Latest news with #MoominMuseum
Euronews
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Euronews
Fans flock to Finland to celebrate as Moomins turn 80
80 years on, the Moomins are still going strong. Finland's most beloved literary family, the Moomins, mark their milestone birthday this year with a joyful celebration in Tampere, home to the world's only Moomin Museum. The white, hippo-like characters created by Tove Jansson have been winning hearts since 1945, when "The Moomins and the Great Flood" first introduced readers to the curious little Moomintroll and his doting Moominmamma. Eight books, multiple TV shows, two theme parks and countless mugs later, the fandom is going strong. For Rosa Senn, who travelled from the UK with her wife Lizzie, the celebrations last weekend were more than just a fan pilgrimage – it was a full-circle moment. 'Moomins have been such a special thing in my life, my whole life,' Senn said, recalling how her Norwegian mother read the books to her as a child. When she and Lizzie spent the first year and a half of their relationship long-distance, a Moomintroll plush helped bridge the miles – and even made it into their wedding as ringbearer. Their Instagram account documenting Moomin adventures has even made them minor celebrities in the fandom, connecting them with other enthusiasts – like Stefanie and Michael Geutebrück, a couple from Germany whose apartment, according to Stefanie, 'looks like a Moomin shop'. And they're not alone. Moomin merchandise is big business, from mugs and plush toys to stationery and limited-edition collectibles. 'The Moomin mug is one of the best-known collector items worldwide,' said Selma Green, director of the Moomin Museum. But behind the fuzzy nostalgia lies a deeper story... Tove Jansson, who created the characters in the aftermath of World War II, wove in themes of love, resilience, and the search for safety. The first book was published as Finland emerged from wartime trauma, and Jansson used the Moomins to offer comfort – without shying away from darker undertones. 'Her first Moomin book came out in a dark era. She felt it was very difficult to paint, and she started writing what she called a fairy tale,' said Sirke Happonen, a Moomins scholar and associate professor at the University of Helsinki. 'I think she wanted to make a contrast – Tove Jansson loved contrasts – by writing about this beautiful world, full of friendship and love." Jansson's own life also made its way into the stories. Her long-time partner, artist Tuulikki Pietilä, was immortalised as the practical, no-nonsense character Too-ticky. Queer themes and fluid gender roles quietly infuse Moominvalley, making it a quietly radical world wrapped in whimsy. That world, however, has faced modern scrutiny. Debate was stirred this summer when it emerged that the character Stinky – a mischievous, fuzzy creature – was temporarily removed from a New York library mural over concerns it might be interpreted as racist. 'To me, this became quite a big surprise,' said Happonen. 'I have more thought about Stinky being close to a mole or a vole.' Still, fans are undeterred. As the Moomins hit 80, the sense of community around them feels stronger than ever.
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
Fans celebrate the 80th birthday of the Moomins, Finland's most lovable literary cartoon family
TAMPERE, Finland -- The Moomins, Finland's most lovable literary cartoon family, are celebrating their 80th birthday this year. The chubby, white, hippopotamus-like characters have captivated readers worldwide since author and illustrator Tove Jansson published 'The Moomins and the Great Flood' in 1945. The children's book features Moomintroll and Moominmamma in their search for the missing Moominpappa. Jansson, a Swedish-speaking Finn who died in 2001, went on to write eight more books, multiple picture books and a comic strip about the Moomins in Swedish. The series, set in the fictional Moominvalley, has been translated into more than 60 languages, and sparked movie and TV adaptations, children's plays, art gallery exhibitions and an eponymous museum — plus theme parks in Finland and Japan. Finnair, the national carrier, has even put Moomins on its airplanes. On Saturday, fans flocked to Tampere in southern Finland — home of the Moomin Museum — to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the 1945 publication as well as Jansson's Aug. 9, 1914, birthday. For Rosa Senn of the United Kingdom, the festivities reminded her of her childhood. Her Norwegian mother, a fan since her own youth, read all of the tales to Senn and her sister growing up. 'Moomins have been such a special thing in my life, my whole life," Senn said. "I just carried that love for Moomin, for Tove Jansson, with me into my adult life.' When Senn met her now-wife, Lizzie, they were initially in a long-distance relationship for the first year and a half. Senn introduced Lizzie to the books and the couple used a plush doll of Moomintroll to feel closer to each other while they were apart. The doll was the ringbearer at their wedding, and they traveled to Tampere on their honeymoon. The Senns also made an Instagram page documenting the trio's adventures, which now has nearly 11,000 followers. The social media account has connected them with Moomin fans all over the world, including Stefanie and Michael Geutebrück from Germany. Stefanie Geutebrück said she remembers falling in love with the Moomins while watching their animations during her childhood in East Germany. She also brought the Moomins into her husband's life, to the point where they also traveled to Tampere for Saturday's entertainment. "Now he's a total fan and our apartment looks like a Moomin shop,' she said. Beyond the Geutebrücks' home, Moomin merchandise is hugely popular. There's a massive market for Moomintroll, Moominmamma and Moominpappa souvenirs across the globe, and secondary characters like their friends Stinky, Sniff, Snufkin, Snork Maiden and Hattifatteners are also well-loved. 'The Moomin mug is one of the best-known collector items worldwide,' Selma Green, director of the Moomin Museum, said. 'You buy a Moomin mug, you like the characters, you maybe see something on TV — but we all go back to the books, the original illustrations.' Depictions of the character Stinky, described as a lovable rogue who has captured Moominmamma's heart, generated debate and outcry in Finland this summer after reports emerged in Finnish media that Stinky was removed from a mural in an exhibit at the Brooklyn Public Library in New York due to concerns that the cartoon might be perceived as racist. 'A single image of Stinky was removed from the youth wing — which had the potential to be negatively misconstrued by young children without a fuller understanding of the Moomin universe,' the library said Monday in a statement to The Associated Press. "However, Stinky does appear in other areas of the exhibition and the Moomins books remain available for patrons to check out as they always have.' Jansson's drawings of Stinky shows the character with a dark, fuzzy body, with skinny legs and antennae. He has a reputation as an unsuccessful criminal — whose plans get foiled or he gets caught in the act — with an appetite for furniture and other wooden things. 'To me, this became as quite a big surprise because I have more thought about Stinky being close to a mole or a vole," Sirke Happonen, a Moomins scholar and associate professor at the University of Helsinki, said of the library's decision. "He's an interesting character in many ways, like controversial and fun.' The Moomin stories honor the idea of family as a flexible concept. Diverse gender roles and queer themes also come across in Moominvalley, as well as in Jansson's other works, reflecting her LGBTQ+ identity. Her partner of more than 45 years, engraver and artist Tuulikki Pietilä, was memorialized as the character Too-ticky in 'Moominland Midwinter.' The couple lived in Helsinki and spent their summers on the small rocky island of Klovharu in the Gulf of Finland until the 1990s. Jansson's stories also reflect war and catastrophe. The first book, 'The Moomins and the Great Flood,' features the displaced Moomin family and was published in the final months of World War II. The conflict had ruined Finland, even though it had remained independent, and one of the author's brothers went missing during part of his time at the front. While Jansson sought to portray Moominvalley as an escape, Moomin stories have always had a mixture of peril and comfort. 'Her first Moomin book came out in a dark era. She felt it was very difficult to paint, and she started writing what she called a fairy tale, but she excused herself not to include princesses or princes,' Happonen said. Moominvalley was borne of a need to find beauty at a time when Jansson's existence, along with everyone else in Finland, felt frail. 'I think she wanted to make a contrast — Tove Jansson loved contrasts — by writing about this beautiful world, full of friendship and love,' Happonen said.
Japan Today
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
Fans celebrate 80th birthday of Moomins, Finland's most lovable literary cartoon family
Finland Moomins Fans celebrate the 80th anniversary of the publication of the Finnish children's classic, "The Moomins and The Great Flood," and the birthday of the author Tove Jansson, in Tampere, Finland, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Tommi Ojala) By HELI SIVUNEN, TOMMI OJALA and STEFANIE DAZIO The Moomins, Finland's most lovable literary cartoon family, are celebrating their 80th birthday this year. The chubby, white, hippopotamus-like characters have captivated readers worldwide since author and illustrator Tove Jansson published 'The Moomins and the Great Flood' in 1945. The children's book featuring Moomintroll and Moominmamma in their search for the missing Moominpappa. Jansson, a Swedish-speaking Finn who died in 2001, went on to write eight more books, multiple picture books and a comic strip about the Moomins in Swedish. The series, set in the fictional Moominvalley, has been translated into more than 60 languages, and sparked movie and TV adaptations, children's plays, art gallery exhibitions and an eponymous museum — plus theme parks in Finland and Japan. Finnair, the national carrier, has even put Moomins on its airplanes. On Saturday, fans flocked to Tampere in southern Finland — home of the Moomin Museum — to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the 1945 publication as well as Jansson's Aug. 9, 1914, birthday. For Rosa Senn of the United Kingdom, the festivities reminded her of her childhood. Her Norwegian mother, a fan since her own youth, read all of the tales to Senn and her sister growing up. 'Moomins have been such a special thing in my life, my whole life," Senn said. "I just carried that love for Moomin, for Tove Jansson, with me into my adult life.' When Senn met her now-wife, Lizzie, they were initially in a long-distance relationship for the first year and a half. Senn introduced Lizzie to the books and the couple used a plush doll of Moomintroll to feel closer to each other while they were apart. The doll was the ringbearer at their wedding, and they traveled to Tampere on their honeymoon. The Senns also made an Instagram page documenting the trio's adventures, which now has nearly 11,000 followers. The social media account has connected them with Moomin fans all over the world, including Stefanie and Michael Geutebrück from Germany. Stefanie Geutebrück said she remembers falling in love with the Moomins while watching their animations during her childhood in East Germany. She also brought the Moomins into her husband's life, to the point where they also traveled to Tampere for Saturday's entertainment. "Now he's a total fan and our apartment looks like a Moomin shop,' she said. Beyond the Geutebrücks' home, Moomin merchandise is hugely popular. There's a massive market for Moomintroll, Moominmamma and Moominpappa souvenirs across the globe, and secondary characters like their friends Stinky, Sniff, Snufkin, Snork Maiden and Hattifatteners are also well-loved. 'The Moomin mug is one of the best-known collector items worldwide,' Selma Green, director of the Moomin Museum, said. 'You buy a Moomin mug, you like the characters, you maybe see something on TV — but we all go back to the books, the original illustrations.' Depictions of the character Stinky, described as a lovable rogue who has captured Moominmamma's heart, generated debate and outcry in Finland this summer after reports emerged in Finnish media that Stinky was removed from murals in an exhibit at the Brooklyn Public Library in New York due to concerns that the cartoon might be perceived as racist. Jansson's drawings of Stinky shows the character with a dark, fuzzy body, with skinny legs and antennae. He has a reputation as an unsuccessful criminal — whose plans get foiled or he gets caught in the act — with an appetite for furniture and other wooden things. 'To me, this became as quite a big surprise because I have more thought about Stinky being close to a mole or a vole," Sirke Happonen, a Moomins scholar and associate professor at the University of Helsinki, said of the library's decision. "He's an interesting character in many ways, like controversial and fun.' The Moomin stories honor the idea of family as a flexible concept. Diverse gender roles and queer themes also come across in Moominvalley, as well as in Jansson's other works, reflecting her LGBTQ+ identity. Her partner of more than 45 years, engraver and artist Tuulikki Pietilä, was memorialized as the character Too-ticky in 'Moominland Midwinter.' The couple lived in Helsinki and spent their summers on the small rocky island of Klovharu in the Gulf of Finland until the 1990s. Jansson's stories also reflect war and catastrophe. The first book, 'The Moomins and the Great Flood,' features the displaced Moomin family and was published in the final months of World War II. The conflict had ruined Finland, even though it had remained independent, and one of the author's brothers went missing during part of his time at the front. While Jansson sought to portray Moominvalley as an escape, Moomin stories have always had a mixture of peril and comfort. 'Her first Moomin book came out in a dark era. She felt it was very difficult to paint, and she started writing what she called a fairy tale, but she excused herself not to include princesses or princes,' Happonen said. Moominvalley was borne of a need to find beauty at a time when Jansson's existence, along with everyone else in Finland, felt frail. 'I think she wanted to make a contrast — Tove Jansson loved contrasts — by writing about this beautiful world, full of friendship and love,' Happonen said. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Leader Live
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Cartoon family the Moomins to celebrate 80th birthday
The chubby, white, hippopotamus-like characters have captivated readers worldwide since author and illustrator Tove Jansson published The Moomins And The Great Flood in 1945. The children's book features Moomintroll and Moominmamma in their search for the missing Moominpappa. Jansson, a Swedish-speaking Finn who died in 2001, went on to write eight more books, multiple picture books and a comic strip about the Moomins in Swedish. The series, set in the fictional Moominvalley, has been translated into more than 60 languages, and sparked movie and TV adaptations, children's plays, art gallery exhibitions and an eponymous museum – plus theme parks in Finland and Japan. Finnair, the national carrier, has even put Moomins on its aircraft. On Saturday, fans flocked to Tampere in southern Finland – home of the Moomin Museum – to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the 1945 publication as well as Jansson's birthday of August 9 1914. Moomin merchandise is hugely popular across the world. There is a massive market for Moomintroll, Moominmamma and Moominpappa souvenirs across the globe, and secondary characters like their friends Stinky, Sniff, Snufkin, Snork Maiden and Hattifatteners are also well-loved. 'The Moomin mug is one of the best-known collector items worldwide,' Selma Green, director of the Moomin Museum, said. 'You buy a Moomin mug, you like the characters, you maybe see something on TV – but we all go back to the books, the original illustrations.' Depictions of the character Stinky, described as a loveable rogue who has captured Moominmamma's heart, generated debate and outcry in Finland this summer after reports emerged in Finnish media that Stinky was removed from murals in an exhibit at the Brooklyn Public Library in New York due to concerns that the cartoon might be perceived as racist. Jansson's drawings of Stinky shows the character with a dark, fuzzy body, with skinny legs and antennae. He has a reputation as an unsuccessful criminal – whose plans get foiled or he gets caught in the act – with an appetite for furniture and other wooden things. The Moomin stories honour the idea of family as a flexible concept. Diverse gender roles and queer themes also come across in Moominvalley, as well as in Jansson's other works, reflecting her LGBT+ identity. Her partner of more than 45 years, engraver and artist Tuulikki Pietila, was memorialised as the character Too-ticky in Moominland Midwinter. While Jansson sought to portray Moominvalley as an escape, Moomin stories have always had a mixture of peril and comfort. 'Her first Moomin book came out in a dark era. She felt it was very difficult to paint, and she started writing what she called a fairy tale, but she excused herself not to include princesses or princes,' said Sirke Happonen, a Moomins scholar and associate professor at the University of Helsinki.
Rhyl Journal
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
Cartoon family the Moomins to celebrate 80th birthday
The chubby, white, hippopotamus-like characters have captivated readers worldwide since author and illustrator Tove Jansson published The Moomins And The Great Flood in 1945. The children's book features Moomintroll and Moominmamma in their search for the missing Moominpappa. Jansson, a Swedish-speaking Finn who died in 2001, went on to write eight more books, multiple picture books and a comic strip about the Moomins in Swedish. The series, set in the fictional Moominvalley, has been translated into more than 60 languages, and sparked movie and TV adaptations, children's plays, art gallery exhibitions and an eponymous museum – plus theme parks in Finland and Japan. Finnair, the national carrier, has even put Moomins on its aircraft. On Saturday, fans flocked to Tampere in southern Finland – home of the Moomin Museum – to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the 1945 publication as well as Jansson's birthday of August 9 1914. Moomin merchandise is hugely popular across the world. There is a massive market for Moomintroll, Moominmamma and Moominpappa souvenirs across the globe, and secondary characters like their friends Stinky, Sniff, Snufkin, Snork Maiden and Hattifatteners are also well-loved. 'The Moomin mug is one of the best-known collector items worldwide,' Selma Green, director of the Moomin Museum, said. 'You buy a Moomin mug, you like the characters, you maybe see something on TV – but we all go back to the books, the original illustrations.' Depictions of the character Stinky, described as a loveable rogue who has captured Moominmamma's heart, generated debate and outcry in Finland this summer after reports emerged in Finnish media that Stinky was removed from murals in an exhibit at the Brooklyn Public Library in New York due to concerns that the cartoon might be perceived as racist. Jansson's drawings of Stinky shows the character with a dark, fuzzy body, with skinny legs and antennae. He has a reputation as an unsuccessful criminal – whose plans get foiled or he gets caught in the act – with an appetite for furniture and other wooden things. The Moomin stories honour the idea of family as a flexible concept. Diverse gender roles and queer themes also come across in Moominvalley, as well as in Jansson's other works, reflecting her LGBT+ identity. Her partner of more than 45 years, engraver and artist Tuulikki Pietila, was memorialised as the character Too-ticky in Moominland Midwinter. While Jansson sought to portray Moominvalley as an escape, Moomin stories have always had a mixture of peril and comfort. 'Her first Moomin book came out in a dark era. She felt it was very difficult to paint, and she started writing what she called a fairy tale, but she excused herself not to include princesses or princes,' said Sirke Happonen, a Moomins scholar and associate professor at the University of Helsinki.
