Moomin (楽しいムーミン一家, Tanoshii Mūmin Ikka -- literally, Delightful Moomin Family) is an anime series based on the Moomin book series, produced in Japan by Telecable Benelux B.V. between 1990 and 1991. In all, 78 episodes were made. The series helped to create the "Moomin boom" of the '90s and became one of the two most well-known of numerous series based on the books (the other being the 1977 Polish version, The Moomins).
The series has aired in many parts of the world including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Israel, Poland, Russia, Scandinavia, and Taiwan.
This series was followed by a sequel Delightful Moomin Family: Adventure Diary and the movie Comet in Moominland, based on the book by the same name. A video game based on the series named Moomin Tani no Okurimono was released in 2009.
Characters[]
The Moomin Characters
The Moomin family[]
- Voiced by: Minami Takayama
The main character, a spirited teenager with a keen sense of adventure and fun, and a generous spirit. He is Snufkin's best friend. He is secretly in love with the Snork Maiden and expresses his emotions to her discreetly.
- Voiced by: Akio Ohtsuka, Minami Takayama (child)
Orphaned in his youth, he is a somewhat restless soul who left the orphanage to venture out into the world in his youth but has now settled down, determined to be a responsible father to his family. He is almost always wearing his black top-hat.
- Voiced by: Ikuko Tani, Mika Kanai (child)
The mother of Moomintroll. She is a considerate and stoic mother, a good host to guests and makes efficient medicines from a book she inherited from her mother. Moominmamma is almost never without her handbag in which she seems to carry everything, and is always wearing an apron with red and white vertical stripes.
Close friends[]
- Voiced by: Mika Kanai
Moomintroll's fair beautiful lady friend and admirer. But she does have a crush with others sometimes, but returns to Moomintroll before things get too serious. She is gentle and wise, very dependent on Moomin and generally she is very optimistic. She is loyal to her brother Snork, and cares for him. The Snork Maiden and Snork are 'Snorks' - a sub species of the Moomins.
- Voiced by: Yasuyuki Hirata
The Snork Maiden's brother, also friends with Moomintroll. His character is obsessing over details, rules and protocol in the books. He is a scientist who tries to build a flying ship.
- Voiced by: Ryuusei Nakao
Moomintroll's immature friend and later adopted brother. He is one of the few characters who is sincerely interested in money, and is always on the lookout for another way to get rich quick. Sniff is a 'Sniff' - a species who resemble kangaroos.
- Voiced by: Takehito Koyasu
Moomintroll's best friend, who goes south every winter and returns in the spring. Snufkin is an adventurer and a vagabond, admired by those who are small and shy. He has a great dislike for authority and is shown to be very reserved and introverted while being seen by others as wise and clever.
- Voiced by: Rei Sakuma
A small, mischievous and spiteful "tomboy" little girl who is not afraid of anything. My is the little sister of the Mymble. When she wants something done, she does it straight away. She is very aggressive and often speaks rudely, but can be a good friend. She has a brash personality. She is red haired and her hair is always gathered in a pony tail. She always wears a simple red skirt.
- Voiced by: Minoru Yada
A senior from 'Hemulen' species which is an avid collector. He used to collect flowers and stamps and then became a Birdwatcher. He is good hearted person yet pitiful due to the unstopping pranks of Stinky. He helps Moomin and the Snork Maiden whenever they are in need of help. The Hemulen's Aunt raised Moominpappa in an orphanage. Other characters frequently find the Hemulens annoying or overwhelming, as they can be somewhat loud, bossy, abrasive and insensitive, but they are well intentioned and usually have other redeeming qualities. In the books he is known as "The Hemulen".
Other characters[]
- Voiced by: Sumi Shimamoto
The opposite of the Moomin family. Not a single moment of fantasy or joy, only duties and discipline. She is an extremely methodical person tied down with principles and has a deep rooted belief in prestige and tradition. But in a catastrophe, Fillyjonk may behave totally irrationally. Deep inside she probably has a wish to live like the Moomin family, without any worries. She is most often accompanied by her three children.
- Voiced by: Yuuko Kobayashi
Later known as simply the Mymble, she is the oldest of Mymble's many children. Every bit as independent as her youngest sibling, little My, but much calmer and more mature, Mymble's daughter is very proud of being the oldest sibling, and considers it her duty to raise Little My.
- Voiced by: Takaya Hashi
A by-the-book Hemulen in charge of law enforcement in the valley. He has a crush on Mymble.
- Voiced by: Hisako Kyouda
The Witch looks quite scary but is a harmless old lady after all. For a long time she's unfriendly towards the Moomins and is against her granddaughter, Alicia, spending time with them. She warms up to them somewhat after they help her out on a few occasions, though, and allows Alicia to see them when not busy with her training.
- Voiced by: Sakiko Tamagawa
Alicia, the Witch's granddaughter and witch-in-training, likes the Moomins and plays with them on the sly whenever the Witch is otherwise occupied.
- Voiced by: Tomie Kataoka
She is cold and ghostlike, and represents loneliness and all that is scary in the world of Moomin. She seeks warmth and fire, but is unable to do anything but to put them out. Although she has a scary appearance and is dangerous to get close to due to the cold that she's radiating, she's not really evil. .. Just very lonely.
Small white ghost-like creatures that resemble worn socks. Hattifatteners are always on the move and travel in large groups (but always in odd numbers), such as boat convoys. Their only goal in life is to reach the horizon. During their travels they never say a word to each other, and it's doubtful that they have the ability to talk at all, they seem to communicate solely by telepathy. The Hattifatteners cannot see very well, but their sense of touch is very strong, and they can feel ground vibrations and electricity. Hattifatteners assemble once a year when they "recharge" in a thunderstorm. At this time they should be avoided since they are highly charged and can give you electrical burns. Despite physiologically resembling animals, Hattifatteners grow from seeds. Planting Hattifattener seeds where someone has taken up residence is an effective way to get rid of him/her.
- Voiced by: Tessho Genda
A powerful magician who travels the Universe with his flying panther, looking for the King's Ruby. His hat is found in the Lonely Mountains by Moomintroll, Snufkin and Sniff, who take it back to the Moominhouse. Chaos ensues, as anything you put inside the hat is transformed. Moomintroll himself is changed into a strange creature by the hat when he uses it to hide in during a game. The Hobgoblin himself appears some episodes afterwards to take his hat back, and then even later when Thingumy and Bob are revealed to possess the King's Ruby. The Hobgoblin seems dark and imposing, but is really quite fair-minded and kind. He has the ability to grant wishes, however it only works for others and never himself.
- Voiced by: Isamu Tanonaka & You Inoue
Two little creatures who turn up in Moominvalley with a large suitcase, which contains the King's Ruby. They speak a strange language and are pursued by the Groke who wants the contents. They upset Moominmamma by stealing her handbag. They eventually return it and the whole family throws a party to celebrate. The Hobgoblin arrives when Thingumy and Bob open the suitcase, exposing the King's Ruby for all to see. While they didn't give him the ruby, when the Hobgoblin gave everyone there a wish they wished for the Hobgoblin to have a ruby as beautiful as theirs; the Queen's Ruby.
- Voiced by: Hiroko Maruyama
A criminal by profession, trickster, and a dangerous influence who tempts the Moomin family to do things that are against the law. He has a code of conduct of his own, and is offended when the Moomins want to give him a large sum of money which has been causing them much trouble. Physically, Stinky looks like some sort of furry mammal, whose most characteristic attribute is his constant, unbearable stench, which also reflects his general attitude. His tricks are cruel and often dangerous - such as releasing wild animals from the zoo so they can get the Moomin family, or pressuring the Fillyjonk children into using a perilous rope swing.
- Voiced by: Kazue Komiya
Mother of Little My, Snufkin, and The Mymble's Daughter. She has many, many children, but is very jolly.
- Voiced by: Mika Doi
A friend of the family, craftsman and practical philosopher. She resembles a sailor, and seems wise beyond her years in a similar way to Snufkin.
- Voiced by: Miina Tominaga
A young girl who was turned invisible, shy and speechless due to the sarcastic and cold treatment from her Aunt. She was made to wear a bell so that others could be aware of her presence. The Aunt decided she could not look after an invisible child and so left her in the care of Too-Ticky, who decided the best place for her was with the warm, loving Moomin family. Their kindness gradually turned most of her visible, and a spout of anger at Moomin Papa revealed her head, which had remained hidden for weeks. Too-Ticky returned to collect her, with her visibility, speech and confidence restored.
A strange and mystical character that glides through the ice and snow during winter. She has 3 legs and two arms, all of which have star shaped appendages on the end. Too-Ticky creates horses out of snow that the Lady magics to life in order to ride them through the sky. She has the power to freeze people with her gaze, and does so to Little My, who is soon thawed out by Too-Ticky and Moomin.
- Gaffsie
- Voiced by: Midori Nakazawa
- Voiced by: Natsuko Fuji
- Voiced by: TARAKO
- Voiced by: Rokurou Naya
- Voiced by: Ryuusei Nakao
- Voiced by: Takehito Koyasu
- Voiced by: Tomomichi Nishimura
- Kryp
- Voiced by: Chika Sakamoto
List of episodes[]
| # | Title | Plot | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - 101 | "The Moomin Valley in Spring " (ムーミン谷の春 Mūmin Dani no Haru, "Spring of Moomin Valley") | April 12, 1990 | |
| 2 - 102 | "The Magic Hat " (魔法の帽子 Mahō no Bōshi) | April 12, 1990 | |
| 3 - 103 | "The Discovery of a Wrecked Ship" (浜で見つけた難破船 Hama de mitsuketa Nanbasen, "The Shipwreck found at the Beach") | April 19, 1990 | |
| 4 - 104 | "The Moomins Discover the Island " (おばけ島へようこそ Obake-shima e yōkoso, "Welcome to Ghost Island") | April 26, 1990 | |
| 5 - 105 | "The Secrets of the Hattifatteners " (ニョロニョロの秘密 Nyoronyoro no himitsu, The Secrets of the Slitherings”) | May 3, 1990 | |
| 6 - 106 | "Tiny Guests" (小さな小さなお客様 Chīsana chīsana o-kyaku sama) | May 10, 1990 | |
| 7 - 107 | "The Suitcase" (スーツケースの中身 Sūtsukēsu no nakami, "The Inside of the Suitcase") | May 17, 1990 | |
| 8 - 108 | "The Hobgoblin's Magic" (飛行オニの魔術 Hikōoni no Majutsu, The Flying Demon's Magic) | May 24, 1990 | |
| 9 - 109 | "An Invisible Friend" (姿の見えないお友達 Sugata no mienai Otomodachi) | May 31, 1990 | |
| 10 - 110 | "The Invisible Child" (笑顔がもどったニンニ Egao ga modotta Ninni, Ninny got her smile back") | June 7, 1990 | |
| 11 - 111 | "The Wings" (大空を飛ぶスノーク Ōsora wo tobu Sunōku, "The Snork that flies the Sky") | June 14, 1990 | |
| 12 - 112 | "The Pirate" (ムーミン海賊と闘う Mūmin kaizoku to tatakau, "Moomin Fights the Pirates") | June 21, 1990 | |
| 13 - 113 | "The Last Dragon on Earth" (地球最後の龍 Chikyū Saigo no ryū) | June 28, 1990 | |
| 14 - 114 | "Our Neighbour is a Tough Teacher" (お隣りさんは教育ママ O-tonari san wa Kyōiku mama, "Our Neighbor is a Training Mama") | July 5, 1990 | |
| 15 - 115 | "Snorkmaiden's Lost Memory" (記憶を失ったフローレン Kiyoku wo ushinatta Furōren, "Floren Lost her Memory") | July 12, 1990 | |
| 16 - 116 | "A Close Encounter with Aliens" (ムーミン谷に火星人! Mūmin Dani ni Kaseijin, "Martians in Moomin Valley!") | July 26, 1990 | |
| 17 - 117 | "A Change of Air-" (ムーミンパパの家出 Mūminpapa no iede, Moominpapa runs away from Home) | August 2, 1990 | |
| 18 - 118 | "The Wooden Crate" (海から来た魔法の種 Umi kara kita Mahō no Tane, "The Magic Seed that came from the Sea") | August 9, 1990 | |
| 19 - 119 | "Buried in a Jungle" (ムーミン谷はジャングル Mūmin Dani wa Janguru, "Moomin Valley is a Jungle") | August 23, 1990 | |
| 20 - 120 | "Moomin Saves the Tigers" (ムーミン虎たちを救う Mūmin Tora-tachi wo sukū) | August 30, 1990 | |
| 21 - 121 | "Snufkin Leaves Moomin Valley" (スナフキンの旅立ち Sunafukin no Tabidachi, "Snufkin Setting off") | September 6, 1990 | |
| 22 - 122 | "Moomin and Little My's Adventure" (ムーミンとミイの大冒険 Mūmin to Mī no Daibōken) | September 13, 1990 | |
| 23 - 123 | "Visitors in Winter" (ムーミン谷の冬の住人 Mūmin Dani no Fuyu no Aruji, The Master of Winter in Moomin Valley) | September 20, 1990 | |
| 24 - 124 | "Hurry Up Snufkin" (帰ってこないスナフキン Kaettekonai Sunafukin, "Snufkin Hasn't Come Back") | September 27, 1990 | |
| 25 - 125 | "The Lighthouse" (パパの夢をのせて Papa no Yume wo Nosete, "Ride on Papa's Dream") | October 4, 1990 | |
| 26 - 126 | "The Day the Lighthouse Lit Up" (灯台に明かりのともる日 Tōdai ni Akari no Tomoru Hi) | October 4, 1990 | |
| 27 - 127 | "Aunt Jane" (お金持ちのジェーンおばさん Okanemochi no Jēn Obasan, "The Rich Aunt Jane") | October 18, 1990 | |
| 28 - 128 | "The Floating Theatre" (浮かぶばけもの屋敷 Okabu Bakemono Yashiki, "The Floating Monster Mansion") | October 25, 1990 | |
| 29 - 129 | "The Lost Children" (離れ離れの家族 Hanare Banare no Kazoku, The Lost Family") | November 1, 1990 | |
| 30 - 130 | "Midsummer" (喜びの再会 Yorokobi no Saikai, "The Happy Reunion") | November 8, 1990 | |
| 31 - 131 | "The Big Explosion" (スノークの空飛ぶ船 Sunōku no Sora tobu Sen, "Snork's Flying Ship) | November 15, 1990 | |
| 32 - 132 | "The Golden Fish" (まぼろしの金色の魚 Maboroshi no Kiniro no Sakana "The Illusional Golden Fish") | November 22, 1990 | |
| 33 - 133 | "The Spirit in the Lamp" (魔法のランプに願いを込めて Mahō no Ranpu ni Negai wo Komete, "Put your Wishes in the Magic Lamp") | November 29, 1990 | |
| 34 - 134 | "The Kite" (たこに乗ったミイ Tako ni Notta Mī, "My Rode a Kite") | December 6, 1990 | |
| 35 - 135 | "The Witch" (帰ってきた魔女 Kaettekita Majo, "The Witch Came Back") | December 13, 1990 | |
| 36 - 136 | "Christmas Is Coming" (クリスマスって何? Kurisumasu tte Nani, "What is Christmas?") | December 20, 1990 | |
| 37 - 137 | "The Midwinter Bonfire" (冬の生物たちのお祭り Fuyu no Seibutsu tachi no Omatsuri, "The Festival of the Winter Creatures") | December 27, 1990 | |
| 38 - 138 | "The Spell" (眠りの魔法 Nemuri no Mahō, "The Sleep Magic) | January 1, 1991 | |
| 39 - 139 | "Things That Go Bang in the Night" (真夜中の不思議な音 Mayonaka no Fushigina Oto, "The Mysterious Sound in the Night") | January 1, 1991 | |
| 40 - 140 | "The Secret Fireworks" (花火の秘密 Hanabi no Himitsu, "The Secret of the Fireworks") | January 10, 1991 | |
| 41 - 141 | "Crooks in Moomin Valley" (ムーミン谷の怪事件 Mūmin Dani no Kaijiken, "Moomin Valley's Mystery Case") | January 17, 1991 | |
| 42 - 142 | "The Solar Eclipse" (魔女のほうき Majo no Hōki, "The Witch's Broom") | January 24, 1991 | |
| 43 - 143 | "The Prima Donna" (サーカスのヒロイン Sākasu no Hiroin, "The Circus Heroine) | January 31, 1991 | |
| 44 - 144 | "The Birthday Present" (すてきなお誕生日 Sutekina Otanjōbi, "A Wonderful Birthday") | February 7, 1991 | |
| 45 - 145 | "Moomin Builds a House" (ムーミンの建てた家 Mūmin no Tateta Ie) | February 14, 1991 | |
| 46 - 146 | "Dame Elaine" (パパは大金持ち? Papa wa Okanemochi, "Papa is Rich?") | February 21, 1991 | |
| 47 - 147 | "The Hot Spring" (温泉が出た! Onsen ga Deta, "A Hot Spring Is Here") | February 28, 1991 | |
| 48 - 148 | "The Bubbles" (シャボン玉に乗ったムーミン Shabondama ni Notta Mūmin, "Moomin Rides a Bubble") | March 7, 1991 | |
| 49 - 149 | "The Giant Pumpkin" (ママの秘密 Mama no Himitsu, "Mama's Secret") | March 14, 1991 | |
| 50 - 150 | "The Imp" (枯木の中の声 Kareki no Naka no Koe, "The Voice inside the Dead Tree") | March 21, 1991 | |
| 51 - 151 | "Snorkmaiden Goes Psychic" (フローレンの超能力 Furōren no Chōnōryoku, "Floren's Supernatural Power) | March 28, 1991 | |
| 52 - 152 | "The Treasure Hunt" (宝探しで大騒ぎ Takara sagashi de Ōsawagi, "An Uproar in the Treasure Hunt") | April 4, 1991 | |
| 53 - 153 | "The Water Nymph" (水の妖精 Mizu no Yōsei) | April 4, 1991 | |
| 54 - 154 | "Mymble's Diamond" (ミムラに贈り物 Mimura ni Okurimono, "Mymla's Gift") | April 18, 1991 | |
| 55 - 155 | "Moominpappa's Second Youth" (寂しそうなパパ Sabishisōna Papa, "A Lonely Papa") | April 25, 1991 | |
| 56 - 156 | "The Secret Dish" (旅に出たママ Tabi ni Deta Mama, "Mama Goes on a Journey") | May 2, 1991 | |
| 57 - 157 | "Motherly Love" (フローレンの子育て Furōren no Kosodate, "Floren's Caretaking) | May 9, 1991 | |
| 58 - 158 | "Artists in Moominvalley" (ムーミン谷のコンテスト Mūmin Dani no Kontesuto, "Moomin Valley's Contest") | May 16, 1991 | |
| 59 - 159 | "Adventures of Moominpappa: Part 1" (パパの思い出) | May 23, 1991 | |
| 60 - 160 | "The Terrible Little My" (ミイのいたずら) | May 30, 1991 | |
| 61 - 161 | "Moomin's the Fortune-Teller" (ムーミンは天才占い師) | June 6, 1991 | |
| 62 - 162 | "Witch-Walking" (魔法の言葉) | June 13, 1991 | |
| 63 - 163 | "Adventures of Moominpappa: Part 2" (オーケストラ号の冒険) | June 20, 1991 | |
| 64 - 164 | "Moomin and the Birds" (巣立ちの日) | July 4, 1991 | |
| 65 - 165 | "The Fancy-Dress Ball" (ムーミンの秘密) | July 11, 1991 | |
| 66 - 166 | "The Vampire" (ムーミン谷の吸血鬼) | July 18, 1991 | |
| 67 - 167 | "The Chair" (壊れたパパの大事な椅子) | July 25, 1991 | |
| 68 - 168 | "Adventures of Moominpappa: Part 3" (ママと運命の出会い) | August 1, 1991 | |
| 69 - 169 | "The Phoenix" (伝説の不死鳥の危機) | August 8, 1991 | |
| 70 - 170 | "Moomin's Big Fish" (お魚パーティーで仲直り) | August 15, 1991 | |
| 71 - 171 | "The Slug-a-Bed Mushrooms" (光るキノコの正体) | August 22, 1991 | |
| 72 - 172 | "Moomin and the Dolphin" (ムーミンとイルカの友情) | August 29, 1991 | |
| 73 - 173 | "The Cave" (ムーミン探検隊) | September 5, 1991 | |
| 74 - 174 | "A Wonderful Present" (歌う花のプレゼント) | September 12, 1991 | |
| 75 - 175 | "The Fabulous Emerald" (ムーミンのすてきな夢) | September 19, 1991 | |
| 76 - 176 | "Painting a House" (こわれたおうち) | September 26, 1991 | |
| 77 - 177 | "The Great Race" (完成!空飛ぶ船) | October 3, 1991 | |
| 78 - 178 | "Going South" (ムーミン大空へ) | October 3, 1991 |
VHS and DVD[]
Several English language VHS releases were produced, and in 2005 a Region 2 DVD of the first five episodes, entitled "Moomin Mania" was released by Maverick Entertainment, but was discontinued.
As of today 52 out of 78 episodes of season one are available on DVD in the UK by STAX Entertainment, on 4 separate DVD sets. The first 2 DVDs were released in 2008 and the 2 following DVDs were released in 2009. 2 other DVDs were also suppose to be released in 2010 but STAX stopped releasing them due to unknown reasons, resulting in the last 25 episode being missing from the DVD sets.
The whole series has been released on VHS tapes and Region 2 DVDs in Finland and Sweden. The DVDs feature both the Finnish and Swedish dubs. There was no box set however, only separate releases with four to five episodes on each (full-priced) DVD. The entire series has been released on DVD in Japan,[1] in Japanese only.
Differences from the books[]
This series has some differences from the books, more strongly than '80s The Moomins, but not as much as the first Japanese series from the '60s. Some notable differences include:
- "Moomintroll" is called "Moomin", except episode 1 (Japanese) where the narrator introduces him as Moomintroll.
- Little My appears in the TV series from the beginning, but she does in later volumes in the books
- The Lady of the Cold looks very different from the description in the books.
- The episodes based on Moominsummer Madness feuture Sniff and not Whomper and Misabel.
- In the second episode based on Moominpappa's memoirs, Mymble replaces the role of Mymble's daughter.
- In the books the Moomins exchange the King's Ruby for the Hobgoblin's top hat and the Hobgoblin later arrives, to collect the King's Ruby, with a new hat. In the series however, Hobgoblin gets his top hat back in the second episode and in the seventh episode the Moomins instead exchange the King's Ruby for a heart-shaped sea-shell Snorkmaiden gave Moomin. The wishes made to the Hobgobline are different. In the series Mr Hemulen first wishes for a new spade to replace the one he borrowed and broke from MoominPappa. Then Snorkmaiden wishes for eyes like the Wooden Lady, but Moomin later wishes them back to normal after she ends up hating them. For the last wish Thingumy and Bob wish for a ruby just like the Hobgoblin's. In the book, Mamma wishes for Moomin to not miss Snufkin being gone, and Moomin wishes for some of the party's food to go to Snufkin.
- A Fillyjonk raises Moominpappa in the orphanage in the series, while in the books it's a Hemulen who raises him.
- Snorkmaiden and Sniff who disappear occasionally in the book series have bigger roles in the TV series and they appear quite often throughout the series.
- Snufkin takes a friendly attitude towards people who are not in the Moomin family. He doesn't smoke a pipe in the series.
- Snork appears regularly and he's portrayed as a scientist and inventor whereas in the books he's a very minor character who mainly tries to solve varying problems with systematic approach. Snork's fixation with flying is not based on the books.
- Alicia and her grandmother (the witch) are characters who were invented for the series, they did not exist in the books or comic strips.
Gallery[]
References[]
External links[]
- Tanoshii Muumin Ikka at the Internet Movie Database
- Template:Ann anime
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- Moomin at ClassicKidsTV.co.uk
- Telescreen and episode guide