Don't have time to read through the whole article. But just wanted to point out that there are also Moomin cartoons which have really politically uncorrect stories: like Moomins travelling to spain, trying to buy opium but eating some weird drugs instead and then staring for sea for a week and missing their fligth back.
The dark side of the Moomins
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Re: The dark side of the Moomins
#32I lived in Finland for a couple years. Finns, like the Moomins, are whimsical yet profound, like midsummer’s fleeting joy before the long winter. They mirror Finland’s love of nature and quiet isolation, with their cozy valley echoing the Finns forest cabins by a lake. The happy vibe hides struggles—tough winters, heavy drinking—but the Moomins’ warmth reflects the Finns’ wholesome character.
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Re: The dark side of the Moomins
#33Multiple comments here referring to tv-shows. Just be aware that Tove Jansson wrote and illustrated books and comics but did not produce tv shows. What you have seen was not created by Tove Jansson. The comics and the books are different in genre, even if they use the same characters and storylines. The comics are darkly satirial of modern life while the illustrated books feels more poetic and timeless. Fun fact: Jan…
> Fun fact: Jansson illustrated The Hobbit and drew Gollum as a giant. Tolkien realized he never described the size of Gollum and made adjustments to later editions.
For those curious like me, here are some low-res images:
https://zepe.de/tjillu/hobbit/index.html
And here an article about the illustrations (haven't read) with a a few images in higher resolution (including Gollum):
Re: The dark side of the Moomins
#34[flagged]
Re: The dark side of the Moomins
#35Multiple comments here referring to tv-shows. Just be aware that Tove Jansson wrote and illustrated books and comics but did not produce tv shows. What you have seen was not created by Tove Jansson. The comics and the books are different in genre, even if they use the same characters and storylines. The comics are darkly satirial of modern life while the illustrated books feels more poetic and timeless. Fun fact: Jan…
I don't think there's any reason to gatekeep this so strongly. The original anime and it's sequel, maybe, but both Tove and Lars Jansson were heavily involved with other series.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Moomins_(TV_series) :
> It is, in contrast to the 1990s series, widely believed to be the most faithful TV adaptation of Tove Jansson's stories, and much closer to her vision. Tove herself had a great deal of involvement during the series' production and was very happy with it (as revealed in an interview with Anne Wood in Simon Sheridan's 2007 book The A to Z of Classic Children's Television). The scripts for each episode were translated from Polish into Swedish and sent to Tove and Lars Jansson, who, if they felt that anything needed to be changed, corrected the script, expanding or rewriting it; afterwards, the scripts were sent back and only then did production of the particular episode begin.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moomin_(1990_TV_series) :
> Tove and Lars Jansson were also involved with the screenplay by doing certain changes in scripts.
Re: The dark side of the Moomins
#36It’s fascinating how the Moomins’ appeal seems to stem from a comforting, albeit slightly skewed, portrayal of family dynamics – a familiar, albeit idealized, model. While I appreciate the insightful analysis of the misinterpretations, I’m more drawn to the sheer whimsicalness and resilience of the stories themselves, rather than a bleak, pessimistic view of domestic life. It's a brilliant observation to connect the Moomins’ narrative to broader themes of longing and escape, a quality I find deeply compelling.
Re: The dark side of the Moomins
#37Earlier quoted context omitted.
I love the books, I have read them all to my kids, and I agree that I think the article takes its thesis too far. The books are strange tales. They have dark undertones. And sometimes the adults take actions that only someone with life experience would really understand (e.g. Moominpappa wanting to suddenly upend everything in the families life and move to an isolated island). But, my kids mostly pick up on the adven…
Based on your experience, what age do you think is ideal for introducing the books to kids?
Not the previous poster, but based on my own experience as a kid and also my kids I'd say age 5 is perfectly good age to introduce the books.
As an adult you pick up on some the more serious themes but as a kid you just enjoy the story and the bit of danger and overcoming and the overall wholesomeness.
Re: The dark side of the Moomins
#38I never read any of the books, didn't actually know they were originally a book. I grew up with the TV show though. Hated it. I've never watched TV or film for the feels. Tv and film for me is escapism, I don't want to be depressed or have to think. I'm assuming this is why I never liked the moomins.
Tove wrote them as escapist escape:
(FTA)
The Moomin stories were born, Jansson wrote to her friend Eva, “when I was feeling sad and scared of bombs and wanted to get away from gloomy thoughts… I would creep into an unbelievable world where everything was natural and friendly – and possible.”
Re: The dark side of the Moomins
#39That’s a really interesting take on the Moomins. I agree that the misinterpretations of their tales are fascinating – it highlights how stories can be shaped by our own perspectives. I especially appreciate how you highlight the resilience of the family dynamic, even with its dysfunction. It’s a thoughtful and somewhat melancholic, yet captivating, perspective, and I can see how that resonates with you.
Re: The dark side of the Moomins
#40Earlier quoted context omitted.
I love the books, I have read them all to my kids, and I agree that I think the article takes its thesis too far. The books are strange tales. They have dark undertones. And sometimes the adults take actions that only someone with life experience would really understand (e.g. Moominpappa wanting to suddenly upend everything in the families life and move to an isolated island). But, my kids mostly pick up on the adven…
Based on your experience, what age do you think is ideal for introducing the books to kids?
I started reading the novel stories when the kids were 3yo and 6yo. Both love them. My 3yo for the drawings mostly.
There are a number of excellent picture book adaptations of stories that have been published too. But, we read those afterwards and obviously they aren’t as enjoyable to me.
Because this is HN: My tradition is to use my Inkpalm 5 and read them with the lights out at bedtime- we pass the reader around to look at pictures.