Snufkin and Moomin are in love with one another and knowing about Tove’s life and upbringing completely affirmed it to me whether she consciously intended so or not. Especially considering she created a Moomin Valley resident inspired by her long-term partner/wife!
More than one character in moomins were based on real-life persons. Moomintroll, of course, is Tove's own avatar. Snufkin is based on Tove Jansson's ex-fiancé Atos Wirtanen, Too-Ticky was modelled after Tove's life-partner Tuulikki Pietilä, and Thingumy and Bob (whose swedish names are Tofslan and Vifslan) are based on Tove and her "friend" Vivica Bandler.
As a Finnish kid in the 2000's, Moomins were absolutely my childhood. I love them so dearly and I was very excited to find your video about them. I watched Moomins (or Stories from Moominvalley as they're known in here) at mornings before kindergarten or school, and from VHS tapes we had at home. Our family also had dozens of Moomin mugs which are very popular collectibles and use-items in Finland. Last year when the feeling of uncertainty was the biggest I went back to the animation and watched all the episodes again. The series is just so beautiful, peaceful and nostalgic.
I've grown up with the moomins, being a Dane with Swedish family. And all of my life, I've loved how Snufkin acts. He's always been my favorite character, and now that I'm older, I can see why I related to him so much. And I still do. So, now I think I'll go back and rewatch them again
I remember enjoying Moomins back in the 90's till I had a weird Moomin related nightmare and could not look at a Moomin the same way for many years. I should give the show a go in Japanese at some point.
If you like gay rep, the Japanese subbed version is better to go with since the American version removed most of the implications of relationships, haha But either way the show is fun, the American dub isn't bad or anything though heh. The opening theme to the American version is super annoying though which is a contrast to the Japanese opening which is a beautiful calming masterpeice
@@thatonelucariofan503 Sorta. The Japanese version's subtitles aren't always accurate as some things get lost in translation or have to be added to make sense of the dialogue. Some stuff people interpret as relationship implications between Snufkin and Moomin for example is just nothing more than a very close and honest friendship people aren't used to in the west, specially in the land of the emotionally crippled (US).
This really reminded me of the loneliness that comes with listening to my grandmother's stories from when she was young. Times were tough, but at least eighbours knew each other, and people looked out for them. I always feel envious and incredibly sad when I compare it with my own experiences - add an invisible disability in there and it just gets harder for people to be patient with you and get to know you. It's just that: people aren't patient anymore. And it sucks. Your videos are very soothing and it's lovely to have some retrospect about specific themes. I love it to bits :)
Creator of Hilda took inspiration from the Moomin if you go read the early comics you can see the Moomin style until it slowly evolved to the show style overtime.
i feel like the brightness of ponyo shows how children see the world. i love how colorful the movie is with all the small toys and buckets and the ramen bowls i think all of these remind me of my personal childhood and i absolutely love it
Moomins, the ultimate comfort show! (Mostly) Lovable, soft characters, stunning music and beautiful art. Also, some funny dialogue and weird scenes. I'm happy a lot of people are lately discovering Moomins and loving it but I also feel sort of protective of it since it is a big part of my childhood (and being Finnish). I'm also low-key proud of the fact that the origins of the show are from Finland and that I've been aware of the show for almost my whole life and grew up watching it. Apparently (at least in the books) there were a lot of metaphors and such, some of them being about Tove Jansson's girlfriend and mental health among other interesting things. Some of the characters are also apparently inspired by some people in her life. A lot of Finns were quite disappointed at the style of the new Moomins and there was a great outrage when they released the 90s version with new voices. People loved the nostalgic, original voices. The new Moomins actually follow the story of the books more closely. I have personally only seen like an episode and maybe a half but I hope some people will enjoy it and find the same love for Moomins as people did for the 90s version. On another note, the cups and plates and the like made of the new version are very pretty! Also also, I personally am not a fan of shipping the Moomin characters. I just feel uncomfortable with shipping them. I have always just opted to enjoy their love as it is with no labels. Maybe this has something to do with the fact I grew up with the Moomins (and am part of the aromantic spectrum).
I'm legitimately watching this while thousands of feet in the air, flying to Sweden of all places :3 my second home in Sweden is my safe space where I get a break from my depression
Howl's moving castle was my first ghibli movie, and I remember being thrown off by it's pacing and the moments that focused on scenery or atmosphere. I wasn't used to that kind of storytelling and I was mesmerized by it
I saw my first episode of the moomins when I was 5, in South Afrika, translated into Afrikaans. I remember to this day just stopping and staring at it happily. In a world where the power rangers and xmen spider man and spider woman were really popular there was just something so calm about the moomins. Now that I'm an adult, I found some of the episodes again and I can't explain the peace and joy it brings me to find them again.
im not firmly sure anymore what really makes me happy, as i just seem to be scared or angry all the time now. I know it truthfully isn't, but the whole damn world still feels like its all shutting down around me.
Hey friend, I get that, the world is in very crazy state right now, and frankly times are bad. I hope you can find something, even if it's something small or insignificant that sparks joy. I know everything is really hard right now, but we just have to get through this and there will be so many normal days in the future, where things are going to be okay, and you are going to be happy again. Sorry if that seems preachy or intrusive, I guess what I'm trying to say is, I understand; keep you're chin up little buddy
@@Noralities thanks, wish alot more girls would call me little buddy honestly, that'd be the shit :3. your just a damn fine woman, way too good to waste time replying to me, but i appreciate the hell outta it all the same.
I heard somewhere that the relationship between Snufkin and Moomintroll is a metaphor for longing/yearning. I don't have any evidence of this but it makes me happy to think about them like that
Thank you so much for sharing this video. Things are so scary and stressful lately that I completely delved into the Moomins. Just like you said, this show brings so much warmth and comfort that is needed now more than ever. You have created such a fantastic, well-made video. Thank you so much!! ❤️
I really love to see people getting into Moomin, especially the 90s anime. It was my childhood. heck, this whole thing is an integral part of my cultural heritage by now.
As a Finnish person can I just say that I LOVE the amount of Moomin video essays made now since the comics, books and 90s Anime are practically my childhood!! Thank you for letting me relive my childhood with these! Also, side note, I loved your Princess Tutu video! The anime is near and dear to my heart. :)
From my limited exposure to Snufkin due to RUclips shorts, he seems like what a cynic would be like in a perfect world. Instead of seeing the world's cruelty and trying to open peoples' eyes to it, Snufkin instead finds humorous people are so anxious when they have no idea the blessings they've got. Because he doesn't live in a world as terrible as ours. If he did, he'd be a lot darker.
You, my dear, definitely deserve so many more subscribers. I thoroughly enjoyed the video essay so much in a way I can’t really put into words. I came expecting background noise while I did my chores but got so much more. You described Moominhouse as a safe space and that is exactly what I’ve thought of the series as a whole ever since I started watching it. It’s so beautiful and so safe-feeling I don’t even want to let my friends know about it because I want to feel like it’s my own little thing that I can enjoy without other people telling me I’m way too old for it or that it’s too childish. I feel like in a few years, it’s going to be socially unacceptable for me to like things like the Moomins, if that’s not the case already. My mom always urges me to watch things with real people that aren’t “for kids”, but honestly those things she wants me to detach from as I grow up are the things giving me the will to continue moving forward. I’m sorry if I’m rambling, your essay just made my day so much better and I wanted to let it out on the open.
As a Finn who grew up with the Moomins it's quite interesting to see the show analysed from an adult viewpoint. I'm also thrilled that someone else has made the same Moomin-Ghibli association!
Another Moomin-Ghibli connection: Yasuhiro Nakura-san, who was the Character Designer, Animation Director, Layout supervisor, Unit Director and Storyboard Artist on Moomins used to work at Ghibli as an animator (Castle in the Sky). Because of his many roles in the series (mainly as the Animation Director and Layout supervisor), almost every single cut went through his desk, so he had the biggest impact in the animation quality and the backgrounds. The guy seriously worked hard on the show and deserves all the respect.
A lot of these reasons are why I love "Wind in the Willows" so much, especially the stop-animation show based on the book from Cosgrove Hall from the 1980s. It captures so much of this so well, and it's so obvious how devoted Rat and Mole are to each other! There's even a scene in which Rat is hanging out with this friend Otter at the end of a long summer day. Otter finally announces that he should be getting back home to his family, and Rat says similar, mentioning how Mole is "probably wondering where I am." They're living together in many of these episodes! It's a fairly peaceful world with a good community in which not always much happens (though Toad often provides the notable events with his neverending antics), quiet domesticity and convivial company is enough to make most everyone happy, and no one's really bothered with a job. Living is enough. It's the best thing in the world. I'm glad there's more like it out there.
Moomins makes me nostalgic and I didn't even grow up with it, I hadn't even heard of it before a friend told me about it. I watched it over the course of the pandemic because it was just so sweet and heartwarming, it reminded me of going exploring the woods with my friends as a kid.
I think this feeling is what I felt when I was a teen staying at my aunt's house once. I was at one of my worst points mentally and just felt so welcomed and loved unconditionally, free to be a pathetic mess without judgement, it meant a lot. I felt so loved that it tipped back over into crushing sadness, because I knew I would soon have to return to where I didn't have a single home with a complete family, but rather the two part-time homes of my divorced parents, who relied on me to function, who had expectations of me I would go on to fail.
People are feeling a yearning desire to go back to easier times because of the crushing pressure of modern capitalist society? Why do you think Stardew valley was a smashing success?
The unfortunately reality is that the "easier times" we yearn for were soul crushing in different ways. Capitalism evolved from feudalism, and most all of the medieval world was feudal. You may not have worked an urban retail or factory job, but you would almost certainly have worked constantly in the fields and hoping your local lord let you keep enough of the harvest to survive the winter. I don't say this to be soul crushing, I just...I don't think there ever was an idyllic time to go back to, and believing there was can blind us to what the real goal is: making a better world now, not trying to go back to romanticized fantasies we misremember in our media.
@@samuelwithers2221 While I fully agree with you I still think people need a bit of escapism in their lifes. Sometimes It becomes too much, children, bills, work problems, parents being sick, your boss humiliating you. Then people just pop an episode of the moomins or play a few days of stardew valley. We musn't romanticize the past but we still need to feel some relieve and let ourselves exist in a place where things are better. Even if only for a little while.
Don't lose hope for the art of hand drawn animation Japan does this thing where they will pay folks to do mostly dead arts as a way to preserve history. I think they are called living historical treasures.
What? That doesn't mean it's alive, it just means it still exists, which is more or less an inevitability because we don't just forget how to do something. We just move past it. Anyone could learn how to do hand-drawn animation, though it just isn't in use anymore typically.
I think there might be resurgence of hybrid digital/handrawn animation. We've seen something like that in the digitally enhanced stop motion Dark Crystal series on Netflix. The Mandalorian used physical 3D printed models and moved them using robot arms. Traditional techniques can survive and enhanced this way.
For some reason youtube has been offering a lot of moomin related videos for me today and completely out of nowhere. I'm glad that one of the videos was yours, you have a really calming voice that's easy to listen to and it's nice to hear someone else's views and opinion on one of my childhood's favourite shows. I've always felt like Snufkin and Moomin had the kind of a relation that you'd have with an older brother who's either studying in some other city or just comes home during the summer holidays. Moomin looks up to him and tries to spend as much time with him as he possibly can before it's Snufkin's time to leave again.
Started watching this video but had to stop because I started crying??? I could never put my finger on why I love the moomins so much but their comparison to ghibli films makes so much sense to me. Great video
Along with Studio Ghibli and The Moomins, (which i both love) another place you can find that certain aesthetic is the Cartoon Saloon movies, though they’ve mostly made short films so far, that have a good number of beautiful movies, all traditionally animated, if you liked moomin or Studio Ghibli, I definitely suggest giving it a try, some of their titles are The Secret of Kells, The Song of the Sea, and their most recent movie Wolfwalkers,
As a Finnish kid, moomins were such a big part of my childhood. A few weeks ago i stumbled upon a 'moomins soundtrack' video and it brought a flood of memories. Man.
For me, Mumis feels like summer. Summer vecation, to be exact. Summer vecation when I was still in great school, to be even more exact xD It's just something about the wonder and carefreenes and joy that just FEEELS like how summer did back than!
Oh my god, yes...... When your worst preoccupations were doing your homework, cleaning your room, not getting late for school/extracurriculars.... I miss those simpler times, especially now that I am in a hard time of my life.
honestly every video you release is the greatest shit, i love listening to your stuff! you deserve so many more subscribers holy fuck. loved this especially overall (all of it is a massive mood). one teensy thing i noticed though: when you're talking about social media, you jump from a correlation to a causation without giving evidence for that leap. the study you show only says that young adults who use social media are more likely to be depressed - that doesn't mean social media is *causing* that depression. it could also just be that people with depression are more likely to use social media, and not that social media is making people depressed. not a big deal, just a lil thing that stuck out to me while i was listenin'!
I grew up watching the Moomins in Mexico back in the 1999. c: I was 4 or 5 years old. It was hard to find merch back then but then in 2011 I started to notice some merch and it only grew more! I am so happy to see things from my childhood come back! Now I got Moomin plush, mug, calendar, pens, figure, and a shirt. My child self would have been delighted!
I remember watching the first episode when I was quite young, possibly while I was still in kindergarten. It scared me too much to watch when Moomintroll had his accident with the wizard's hat, and nobody recognized him. Yet I'm convinced I've watched other episodes since, because watching the episodes now, I am reminded of that time before I really worried about too much. When I could truly just play with my friends and siblings in the summer, and when the change from winter to summer, which, on the island in Norway I grew up on, is quite the transformation, in pure wonder. This video and many ofthers of yours have been a great comfort to me for years now. Thank you.
About the charactes all being part of the moomin family and the chosen family theme that was indeed written in 40s and 50s. The author Tove Jansson was a very open minded person and she was also queer and I think that's why the moomins resonate with so many queer people in general. Also i loved this video💕. It was nice for me as a finnish person to hear someones thoughts about the moomins who didn't grow up with them like I did.
I'm Finnish so like nearly every other Finn who grew up in the 90s, I watched a lot of Moomins. I've always regarded the show as special and I tough the rest of the world would just always miss out on it. I didn't know it was big in Japan although I did know that they had their version too. I'm glad it has been translated to English and is being recognized by people around the world. However it never crossed my that Moomintroll and Snufkin would be gay and it's something that I've heard in a few videos now while falling in to this Moomin rabbit hole. Never heard it being discussed here in Finland. I think that you just haven't witnessed very close male friendships if you come to the conclusion that they must be gay. Men can have close friends too. Of course it's just a fantasy story so I guess everyone can have their own "truth". To me it's a story about friendship, not about Snufkin wanting to put his dick in Moomintroll. Also I happen to live about 20km from the Island you mentioned where Tove spent time as a child, there's another island just next to it where she had a cabin built that still stands, it's being rented out in the summer to cover maintenance costs.
I want to praise your honesty and emotional vulnerability while talking about Kiki's delivery service. It's also my favorite Ghibili movie and everything you said was so personal and on point. Not a lot people can do that, that means you are a true artist. Thank you.
I am Norwegian so I watched the mooies as a kid, I loved it. And I realize now the constant sound of the world has burnt me out and I have to start being more calm and kind to myself. I am happy to see others adore it as well
God, okay, this will sound incredibly sappy, but just... Listening to all this made me almost teary eyed. I'm a person that has struggled with loneliness and high expectations for a long time, as long as I can remember being called the "gifted kid" really, and prospects of the future that I'm fastly approaching now that I'm less than a year away from finishing my countries equivalent to college really just scare me a lot. Hearing you speak about all those things so openly, about the escapism that you can find in world's like that of the moomins just felt incredibly validating, like I've finally found someone out here that really understands. I have yet to watch the series, or many ghibli movies, but considering the sheer warmth I could feel when I heard you talk about them I think I may give it a go! Thank you so much for making this!
Ahh this is sorta untreated but my heart did a little flip when you mentioned Castle of cagliostro it's such a beautiful film and you can probably tell from my profile picture that I'm a big fan of lupin. I only watched it this year but I'm already so nostalgic for it. Lupin is a big comfort character of mine and I don't know what I would do without him right now. Anyway fantastic video as always love the moomins too!!
Watching this video made me realize, why I as a person growing up Watching moomins, and things like that. I always long for a show that just is, no big bad and no real extreme worries. Just personality being and interacting
I loved Moomins *SOOO MUCH* as a child. I was watching them religiously. I even had Moomins pyjamas that I gave up with boundless sorrow when it literally tore off my body. I am kinda afraid to revisit this world because idk if it holds up to my memory but I think I should since someone college age actually enjoyed it.
I may be late to the party but as a person fom Norway the Moomins have a special place in my heart. I remember the evnings i used to spend with my mother watching it on TV. It still brings me great joy
You made me think about my favorite studio Ghibli. Its Ponyo made me realize how I relate to it. Ponyo going against their parent's wishing and living her life how she wants it. I was in that moment at the time wanting to get away from my family and classmates and just be me and not a felt like I had to be someone I was not. With Sasuke helping her out, I think I was just really needing a friend to turn to, and that thought someone would put me first was crazy. I am now at the point of life where I am no longer in that situation, and I am human. It's such a bittersweet movie, and it will always hold a place in my heart. Thank you for sharing outside and helping me realize this.
I watched this show growing up so seeing this video in my recommendations was really nice. I haven't ever rewatched moomins because there are certain scenes that absolutely haunted me as a child hahahah, but I loved your view on the franchise. It makes a whole lot of sense. It is very grounded, comforting and with enough intrigue to be so goddamn interesting. Like the snow queen? Hattifnatter as a whole?? the groke??? so many cool things. It might the be because the author is from Finland but there's something so incredibly nostalgic about seeing the season pass like it does in Moomin valley as well, especially the winters. I haven't been able to go back home since the pandemic so seeing the 'Scandinavian inspired' nature was incredibly comforting as well. Thanks for the video! It was a nice topic to revisit
Back in early 2000s Moomin used to be broadcast in our local TV channel in the local language every Wednesday evening and I may not remember much from that time but one thing I do remember is how I'd complete everything I had to complete and sit to watch Moomin. It remains one of my favorite childhood memories
I grew up reading the books back in th 60’s. What I loved about each book was how tolerant and loving the Moomin family was. The Fillyjonk was always nervous, and there was another character- I forget his name - the grumpy muskrat - and naughty little Mai - and Sniff - but everyone got along and put up with all the quirks as just the way that person was supposed to be. No one was judgmental and never any moralizing like so many kids books these days. My absolute favorite book was Comet in Moominland - but the first one I ever read was Moominsummer Madness. I read every single one - all checked out at the library. I sure did enjoy those books. Not a big fan of the tv cartoons though.
The first film made by them was Arriety. I was like 4 and I still love it! The aesthetic is amazing and gives me cottage core homely vibes. I’m a lot older and still watch it
It was exactly the opposite in my case. I didn't come across Ghibli films until my last year of highschool and early university but when the Moomins were aired here in Poland in 1990 I was around 5. When I was a bit older, I used to watch re-runs with my sister. We had vinyls with stories about Moomins, with songs and everything. And I believe it were the Moomins books that I used for learning and practicing reading as a little kid. So YES, nostalgia.
Regarding snufkin and moomin: "Those who cannot conceive Friendship as a substantive love but only as a disguise or elaboration of Eros betray the fact that they have never had a Friend".
As a finnish person born in 1998 the moomin were my entire childhood and i still own every dvd of the 1990's moomins, season 1 and 2. I still watch them regularly, especially when im sick or hungover lol. Dont know if it had came out yet when you made the video but there is a real movie about Tove now called "Tove"
I haven't seen the moomin valley series yet, but from what I've seen from this video it reminded me of Nils Holgersson. I used to watch it as a kid whenever i spent time at my grandparents' house. I really miss those times. Old 2D animations just have a different kind of love to them
I've been BINGING your videos on animes, your voice is so calming and I agree with you on so many subjects and seeing Moomin, one of the few things that bring me nostalgia and joy is just,, sooooo nice. I'm from Finland, specifically Fennosweden and seeing you mention Swedish speaking Finns, and specifying that Tove was one, is so comforting and it brings me so much joy, thank you so so much
Basically I like it because it’s weird. I don’t find it normal and that’s completely fine. I love The Moomins because it feels weird... And yet so calm..
I had this video in my 'To Watch' list for a long time, but finally pulled the trigger on it. You earned a subscriber! Your earnest connection with what you talk about comes through in all your writing and performance, and your thoughts are well put and logic'd out. Lovely!
God I... you're my new youtuber y'to binge all your videos are SO GOOD and so much work was put into it. you literally got me to understand everything I didn't about utena and made me reconsider whether I dislike it as much as I did, and moomin is such a important piece to me 💗 thank you for just keeping my mind stimulated so much
as a swedish speaking finns it gives me so much joy to see that still people find the moomins! As a sidenote, I wish that you could hear Tove reading the short stories in fenno-swedish it's so good and her voice and accent fits the vibe so well hhhh as another side note i think i love you
I’m not even done watching this yet, but THANK YOU SO MUCH for making this video, I agree with literally everything. I havent been able to find someone else who notices this particular "thing" about these movies. Luckily I grew up with the moomins so it’s even more nostalgic to me, and I cant even describe how I feel when I watch moomins it’s just a dream. The valleys, the flowers, the trees and the world itself is just pure magic. Completely opposite to you I recently discovered Studio Ghibli movies and I literally cried because it reminded me of the feeling I got when watching Moomins. This is what animation should be like, why cant people make stuff like this anymore? 😭 It breaks my heart knowing that Studio Ghibli stepped away from 2D animation - it automatically loses the magic. Thank you for putting all my thoughts and feelings towards exactly this into words!
My favourite Ghibli film is Ponyo, despite the fact that it makes me cry every single time I watch it. I got to show it to my five year old, and he now calls instant ramen "Ponyo noodles". We both saw our own little family on the screen, overcoming hardships and challenges, and saving each other. I just discovered your channel, and I've been binge watching it all. I'm so grateful to find a woman that talks about anime! My own frustrations aren't just me being "too sensitive"? Lits of love from Canada!
This is such ab amazing video, that i so needed. Thank you for making such a comforting and peaceful video essay about an equally comforting and peaceful subject. Your videos bring a confused scared boy lots of joy
I found the Moomins when I was a watching Nickelodeon and it was only on temporarily. I let the kids I babysat for in the 1990s. I saw it again in the 2020 during the Pandemic and it gave me a spark of interest as I can see. Also the Moomins influenced a lot of my ideas of what the fae and it gave me as an author an amazing view. I just love the characters and it saved me. Also look up my friend, Steven Bennett he did cel painting classes at conventions and he is one of dearest and wonderful friends.
moomins was my favourite show when i was a kid, growing up in australia with my mum it felt like the only connection i had to my family roots in finland. gotta say this video made me slightly emotional :,)
The way you described Kiki’s Delivery Service in this reminds me of the times I would watch it as a kid. On rainy days when I was feeling down and out of it, my mother would have a little relaxation day with me. I would take a nice warm bath first, put on really comfy clothes, we would make a little bed out of pillows and stuffed animals, light up some candles that smelled exactly like fruity pebbles, make canella tea, and then put on Kiki’s Delivery Service. This film is not only really important to me now, but it also reminds me of those cozy rainy days. I miss them so much
My personal favourite Ghibli film has to be Princess Mononoke, but honestly, it's for the OST. I can hear that one (i assume) Cello note during the opening narration and just... the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, my stomach turns, and the emotions hit me. It was my first Ghibli film, and the first Anime DVD I ever owned, but even now, well over a decade later, it _still_ feels like that pair of shoes you've worn in to perfection, or the necklace you can't leave home without.
Honestly, I love Kiki's Delivery Service and all the other Studio Ghibli films, but for some reason, I can't really pinpoint my absolute fav Ghibli film and it's probably because my favorites change a lot but I will say that I have a big soft spot for My Neighbor Totoro because it was my first ever Studio Ghibli film that I saw as a kid and Princess Mononoke because Princess Mononoke was my first introduction to Studio Ghibli when I first learned what Studio Ghibli was when i was 12 or 13. And Princess Mononoke was kinda my introduction to the horror elements that can be in an anime.
Sniff is super relatable and adorable to me. He's riddled with character flaws and so often in the wrong, but in the end he wants to do good. The others show him unconditional love regardless and that's really heartwarming to me.
Sniff even tells in one episode to Stinky how he feels bad that his own greediness somewhat damaged his relations with the Moomin family.
I liked Sniff's character, as a kid I thought he was cute.
@@RabbitShirak really? Please tell me which one
@@Lil72722 I'm pretty sure it was episode 47, where three strangers come to the valley in search of hot springs to create a resort. Sniffs sees a business opportunity to sell towels to possible tourists. But others don't want their valley to be ruined by tourism. Hence the moomin are somewhat upset to Sniff who feels conflicted between his greed and his friendship with the moomin. Stinky tells Sniff to follow his dreams and ignore everyone else. Sniff tells him his conscience doesn't allow that.
I feel like an idiot reading fluffy comments and crying like a deranged person, I can barely see.
This video made me cry.... as a Swedish person who grew up watching the moomins I didn’t really realize that others just didn’t. This video gave me a new perspective and inspired me to go back and rewatch this childhood favorite!
Same, it feels werid too, realize that some did not grow up with moomins. I mean it should not feel werid but it really does.
@@12skuly vividly remember my first Halloween costume being snufkin when I was like 6
@@thetempestart awww that is so precious
Same
Same. Dane here, and practically everyone here grew up or at least knows Moomin
*Its like a weird religion*
I think the beauty of Snufkin and Moomin’s relationship is that it really doesn’t need to be defined. Whether romantic or otherwise, the love they have for each other is undeniable and so so beautiful. It’s something that anyone, queer or not, can find great comfort in.
It's almost more comforting to think this kind of love can exist outside of romance.
I never found it romantic at all, I find it more like... a big brother...
I mean, making it gay would be easy, but canonically, in something like Kingdom Hearts, Riku is like Sora's big brother but they both love Kairi until Riku gave her up, right? XD But his like desire to see him again just like Kairi between I and II and so, like all the times Snufkin migrates like a bird for winter for unknown reasons to like discover himself or something...
I don't think it has to be romantic at all, it can be anything, they can even be more like... a teacher whose a father/mother figure... if their an important person to you, their an important person to you, it doesn't have to mean anything like romance, friendship, or even familial love... love doesn't always have to be specific and defined, love is love. :p
And what love really means is... caring about a person's wellbeing, as well as the kindness they always seem to share with you, in one way or another. :?
Their like just best friends, but Snufkin also always seems to like that older kid who seems to know everything and is above it all, except for times where he probably isn't. :p Snufkin isn't good at dealing with little kids besides his social group in some episodes and so on, right? ^^; Yeah, like that, LOL. XD
For me at least, that's the role Snufkin plays, the smarter, older kid, though he's probably not THAT much older than them. :p
But yeah, I wonder whose the usual pro at hide and go seek, like Riku is the best at swordfighting and other stuff, ha ha. XD I feel like it's definitely either him or the sneaky Little Mai. :p
Hey there. In the Finnish version the relationship of Snufkin and Moomin is very much platonic. They’re friends and Snufkin is sort of a cool smarter big brother to Moomin, and the way Moomin always wonders if Snufkin will return after winter kind of signifies that in my opinion. On the other hand, the relationship between Moomin and Snorkmaiden is romantic.
I won't lie... I have a bf and I have a best friend.... but I'd legit marry my best friend. It's a different stronger love. We are SNUFMIN and Frog and Toad
I feel you, I always felt like Moomin and Snufkin's relationship was a brotherly relationship. Moomin was like the baby brother looking up to his cool older brother.😊
As a Finn who grew up on Moomins, i love that more people are getting into it and were getting quite a resurfacing with analyses like this. I wish i could find the entirery of the 90's Finnish dub somewhere to have a nostalgia trip
All episodes are on youtube now! And in a playlist! 😁😊
K-Citymarketeissa myydään kans DVDtä joissa alkuperänen dubbi kunhan varmistaa että siel takana lukee "1990-dubbaus"
Löytyy myös alkuperäiset dvd versiot ja jonkun tekemä hd remaster torrentteina. Alkuperäisillä dubeilla.
Multa löytyy, voin heittää torrentin alkuperäsiin dubbeihin.
@@nl4537 not all, unfortunately. There‘s a second season that consists of about 20 episodes undubbed and not yet uploaded.
*Clicked for The Moomins, stayed for the amazing, soothing voice ❤*
I really love how I keep finding you in every moomin content lmao
You're here you're here you're here
@Timothy Hunter *you again*
Snuffkin was based on the author's betrothed, who had a habit of leaving for long periods of time, travelling around the world. They were very much in love, but there was also a sense of distance between them, which translates to the longing between Moomin and Snuffkin. So much so that they broke their engagement eventually.
Tiuhti and Viuhti, (Thingumy and Bob) were based on her affair with a married woman, who would be greatly involved with bringing moomins on stage for the rest of their life. The King Ruby was their love that had to be hidden.
And Tuutikki (Too-ticky) was her life partner until her death. So Tove was very much Bi, and wrote it carefully in her stories. Fun fact: some conservative women tried to ban moomins when her preference to women became known, as "the love between snorkmaiden and moomin was CLEARLY a lesbian affair and not fit for children". They failed to see all the real relationships put on a plate for them.
So you are not wrong :) i'm sorry to comment on an old video, but i enjoyed it very much. You have a calming voice and you explain your point very well. Thank you 😊
omg;;;
aren't the names also based on the people too, for at least most of them? tove and vivica -> tiuhti and viuhti, tuulikki -> tuutikki
@@joseanurkkalainen2832 yes, you are absolutely right!
thank u for posting!!!!! it makes everything so much deeper 💕
@@joseanurkkalainen2832 Just wanted to add; Tove wrote the books in swedish, so the original name for Tiuhti and Viuhti is Tofsland and Vifslan (To and Vi). So yeah, it is very obvious they were based on their, back then, forbidden relationship.
(And I really don't like the translation to Thingumy and Bob. And yes, I get it, it's a pun on thingamabob. But the subtext is lost. Also, if I remember correctly the english translation gendered bob male, but in the original swedish (which I read many times, so I know) Tofslan and Vifslan are never gendered. They might be two females, two males, one of each or two non-binary or any other combination).
I've loved Kiki's Delivery Service all my life, and I think the line "Kiki straight-up has depression" did more for me than years of therapy.
As a finnish person it’s so weird to think that many people from other countries have no idea what moomins is, since it’s so ingrained into our culture, our national treasure I guess :DD
Nice to see you bringing awareness of it to more people, everyone should watch it at least once💪
Nobody cares about Finland bruh..
@@Vampybattie finlands miles better than shitty ass america😂
As someone who grew up on the 90s Mumin troll series, when I first saw a studio Ghibli film on the TV (Howl's moving castle) I thought it was Finnish. The only experience I had with Japanese anime at the time were Sailor Moon, Digimon and Pokemon. I had never thought that animation could have been done in another country than the place of its origin.
I know this is supposed to be more about the moomins, and I do love the moomins, but the way you described your love and connection to Kiki's Delivery Service is very familiar to me too. I haven't seen the film yet, but I feel that same love for Ponyo instead. I saw it when I was really young with my mom so whenever I watch it I associate it with her and her high energy just like Ponyo. I'm just rambling but :') I understand that feeling too and it's nice to know other people have connections to the movies like that too.
I used to get up early to watch this and Tenchi in the morning as a child. This and ghibli fuelled my love mori kei aesthetic.
The Tenchi series is so nostalgic for me, mannn
And yeah I remember catching this on tv a few times too haha. All I remember though is that the American version of the op was super repetitive and an ear worm. A stark contrast to the Japanese opening which is extremely calming and soft
Hi ! Good to see you here!
Hi.
Hello.
Aloha.
May i ask something?
Grew up with the moomin books as bedtime stories (Australian). Watched the 90's anime as an older kid - watched the 69/70's two anime as a teenager.
Never once did I ever consider Moomintroll and Snufkin as a couple - which seems to be REALLY popular now!! I've always seen (and struggle to NOT see) Moomintroll as a kid and Snufkin as a young adult.
Moomintroll is a boy who always hears of his fathers adventures. He has a shallow, rose-tinted view of the world that often gets him into trouble that he just isn't prepared to handle alone... he needs the supervision of his parents or of others, whether he likes it or not, to remind him that things are more complex than how he imagines them. When I was a little kid Moomintroll was my peer.
Snufkin is a guy that doesn't need supervision, he acts as the supervisor. He smokes snuff from a pipe and loves coffee. He probably originally came to visit his fathers best friends - his older peers - and hangs out with their kids, in that weird place of "youngest adult in the room who doesn't usually need to care for children". Snufkin is my peer now.
To me, as a kid and as an adult, Snufkin can't be anything other than "older cousin" to moomin. Too distant to be a brother, but not just a friend who met by chance either.
As the youngest in my family ALL of my cousins were like 7 years older, but we would go on adventures together. Now with new adopted cousins - they gravitate towards me to play with them, not allowing me to sit down and talk with the other adults... but I don't mind much.
They ask me of my adventures and I show them my scars, take them down the creek to look for all the bugs they didn't know existed - walk just a little way into the bush and spin scary stories of monsters to keep them on their toes while we look for emus. Their parents would never let them look for emus - that's what makes having a Snufkin rad as a kid B)
As a person from Finland, I definitely grew up watching 90s Moomins. Even to this day, I still love and enjoy it. The happy tone made me happy, the funny lines made me laugh (especially in the original Finnish dub), the sad moments made me cry and scary scenes scared me and even gave me nightmares. As I have grown up, I got over my fear of Groke, Lady of Cold and Antlion but some of the scary scenes scared me so hard, I don't even dare to watch them.
90s Moomin introduced me to the world of anime, like Studio Ghibli movies. I also grew up watching Avatar: The Last Air bender at my late childhood years.
This video is so great. The only criticism I have towards this video is the fact, you didn't talk about the outstanding soundtrack by Sumio Shiratori. I love how you start this video by talking about Studio Ghibli movies.
I find the fact Sniff and Snorkmaiden are your least favorite characters funny because I ship Sniff x Snorkmaiden. I definitely ship Moomintroll x Snufkin too.
Nostalgia isnt just nostalgia. The person who defined it hadn’t experienced that bittersweet feeling outside of looking back at their young years. Nostalgia is the bittersweet feeling of hope, a deep but sophisticated sadness, and pangs of happiness. Its something you have a subtle yearning for, but at the same time can never experience again, or just cant experience anyway. It can vary in intensity, and isnt usually quite as strong as I described it above, but its still a feeling you can experience outside of what nostalgia is defined as traditionally.
I honestly teared up around 25:00. You shouldn't have to separate larger scale social issues from this show because they're so closely tied. The show quite obviously addresses family, friendship, and other social interactions and ideas. No wonder it's gotten so popular in the last few years, especially with COVID keeping us literally "socially distancing". So glad I found this video and your channel; I'm going to go watch some Moomins and paint now!
I love you. I am on a Moomin nostalgia marathon right now and i am so happy to find more than one moomin related video essay. Only thing none of you guys have mentioned is the dreamy and absolutely fantastic soundtracks of the 90's japanese version. Love from Nepal.
I live in America, and yet when I first saw the moomins on RUclips, I could of sworn I had seen the moomins before. The show gives me a sense of nostalgia, even though there wasn't any way I could of watched it before.
I might of seen it in passing, or maybe a commercial - but there was no way I could of seen it as a child. And yet it had such an impact that I remembered it. Or maybe it just reminds me of my childhood.
I remember I was feeling like I couldn't draw anything, I was feeling empty most of the time and everytime I try to draw something I just ended up watching random videos on youtube with my sketchbook in my lap. Then I watched Kiki's Delivery Service and loved it so much! It inspired me to get out of that artist block and draw again.
Right now I'm feeling burnt out again, so maybe I'll watch Kiki again, or maybe give Moomin a try! Thank you so much
Thank you so much for your thoughtful words and warmth infused during its entirety! I absolutely loved your sketches and as others have pointed out your open nature and voice are incredibly soothing. Watching this was exactly as how you described what Kiki’s Delivery Service provides for you; a home cooked meal. I actually watched with a cup of matcha tea! 🍵 Also, I absolutely agree that Snufkin and Moomin are in love with one another and knowing about Tove’s life and upbringing completely affirmed it to me whether she consciously intended so or not. Especially considering she created a Moomin Valley resident inspired by her long-term partner/wife!
More than one character in moomins were based on real-life persons. Moomintroll, of course, is Tove's own avatar. Snufkin is based on Tove Jansson's ex-fiancé Atos Wirtanen, Too-Ticky was modelled after Tove's life-partner Tuulikki Pietilä, and Thingumy and Bob (whose swedish names are Tofslan and Vifslan) are based on Tove and her "friend" Vivica Bandler.
As a Finnish kid in the 2000's, Moomins were absolutely my childhood. I love them so dearly and I was very excited to find your video about them.
I watched Moomins (or Stories from Moominvalley as they're known in here) at mornings before kindergarten or school, and from VHS tapes we had at home. Our family also had dozens of Moomin mugs which are very popular collectibles and use-items in Finland.
Last year when the feeling of uncertainty was the biggest I went back to the animation and watched all the episodes again. The series is just so beautiful, peaceful and nostalgic.
I've grown up with the moomins, being a Dane with Swedish family. And all of my life, I've loved how Snufkin acts. He's always been my favorite character, and now that I'm older, I can see why I related to him so much. And I still do. So, now I think I'll go back and rewatch them again
I remember enjoying Moomins back in the 90's till I had a weird Moomin related nightmare and could not look at a Moomin the same way for many years. I should give the show a go in Japanese at some point.
If you like gay rep, the Japanese subbed version is better to go with since the American version removed most of the implications of relationships, haha
But either way the show is fun, the American dub isn't bad or anything though heh. The opening theme to the American version is super annoying though which is a contrast to the Japanese opening which is a beautiful calming masterpeice
@@thatonelucariofan503 Sorta. The Japanese version's subtitles aren't always accurate as some things get lost in translation or have to be added to make sense of the dialogue.
Some stuff people interpret as relationship implications between Snufkin and Moomin for example is just nothing more than a very close and honest friendship people aren't used to in the west, specially in the land of the emotionally crippled (US).
@@Minnan1 moomin writer based moomin troll to herself and snufkin to one of her lovers. That relationship didn't last due to his restless nature.
This really reminded me of the loneliness that comes with listening to my grandmother's stories from when she was young. Times were tough, but at least eighbours knew each other, and people looked out for them. I always feel envious and incredibly sad when I compare it with my own experiences - add an invisible disability in there and it just gets harder for people to be patient with you and get to know you. It's just that: people aren't patient anymore. And it sucks.
Your videos are very soothing and it's lovely to have some retrospect about specific themes. I love it to bits :)
The way you describe Moomin, reminds me of how I felt watching Hilda. I was alone and struggling with medical entrance exams. But I felt so relaxed
Creator of Hilda took inspiration from the Moomin if you go read the early comics you can see the Moomin style until it slowly evolved to the show style overtime.
i feel like the brightness of ponyo shows how children see the world. i love how colorful the movie is with all the small toys and buckets and the ramen bowls i think all of these remind me of my personal childhood and i absolutely love it
Moomins, the ultimate comfort show! (Mostly) Lovable, soft characters, stunning music and beautiful art. Also, some funny dialogue and weird scenes.
I'm happy a lot of people are lately discovering Moomins and loving it but I also feel sort of protective of it since it is a big part of my childhood (and being Finnish). I'm also low-key proud of the fact that the origins of the show are from Finland and that I've been aware of the show for almost my whole life and grew up watching it.
Apparently (at least in the books) there were a lot of metaphors and such, some of them being about Tove Jansson's girlfriend and mental health among other interesting things. Some of the characters are also apparently inspired by some people in her life.
A lot of Finns were quite disappointed at the style of the new Moomins and there was a great outrage when they released the 90s version with new voices. People loved the nostalgic, original voices. The new Moomins actually follow the story of the books more closely. I have personally only seen like an episode and maybe a half but I hope some people will enjoy it and find the same love for Moomins as people did for the 90s version. On another note, the cups and plates and the like made of the new version are very pretty!
Also also, I personally am not a fan of shipping the Moomin characters. I just feel uncomfortable with shipping them. I have always just opted to enjoy their love as it is with no labels. Maybe this has something to do with the fact I grew up with the Moomins (and am part of the aromantic spectrum).
I'm legitimately watching this while thousands of feet in the air, flying to Sweden of all places :3 my second home in Sweden is my safe space where I get a break from my depression
Howl's moving castle was my first ghibli movie, and I remember being thrown off by it's pacing and the moments that focused on scenery or atmosphere. I wasn't used to that kind of storytelling and I was mesmerized by it
I saw my first episode of the moomins when I was 5, in South Afrika, translated into Afrikaans. I remember to this day just stopping and staring at it happily. In a world where the power rangers and xmen spider man and spider woman were really popular there was just something so calm about the moomins.
Now that I'm an adult, I found some of the episodes again and I can't explain the peace and joy it brings me to find them again.
im not firmly sure anymore what really makes me happy, as i just seem to be scared or angry all the time now. I know it truthfully isn't, but the whole damn world still feels like its all shutting down around me.
Hey friend,
I get that, the world is in very crazy state right now, and frankly times are bad. I hope you can find something, even if it's something small or insignificant that sparks joy.
I know everything is really hard right now, but we just have to get through this and there will be so many normal days in the future, where things are going to be okay, and you are going to be happy again.
Sorry if that seems preachy or intrusive, I guess what I'm trying to say is, I understand; keep you're chin up little buddy
@@Noralities thanks, wish alot more girls would call me little buddy honestly, that'd be the shit :3. your just a damn fine woman, way too good to waste time replying to me, but i appreciate the hell outta it all the same.
I heard somewhere that the relationship between Snufkin and Moomintroll is a metaphor for longing/yearning. I don't have any evidence of this but it makes me happy to think about them like that
Thank you so much for sharing this video. Things are so scary and stressful lately that I completely delved into the Moomins. Just like you said, this show brings so much warmth and comfort that is needed now more than ever. You have created such a fantastic, well-made video. Thank you so much!! ❤️
I really love to see people getting into Moomin, especially the 90s anime. It was my childhood. heck, this whole thing is an integral part of my cultural heritage by now.
As a Finnish person can I just say that I LOVE the amount of Moomin video essays made now since the comics, books and 90s Anime are practically my childhood!! Thank you for letting me relive my childhood with these!
Also, side note, I loved your Princess Tutu video! The anime is near and dear to my heart. :)
From my limited exposure to Snufkin due to RUclips shorts, he seems like what a cynic would be like in a perfect world. Instead of seeing the world's cruelty and trying to open peoples' eyes to it, Snufkin instead finds humorous people are so anxious when they have no idea the blessings they've got. Because he doesn't live in a world as terrible as ours. If he did, he'd be a lot darker.
You, my dear, definitely deserve so many more subscribers. I thoroughly enjoyed the video essay so much in a way I can’t really put into words. I came expecting background noise while I did my chores but got so much more. You described Moominhouse as a safe space and that is exactly what I’ve thought of the series as a whole ever since I started watching it. It’s so beautiful and so safe-feeling I don’t even want to let my friends know about it because I want to feel like it’s my own little thing that I can enjoy without other people telling me I’m way too old for it or that it’s too childish. I feel like in a few years, it’s going to be socially unacceptable for me to like things like the Moomins, if that’s not the case already. My mom always urges me to watch things with real people that aren’t “for kids”, but honestly those things she wants me to detach from as I grow up are the things giving me the will to continue moving forward.
I’m sorry if I’m rambling, your essay just made my day so much better and I wanted to let it out on the open.
Hi.
Hello.
Aloha.
May i ask something?
As a Finn who grew up with the Moomins it's quite interesting to see the show analysed from an adult viewpoint. I'm also thrilled that someone else has made the same Moomin-Ghibli association!
Another Moomin-Ghibli connection: Yasuhiro Nakura-san, who was the Character Designer, Animation Director, Layout supervisor, Unit Director and Storyboard Artist on Moomins used to work at Ghibli as an animator (Castle in the Sky).
Because of his many roles in the series (mainly as the Animation Director and Layout supervisor), almost every single cut went through his desk, so he had the biggest impact in the animation quality and the backgrounds.
The guy seriously worked hard on the show and deserves all the respect.
A lot of these reasons are why I love "Wind in the Willows" so much, especially the stop-animation show based on the book from Cosgrove Hall from the 1980s. It captures so much of this so well, and it's so obvious how devoted Rat and Mole are to each other! There's even a scene in which Rat is hanging out with this friend Otter at the end of a long summer day. Otter finally announces that he should be getting back home to his family, and Rat says similar, mentioning how Mole is "probably wondering where I am." They're living together in many of these episodes! It's a fairly peaceful world with a good community in which not always much happens (though Toad often provides the notable events with his neverending antics), quiet domesticity and convivial company is enough to make most everyone happy, and no one's really bothered with a job. Living is enough. It's the best thing in the world. I'm glad there's more like it out there.
In Germany, the Augsburger Puppenkiste made their first puppet show about Moomin
Moomins makes me nostalgic and I didn't even grow up with it, I hadn't even heard of it before a friend told me about it. I watched it over the course of the pandemic because it was just so sweet and heartwarming, it reminded me of going exploring the woods with my friends as a kid.
I think this feeling is what I felt when I was a teen staying at my aunt's house once. I was at one of my worst points mentally and just felt so welcomed and loved unconditionally, free to be a pathetic mess without judgement, it meant a lot. I felt so loved that it tipped back over into crushing sadness, because I knew I would soon have to return to where I didn't have a single home with a complete family, but rather the two part-time homes of my divorced parents, who relied on me to function, who had expectations of me I would go on to fail.
People are feeling a yearning desire to go back to easier times because of the crushing pressure of modern capitalist society? Why do you think Stardew valley was a smashing success?
Yep! Even the player character specifically leaves for the valley when city life becomes too much for them.
The unfortunately reality is that the "easier times" we yearn for were soul crushing in different ways. Capitalism evolved from feudalism, and most all of the medieval world was feudal. You may not have worked an urban retail or factory job, but you would almost certainly have worked constantly in the fields and hoping your local lord let you keep enough of the harvest to survive the winter. I don't say this to be soul crushing, I just...I don't think there ever was an idyllic time to go back to, and believing there was can blind us to what the real goal is: making a better world now, not trying to go back to romanticized fantasies we misremember in our media.
@@samuelwithers2221 While I fully agree with you I still think people need a bit of escapism in their lifes. Sometimes It becomes too much, children, bills, work problems, parents being sick, your boss humiliating you.
Then people just pop an episode of the moomins or play a few days of stardew valley.
We musn't romanticize the past but we still need to feel some relieve and let ourselves exist in a place where things are better. Even if only for a little while.
@@herman1francis Now that is a message I can get behind, fullstop
Don't lose hope for the art of hand drawn animation Japan does this thing where they will pay folks to do mostly dead arts as a way to preserve history. I think they are called living historical treasures.
What? That doesn't mean it's alive, it just means it still exists, which is more or less an inevitability because we don't just forget how to do something. We just move past it. Anyone could learn how to do hand-drawn animation, though it just isn't in use anymore typically.
I think there might be resurgence of hybrid digital/handrawn animation. We've seen something like that in the digitally enhanced stop motion Dark Crystal series on Netflix. The Mandalorian used physical 3D printed models and moved them using robot arms. Traditional techniques can survive and enhanced this way.
For some reason youtube has been offering a lot of moomin related videos for me today and completely out of nowhere. I'm glad that one of the videos was yours, you have a really calming voice that's easy to listen to and it's nice to hear someone else's views and opinion on one of my childhood's favourite shows. I've always felt like Snufkin and Moomin had the kind of a relation that you'd have with an older brother who's either studying in some other city or just comes home during the summer holidays. Moomin looks up to him and tries to spend as much time with him as he possibly can before it's Snufkin's time to leave again.
Started watching this video but had to stop because I started crying??? I could never put my finger on why I love the moomins so much but their comparison to ghibli films makes so much sense to me. Great video
Along with Studio Ghibli and The Moomins, (which i both love) another place you can find that certain aesthetic is the Cartoon Saloon movies, though they’ve mostly made short films so far, that have a good number of beautiful movies, all traditionally animated, if you liked moomin or Studio Ghibli, I definitely suggest giving it a try,
some of their titles are The Secret of Kells, The Song of the Sea, and their most recent movie Wolfwalkers,
As a Finnish kid, moomins were such a big part of my childhood.
A few weeks ago i stumbled upon a 'moomins soundtrack' video and it brought a flood of memories. Man.
For me, Mumis feels like summer.
Summer vecation, to be exact.
Summer vecation when I was still in great school, to be even more exact xD
It's just something about the wonder and carefreenes and joy that just FEEELS like how summer did back than!
Oh my god, yes......
When your worst preoccupations were doing your homework, cleaning your room, not getting late for school/extracurriculars....
I miss those simpler times, especially now that I am in a hard time of my life.
Also the happy-sad feeling of knowing that these moments are beautiful, perfect, and fleeting.
honestly every video you release is the greatest shit, i love listening to your stuff! you deserve so many more subscribers holy fuck. loved this especially overall (all of it is a massive mood). one teensy thing i noticed though: when you're talking about social media, you jump from a correlation to a causation without giving evidence for that leap.
the study you show only says that young adults who use social media are more likely to be depressed - that doesn't mean social media is *causing* that depression. it could also just be that people with depression are more likely to use social media, and not that social media is making people depressed.
not a big deal, just a lil thing that stuck out to me while i was listenin'!
Being part of a Swedish-Finnish-speaking family, this anime was literally my childhood. Glad to see you cover it!
I grew up watching the Moomins in Mexico back in the 1999. c: I was 4 or 5 years old.
It was hard to find merch back then but then in 2011 I started to notice some merch and it only grew more! I am so happy to see things from my childhood come back! Now I got Moomin plush, mug, calendar, pens, figure, and a shirt. My child self would have been delighted!
I remember watching the first episode when I was quite young, possibly while I was still in kindergarten. It scared me too much to watch when Moomintroll had his accident with the wizard's hat, and nobody recognized him. Yet I'm convinced I've watched other episodes since, because watching the episodes now, I am reminded of that time before I really worried about too much. When I could truly just play with my friends and siblings in the summer, and when the change from winter to summer, which, on the island in Norway I grew up on, is quite the transformation, in pure wonder.
This video and many ofthers of yours have been a great comfort to me for years now. Thank you.
About the charactes all being part of the moomin family and the chosen family theme that was indeed written in 40s and 50s. The author Tove Jansson was a very open minded person and she was also queer and I think that's why the moomins resonate with so many queer people in general. Also i loved this video💕. It was nice for me as a finnish person to hear someones thoughts about the moomins who didn't grow up with them like I did.
I'm Finnish so like nearly every other Finn who grew up in the 90s, I watched a lot of Moomins. I've always regarded the show as special and I tough the rest of the world would just always miss out on it. I didn't know it was big in Japan although I did know that they had their version too. I'm glad it has been translated to English and is being recognized by people around the world.
However it never crossed my that Moomintroll and Snufkin would be gay and it's something that I've heard in a few videos now while falling in to this Moomin rabbit hole. Never heard it being discussed here in Finland. I think that you just haven't witnessed very close male friendships if you come to the conclusion that they must be gay. Men can have close friends too.
Of course it's just a fantasy story so I guess everyone can have their own "truth". To me it's a story about friendship, not about Snufkin wanting to put his dick in Moomintroll.
Also I happen to live about 20km from the Island you mentioned where Tove spent time as a child, there's another island just next to it where she had a cabin built that still stands, it's being rented out in the summer to cover maintenance costs.
I want to praise your honesty and emotional vulnerability while talking about Kiki's delivery service. It's also my favorite Ghibili movie and everything you said was so personal and on point. Not a lot people can do that, that means you are a true artist. Thank you.
I am Norwegian so I watched the mooies as a kid, I loved it. And I realize now the constant sound of the world has burnt me out and I have to start being more calm and kind to myself. I am happy to see others adore it as well
God, okay, this will sound incredibly sappy, but just... Listening to all this made me almost teary eyed.
I'm a person that has struggled with loneliness and high expectations for a long time, as long as I can remember being called the "gifted kid" really, and prospects of the future that I'm fastly approaching now that I'm less than a year away from finishing my countries equivalent to college really just scare me a lot. Hearing you speak about all those things so openly, about the escapism that you can find in world's like that of the moomins just felt incredibly validating, like I've finally found someone out here that really understands.
I have yet to watch the series, or many ghibli movies, but considering the sheer warmth I could feel when I heard you talk about them I think I may give it a go!
Thank you so much for making this!
Ahh this is sorta untreated but my heart did a little flip when you mentioned Castle of cagliostro it's such a beautiful film and you can probably tell from my profile picture that I'm a big fan of lupin. I only watched it this year but I'm already so nostalgic for it. Lupin is a big comfort character of mine and I don't know what I would do without him right now. Anyway fantastic video as always love the moomins too!!
Moomin video: exists
Every scandinavian person: hello :)
Don't forget Finland. You know, where the stories came from.
Watching this video made me realize, why I as a person growing up Watching moomins, and things like that. I always long for a show that just is, no big bad and no real extreme worries. Just personality being and interacting
I loved Moomins *SOOO MUCH* as a child. I was watching them religiously. I even had Moomins pyjamas that I gave up with boundless sorrow when it literally tore off my body. I am kinda afraid to revisit this world because idk if it holds up to my memory but I think I should since someone college age actually enjoyed it.
Well, I'm sold. Thank you for delivering such a beautiful anime to me in such an eloquent way
I may be late to the party but as a person fom Norway the Moomins have a special place in my heart. I remember the evnings i used to spend with my mother watching it on TV. It still brings me great joy
You made me think about my favorite studio Ghibli. Its Ponyo made me realize how I relate to it. Ponyo going against their parent's wishing and living her life how she wants it. I was in that moment at the time wanting to get away from my family and classmates and just be me and not a felt like I had to be someone I was not. With Sasuke helping her out, I think I was just really needing a friend to turn to, and that thought someone would put me first was crazy. I am now at the point of life where I am no longer in that situation, and I am human. It's such a bittersweet movie, and it will always hold a place in my heart.
Thank you for sharing outside and helping me realize this.
I watched this show growing up so seeing this video in my recommendations was really nice. I haven't ever rewatched moomins because there are certain scenes that absolutely haunted me as a child hahahah, but I loved your view on the franchise. It makes a whole lot of sense. It is very grounded, comforting and with enough intrigue to be so goddamn interesting. Like the snow queen? Hattifnatter as a whole?? the groke??? so many cool things. It might the be because the author is from Finland but there's something so incredibly nostalgic about seeing the season pass like it does in Moomin valley as well, especially the winters. I haven't been able to go back home since the pandemic so seeing the 'Scandinavian inspired' nature was incredibly comforting as well. Thanks for the video! It was a nice topic to revisit
I didn't grow up with this series, but it's so lovely.
Back in early 2000s Moomin used to be broadcast in our local TV channel in the local language every Wednesday evening and I may not remember much from that time but one thing I do remember is how I'd complete everything I had to complete and sit to watch Moomin. It remains one of my favorite childhood memories
I do agree with this tho, that hand drawn animation gives me more feelings and it feels that the passion has gone into it. I just love it...
I grew up reading the books back in th 60’s. What I loved about each book was how tolerant and loving the Moomin family was. The Fillyjonk was always nervous, and there was another character- I forget his name - the grumpy muskrat - and naughty little Mai - and Sniff - but everyone got along and put up with all the quirks as just the way that person was supposed to be. No one was judgmental and never any moralizing like so many kids books these days. My absolute favorite book was Comet in Moominland - but the first one I ever read was Moominsummer Madness. I read every single one - all checked out at the library. I sure did enjoy those books. Not a big fan of the tv cartoons though.
The first film made by them was Arriety. I was like 4 and I still love it! The aesthetic is amazing and gives me cottage core homely vibes. I’m a lot older and still watch it
As an artist who had moved from a small town to a city for school I just now realized why I consider Kiki’s delivery service my favorite movie.
I grew up with this series, have watched it over 100s of hours and this video literally made me cry. (i need to binge watch it now aaahhhhh)
It was exactly the opposite in my case. I didn't come across Ghibli films until my last year of highschool and early university but when the Moomins were aired here in Poland in 1990 I was around 5. When I was a bit older, I used to watch re-runs with my sister. We had vinyls with stories about Moomins, with songs and everything. And I believe it were the Moomins books that I used for learning and practicing reading as a little kid. So YES, nostalgia.
Regarding snufkin and moomin: "Those who cannot conceive Friendship as a substantive love but only as a disguise or elaboration of Eros betray the fact that they have never had a Friend".
As a finnish person born in 1998 the moomin were my entire childhood and i still own every dvd of the 1990's moomins, season 1 and 2. I still watch them regularly, especially when im sick or hungover lol.
Dont know if it had came out yet when you made the video but there is a real movie about Tove now called "Tove"
I am thankful that this series (books and films) shaped my childhood.
I haven't seen the moomin valley series yet, but from what I've seen from this video it reminded me of Nils Holgersson. I used to watch it as a kid whenever i spent time at my grandparents' house. I really miss those times. Old 2D animations just have a different kind of love to them
The one with the hamster?
the japanese moomin intro is my favorite song ever when i have children someday i’ll sing them that song as a lullaby
I've been BINGING your videos on animes, your voice is so calming and I agree with you on so many subjects and seeing Moomin, one of the few things that bring me nostalgia and joy is just,, sooooo nice. I'm from Finland, specifically Fennosweden and seeing you mention Swedish speaking Finns, and specifying that Tove was one, is so comforting and it brings me so much joy, thank you so so much
Basically I like it because it’s weird. I don’t find it normal and that’s completely fine. I love The Moomins because it feels weird... And yet so calm..
I had this video in my 'To Watch' list for a long time, but finally pulled the trigger on it. You earned a subscriber! Your earnest connection with what you talk about comes through in all your writing and performance, and your thoughts are well put and logic'd out. Lovely!
God I... you're my new youtuber y'to binge all your videos are SO GOOD and so much work was put into it. you literally got me to understand everything I didn't about utena and made me reconsider whether I dislike it as much as I did, and moomin is such a important piece to me 💗 thank you for just keeping my mind stimulated so much
as a swedish speaking finns it gives me so much joy to see that still people find the moomins! As a sidenote, I wish that you could hear Tove reading the short stories in fenno-swedish it's so good and her voice and accent fits the vibe so well hhhh
as another side note i think i love you
I’m not even done watching this yet, but THANK YOU SO MUCH for making this video, I agree with literally everything. I havent been able to find someone else who notices this particular "thing" about these movies. Luckily I grew up with the moomins so it’s even more nostalgic to me, and I cant even describe how I feel when I watch moomins it’s just a dream. The valleys, the flowers, the trees and the world itself is just pure magic. Completely opposite to you I recently discovered Studio Ghibli movies and I literally cried because it reminded me of the feeling I got when watching Moomins. This is what animation should be like, why cant people make stuff like this anymore? 😭 It breaks my heart knowing that Studio Ghibli stepped away from 2D animation - it automatically loses the magic. Thank you for putting all my thoughts and feelings towards exactly this into words!
this is still one of my fave youtube analysis videos ive ever seen in my life because it hits so hard in my heart
I'm still sad that I couldn't visit Moominworld, when I was on holyday in Finnland in 2000. I was five years old and my dad said it was too expensive.
My favourite Ghibli film is Ponyo, despite the fact that it makes me cry every single time I watch it. I got to show it to my five year old, and he now calls instant ramen "Ponyo noodles". We both saw our own little family on the screen, overcoming hardships and challenges, and saving each other.
I just discovered your channel, and I've been binge watching it all. I'm so grateful to find a woman that talks about anime! My own frustrations aren't just me being "too sensitive"? Lits of love from Canada!
This is such ab amazing video, that i so needed. Thank you for making such a comforting and peaceful video essay about an equally comforting and peaceful subject. Your videos bring a confused scared boy lots of joy
I read the Moomins books in my childhood and still own the full series. I utterly love them and I'm so happy to see them appreciated.
I found the Moomins when I was a watching Nickelodeon and it was only on temporarily. I let the kids I babysat for in the 1990s. I saw it again in the 2020 during the Pandemic and it gave me a spark of interest as I can see.
Also the Moomins influenced a lot of my ideas of what the fae and it gave me as an author an amazing view. I just love the characters and it saved me.
Also look up my friend, Steven Bennett he did cel painting classes at conventions and he is one of dearest and wonderful friends.
Omg the moomins were litterally my whole childhood so I am so glad that you talked about it
No one seems to be mentioning this so I will- the reference to Princess Tutu made me smile. It was brief, but I know that synopsis within two lines.
Moomins are embedded deep into the bedrock of Finnish culture. Especially the 90s Moomins is the most beloved adaptation of Tove Jansson's work.
moomins was my favourite show when i was a kid, growing up in australia with my mum it felt like the only connection i had to my family roots in finland. gotta say this video made me slightly emotional :,)
The way you described Kiki’s Delivery Service in this reminds me of the times I would watch it as a kid. On rainy days when I was feeling down and out of it, my mother would have a little relaxation day with me. I would take a nice warm bath first, put on really comfy clothes, we would make a little bed out of pillows and stuffed animals, light up some candles that smelled exactly like fruity pebbles, make canella tea, and then put on Kiki’s Delivery Service. This film is not only really important to me now, but it also reminds me of those cozy rainy days. I miss them so much
“Moomins Nostalgia” starts talking about gibhli 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
as a lithuanian who grew up watching the moomins this made me very happy-
My personal favourite Ghibli film has to be Princess Mononoke, but honestly, it's for the OST. I can hear that one (i assume) Cello note during the opening narration and just... the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, my stomach turns, and the emotions hit me. It was my first Ghibli film, and the first Anime DVD I ever owned, but even now, well over a decade later, it _still_ feels like that pair of shoes you've worn in to perfection, or the necklace you can't leave home without.
I loved Spirited Away and A Whisker Away. The art in them just.... Blows my mind
Honestly, I love Kiki's Delivery Service and all the other Studio Ghibli films, but for some reason, I can't really pinpoint my absolute fav Ghibli film and it's probably because my favorites change a lot but I will say that I have a big soft spot for My Neighbor Totoro because it was my first ever Studio Ghibli film that I saw as a kid and Princess Mononoke because Princess Mononoke was my first introduction to Studio Ghibli when I first learned what Studio Ghibli was when i was 12 or 13. And Princess Mononoke was kinda my introduction to the horror elements that can be in an anime.