The Moomins 

A stop-motion animated children's television series, often referred to as the Fuzzy Felt Moomins, based on the stories and illustrations by the Finnish author Tove Jansson.

Stars:

Hans Clarin, Stanislaw Kwasniak, Stanislaw Wyszynski

Cast

Series cast summary:
Hans Clarin	...	Narrator - German 78 episodes, 1977-1982
Stanislaw Kwasniak	...	Narrator - Polish 66 episodes, 1978-1982

Storyline

A stop-motion animated children's television series, often referred to as the Fuzzy Felt Moomins, based on the stories and illustrations by the Finnish author Tove Jansson.

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Plot Keywords:

finland | poland | independent animation | stop motion animation | based on novel | 

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Genres:

Animation | Short | Adventure | Drama | Family | Fantasy

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Did You Know?

Trivia

There are four main versions of the series:

1) 1977-1982 original 4:3 version: 78 episodes, 8-10 minutes long. In Polish narrated by Stanislaw Wyszynski (12 episodes) and Stanislaw Kwasniak (66 episodes) with music by Andrzej Rokicki, in German narrated by Hans Clarin with large parts of Rokicki's music replaced by music by Eugen Illin.

2) 1980-1983 edited German version: 26 episodes combining three of the original episodes into one and cut slightly.

3) 1983 edited English version: 100 episodes, 5 minutes long. Narrated by Richard Murdoch with music by Graeme Miller and Steve Shill. Total duration much shorter than the other versions.

4) 2010 restored 16:9 HD version: The original 78 episodes, available in multiple languages. With a re-written script including not only a narrator but voice actors too. Features both Andrzej Rokicki's and Evzen Illín's music (Rokicki's more prominent than in the original German version), new sound effects, a new title song and new opening and closing credits.

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Alternate Versions

In the end credits of the original Polish version of the series "Opowiadania Muminków", only one director, cinematographer and composer is credited in each episode. This differs from the other versions:

• German/Austrian version "Die Mumins" credits all the series' directors, cinematographers and composers in each episode. Other crew members from the original Polish version (such as assistant director, animator, editor, sound and production manager) are not credited in the German/Austrian version.
• 1983 UK version "The Moomins" credits all the series' original directors as "animation by". The other personnel from the original Polish series are not credited. Other credits in the UK series' end credits include the personnel from the UK version of the series: sound by Bob Jackson, music by Graeme Miller and Steve Shill, adapted by Anne Wood, and edited by Andi Sloss.
• The original Polish writers Lucjan Dembinski and Maria Kossakowska are credited in the Polish and German/Austrian versions, but not in the UK version. The Finnish author and illustrator Tove Jansson is credited in all versions.

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Connections

Version of Mumintrollet (1969)

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Soundtracks

Mumintrollens äventyr
Performed by Pmmp (as PMMP)
Lyrics by Paula Vesala & Emma Salokoski
Composed by Jori Sjöroos
Swedish title song of the 2010 restored series

User Reviews

Food for the imagination

The Moomins are a family of white hippo looking creatures comprising of Moomin-papa, Moomin-mama and their child simply called, Moomin. You follow the young Moomin and his friends through many adventures as they discover the world they live in. A world full of wonder, magic and also sometimes danger.

The overarching themes of the series are generosity, patience, love and compassion. We see this through the interactions of the rather diverse personalities and characters found on the show. Just to name a couple: Little My is a miniature girl like character with a huge personality (and attitude) and on the other side of the spectrum you will find a kangaroo looking creature named Sniff who is rather timid and paranoid. I found myself getting rather attached to the cute little characters along the way. Another theme that struck out at me later on in life is that this series is not only about kids being kids but also about parents allowing their kids to be kids as well as being there for them when things go wrong.

I had to look long and hard before I could find the series on DVD (that would also work in our DVD players in Canada). And I plan to make my future children watch this show when they are young too and hope that they will be able to simply enjoy the originality and imagination that went into the little world and also grab a few little life lessons along the way.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

Poland Austria

Language:

Polish German

Release Date:

1977 (Poland)

Also Known As:

The Moomins

Company Credits

Production Co:

Studio Malych Form Filmowych Se-Ma-For, Jupiter-Film, Oy Filmkompaniet Alpha Ab

Technical Specs

Runtime:

9 min (78 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono Stereo (restored version)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

4:3