Tanoshii Muumin Ikka

*English is not my first language! This review will be edited... eventually!*

I think it should only be appropiate of me to give my very first review to the very first anime I've ever seen... and it would be this! Moomins, or Muumilaakson Tarinoita, as it would be called here in Finland, is without an doubt, one of the very best works of anime, that I've ever seen - period. Not necesarily "the best" because of the plot, nor even for the story, but because of the characters, and the world they bring to life, simply just by being there. It's an iconic classic, that's what ... it is!

As a child, I grew up watching this anime, and I didn't even realize it was an anime, before finishing high school, thinking it's just some swedish cartoon - yeah, I was stupid! Now, I'm not really good at reviewing something, that I love, so let me just put it bluntly...

Moomins is a fantastic little slice-of-life story in a fantastic world, full of fantastic creatures and stories, that should belong to any little finns bookshelves - Moomins was originally a bookseries first! Not nescessarily ment for little little children per say, but good stuff nontherless!

The story is... well, there really isn't one! Like I said, it is, down to it's core, just some slice-of-life storytelling, heavy emphasis being on the slice-of-life. No big conflicts, villains or actual from-the-beginning-to-the-end- story arcs, and that alone can be a very heafty negative to many viewers. There are little mini-arcs here and there, but not any big arcs - just feeling the need to clarify that!

But, what's the plot, then? There are these cute little moomins, with their colorful and delightful little friends, and because there's no school, jobs or social insecurity - whatever that is! - they spend their days by just... running around in this ever-so peaceful and beautiful moomin valley, find secrets and solve mysteries, all in a while waiting for ever-looming winter, that will by every coming year, put every singe one of them into a deep sleep, before the next warm summer. It's basically just... life - nothing more, nothing less! Some minor arcs or themes may pop up in every now and then, such as the Lighthouse-arc, with it's themes of isolation and fear of loneliness, the Little Visitors with stranger-danger- warning signs all over, and the King Ruby, with the themes of materialistic obsession, but those aren't even that long to beging with - about two to three episodes - and won't take away that certain sence of travel with no goal, as you move along with the show.

The "story" itself is not even that hard to follow, and that's only to be expected from a show, made for (nordic/melancholic) kids. As a child, you can just let yourself enjoy all the fun adventures, all the lovable characters, and their antics, as well as have a few frights and sad tears here and there - I swear, that Groke still gives me the shivers! But, just because Moomins was originally intented to entertain children - in my mindset, anyway - it still doesn't mean that it can't age well, or be even more relevant to us adults! As an adult, you can still enjoy all the same things, as you did as a child, but this time, the innocence of a child replaced by the experience of an adult helps you marvel the subtle philosophies, wisdoms and lessons, that either did scar you for life as a child, or give you now that little spark of hope as an adult, when winter seems to just go on, and on, and the warm days of summer seem ever so distant, and gray. Moomins remainds me - an adult, only by the definition of a word - that not all good things in the world come with a pricetag, and sometimes, it's okay to just be who you are, flaws and all, and just sometimes, the world itself is way too big and mysterious place, to try to even comprehend it. Moomins feed that little child in me, and I simply love it!

The characters in moomin valley are the force, that keeps this show alive and real. Every single character is like a someone, who you know, used to know, or would like to know, in real life. You want to be hugged by a mama moomin, you want to listen papa moomin's stories, and have all these crazy adventures with him - or not, if you want to hold your booze *wink*. You want to watch stars with Snuffkin, and wonder, what life even is, and what is it for. You want to play all day with Moomin trollen and pals, and kick Stincky's ass, when he's teasing and bullying poor little Ninni - am I spelling it right? None of them are completely morally black or white, and that's what makes them realistic, and... well, alive, like real people. They may not be the deepest, most multi-dimentional characters you've ever seen in terms of a storytelling or characterization, be it in anime or in any other story or media you might know and love, and none of them really change in any meaningful way, but they all feel like real people, and that's exactly what I wanted as a child, and expecially now, as an adult - real, lovable and colorful people, with realistic personalities, that are just simple enought, that you feel like you know them good enough, but feel like there's still something beneath them... something secret, and maybe even a little bit darker, than you'd expect.

That said, Moomins sertainly isn't for everybody. Some of the stories, themes, situations and characters may indeed scare some of the smallest in the family, and some may not be able to get ovet the fact, that there really isn't any big picture/lead/red string in the story, or that the characters never really change - they are, what they are, and that's that - finding the overall show either lacking, overly simple, stupid, even, or just plain boring. Like already said above, there are some little arcs here and there, like The Exploits of Moominpappa, Moominsummer Madness, and Moominland Midwinter, based on the original books by Tove Jansson, but that's about it - no big plot twists or revelations of bigger scale. There's also no actual villain/s, nor big threat/s or conflict/s, and in the end... pretty sad ending too, with two best friends departing, and never seeing each other again - one of the biggest tear-jerkers of my childhood/anime-life!

The original books are also way more darker, and gloomier, with all-so-subtle references on booze, drugs, and even heavier philosophies and darker themes like death, suicide and abandonment, but that's just us finns for ya! Little bit dark, mixed with a little bit of cuteness! Also, although this series was drawn in Japan, I'll be damned if anyone can find this in its entirety (26 episodes is NOT a COMPLETE series of Moomins! There are 76 episodes + season 2!) in any other languages than finnish, swedish or japanese, which can also be a big turn-off for some!

All in all, I would warmily recommend this series with a full heart, and not just for kids... or just for finns/swedish. It's a fantastic world, with fantastic characters, and cute yet meaningful stories and themes, that I for one haven't yet found from anywhere else, from any other franchise. I've always known, that if we all could live even just one year in a place like Moomin valley, we all would possibly be... maybe not better, but changed people, and that thought alone, makes me wanna travel that far away distant place time, and time again.

Story: 10
Art: 9
Sound: 10
Characters: 10
Enjoyment: 10
Overall: 10

Tanoshii Muumin Ikka is a 1990 TV show that is mostly aimed at kids - but not only. It is one of the best animated works in existence, and that is because it is created by a combination of admirable people. Tove Jansson, the original creator of the Moomin books; Akira Miyazaki, the famous World Masterpiece Theater scriptwriter; an exceptional voice acting cast; great animators. Many episodes are just playful and childish, but you will be astonished by how meaningful some of them might be, or relatable for adults.


The first thing that must be mentioned about this series is Tove Jansson’s philosophical approach and the ... main messages she wanted to convey while writing her Moomin books. Aside from a cute-looking and colorful group of friends, the main characters have a unique, carefree lifestyle, close to nature, and are far from daily obligations. The spirit of the Moomin Valley can be characterized as “cottagecore”: emphasizing simplicity, tranquility, and peacefulness; far away from the modern world, basically rural life. Also, the way that short, calming stories happen in the same place in every episode is enough reason to call Muumin an “iyashikei” anime, though there are some dramatical and stressful episodes out there too.


Here, I consider it important to mention that Tove Jansson lived as a queer woman in an age when being LGBTQ+ was illegal in Finland. Sometimes, she tried to portray "gay" people metaphorically in her books. For example, Thingumy and Bob were a couple inspired by her relationship with the girlfriend she had, back then. But what's more important for the series, is that Moomintroll's relationship with Snufkin was implied to be something more than pure friendship. They spend romantic time with each other, and their bond is much stronger than any other friendly bond in the series.


Tanoshii Muumin Ikka was not the first Moomin anime out there. Moomin became famous in Japan in 1969, with “Muumin”; another adaptation of the classic novels. Japanese people seemed to like it, but sadly, it was heavily inspired by western animation and used guns and violence as comedy. This was something disappointing for Tove Jansson because it did not fit well the novel themes and failed to convey the main messages. Thankfully, the 1990 series was a huge success. Among all Moomin adaptations, Japanese or not, it is known that Tanoshii Muumin Ikka was Tove Jansson’s most beloved one! Other older adaptations include Mumintrollet (1969, Swedish production), Shin Muumin (1972), and The Moomins (1977, Polish production).


So, what is the reason this was the most successful adaptation? Studio Telescreen and Akira Miyazaki tried to carry the spirit of the Moomins, but also to give it some new, original color. What was special about it, was that despite the fact there were a few changes, it followed precisely the “spirit” of the Moomin Valley Tove Jansson had created in her novels and picture books. There were some differences in the characters; for example, studio Telescreen decided to name Snork Maiden “Floren”, which made her name sound cuter. There were a few character additions too, which I will mention later. But overall, the general concept and meaning remained the same.


In most episodes, the main characters meet each other at the Moomins’ house, or somewhere within the Moomin Valley and set on a new adventure. This makes the episode building easier, and the feeling more nostalgic. You know that everything starts from the Moomin Valley; it’s something like Central Perk or MacLaren’s Pub. But the valley holds many mysteries, and as the show progresses there is great world building. There’s the cave, the Lonely Mountains, the boathouse… and the Hattifatteners island, which is a mysterious neighboring land. There’s always something to explore while watching Tanoshii Muumin Ikka.


Art and animation are breathtaking. Even if, at first glance, the character designs look weird to you, they are lovely and you’ll get used to them soon. Studio Telescreen made a great effort to adapt the designs in an animated work, and the few changes from Tove Jansson’s picture books were only for the better. For example, Mr. Brisk appears as a hemulen (I will explain later what kind of species a hemulen is) and teaches Moomintroll how to ski.


The music is one of the strongest parts of Tanoshii Muumin Ikka. Sumio Shiratori and his wife, Emiko Shiratori, did an amazing job making the soundtrack. Sumio composed the OST and Emiko performed the first opening and both ending songs. Here I will have to mention that Emiko Shiratori’s presence gave bonus points to the anime itself, as her opening song performance is heartwarming, and her first ending song performance is soothing and beautiful. This pair of OP-ED songs was used for episodes 1-52, and in my opinion, it was a great combination. In episodes 53-78, the theme songs changed. The opening song was sung by the voice acting cast, and it had a more playful and kid-friendly vibe into it. The second ending song, too, had a happier tone. Emiko Shiratori also did an exceptional job as the narrator of the show, with her tender voice. That’s one of the main reasons I definitely recommend the Japanese version to the English dub. The English dub is not bad, but the original one is something else!


The voice actors play an important role, too, in why the Japanese version is so good. There, we have Takehito Koyasu (Dio, Zeke, Roswaal) in his youngest voice acting era. In my opinion, he was incomparable back then – his performance as Snufkin is one of my top 10 voice acting performances of all time. But it doesn’t end here; all the cast is exceptional. There’s even Akio Ootsuka (Iskandar, Ekubo, Blackbeard) as Moominpappa, and if you ask me, Minami Takayaka’s performance as Moomintroll, Ikuko Tani’s performance as Moominmamma and Hiroko Maruyama’s performance as Stinky were all equally fantastic.


Now, I will be talking about the (main) characters.


Moomintroll is the protagonist of the series. A playful and innocent child Moomin, whose main interests include exploring new things and spending time with his friends. He likes gazing at the sea, dreaming, and going on new adventures. Unlike his best friend, Snufkin, his biggest discomfort is solitude. Moomintroll becomes sad when Snufkin leaves on vacation, and his best moments are when Snufkin returns.


Moominpappa is the father of Moomintroll; a lovely father figure, who loves his family and appreciates little things in life. He still dreams of becoming a writer and he writes books or theatre scripts. He is a goofy character and sometimes he might handle situations in a bad way, but his intentions are always kind, even if he lacks manners. One of my favorite scenes includes Moominpappa sliding down a slide, falling, and eventually hurting his back. That’s the kind of man he is, and he’s proof that everyone has a childish side to them, even when they grow older.


Well, especially men. Because Moominmamma is different on that part. She is skillful when it comes to housework and cooking, and always takes care of her family and their friends. She looks more mature, and everyone can rely on her in hard times. Moominmamma always holds a handbag with her, carrying all the important things, so that she can help her family and friends under any unexpected circumstances. Another trait of hers is that she trusts her son and even lets him participate in dangerous activities, without worrying or panicking.


Aside from Moomins, there are also Snorks in the Moomin Valley. Snorks resemble Moomins but their main difference is that they have hair. The only Snorks we know are Floren – who is also a main character - and her brother, whose name is Snork. Floren is a friend of Moomintroll and seems to have a crush on him. There are some romantic scenes between them, like gazing at sceneries or sleeping together on a hammock. Snork is quite different from the Snork we know in the books, and his main purpose in life is to create an aircraft. He studies all day to achieve this.


Snufkin is a mysterious Mumrik (different from Moomins and Snorks, Mumriks resemble tiny humans) who is quite a philosopher and thinker. He might have a strong bond with Moomintroll, but in fact, he has another best friend: solitude. His main hobbies include playing the harmonica and fishing. He loves wandering around, and in winter, he always leaves the Moomin Valley and goes south. His departure is always saddening, then he enjoys visiting new places, and when he returns to the Moomin Valley he is overjoyed.


Little My (pronounced “mee”) is a Mymble; another human-like species from the Moomin Valley, which resembles Mumriks. She is a tiny girl with orange hair, full of energy and living her life to the fullest. Sometimes she causes trouble for the Moomins because her actions might put her in a dangerous position, but she is loved by them and always welcomed into their house.


Sniff’s appearance is unique; looking like a kangaroo-dog, he is quite the mascot character. He loves going on adventures but he is always scared and lazy, so eventually, he starts whining and falls back. He is a character that either gets loved or hated, depending on the watcher. To me, he’s a fun addition to the group.


Last but not least, I want to add Hemulen-san to this list. Not many consider him an important character, but I personally love his character. He is an old man who tries to find a romantic meaning in life and collects stamps. When he completes his collection, he sets for a new adventure: to collect flowers, that is. His character design and reactions fit his goofy character perfectly, and he’s fun to watch. Originally, in Tove Jansson’s books, the Hemulens are more and they share the traits Hemulen-san has, but in Tanoshii Muumin Ikka, he represents the species by himself.


There are no villains in the Moomin Valley. Even the valley’s police officer is living a 100% peaceful and calm life, and there was a hilarious episode where he almost lost his job because he wouldn’t bring any criminals to the prison, outside of the valley. But there are two creatures whose roles are somehow close to that of a villain.


Stinky is the first one. He is a bug-looking creature whose main hobby is playing pranks on the main characters. He is supposedly not bad, but that is the way he tries to get Moomin and his friends’ attention. Some of the pranks are terrifying, and there were a few times some of the main characters almost faced death. Still, he is supposed to be a humoristic character. Stinky lives under a rock, all alone. He is usually not invited to parties or events due to his irritating behavior, but he likes showing up out of the blue.


The other one is Moran / “The Groke”. Moran’s character includes heavy symbolism, and she is something like an incarnation of loneliness and terror. She looks like a big ghost with a… duckface. Every resident of the Moomin Valley is frightened at the sight of Moran, and no one likes her. Moomintroll pities her because she is always lonely and sad. Moran appears uninvited and she does not talk, but her negative energy freezes the ground around her. Sometimes, she may cause destruction. The Groke is probably too scary for kids, due to her intimidating appearance and the vibes she radiates.


The most important character additions in Tanoshii Muumin Ikka are Alisha and her grandmother. They both firstly appear 30+ episodes in, and then they become part of the Moomin Valley. Alisha is a young girl who wants to hang out with the Moomins, but her grandmother, who is a witch, does not let her do so. That is because the witchcraft studies are more important in her mind, and she wants her granddaughter to succeed. Hanging out with friends would leave her behind. But Alisha learns to appreciate friendship and meets a new lifestyle; that of having both friends and studying.

Details I loved:

~Moomintroll’s dreams. They were all colorful, adventurous, and surrealistic. As dreams are in our world, well, at least to me.
~Snufkin’s departures and arrivals to the Moomin Valley. The atmosphere was always melancholic at the departure, and when he returned it was heart-melting.
~Hemulen’s house, or other places that were not important but were animated perfectly.
~Moominpappa’s backstory. It added color to the Moomin world and it was wonderful seeing him recite his old stories.


Conclusion


Tanoshii Muumin Ikka creates a beautiful world, full of color and fun adventures, away from daily responsibilities. It is a great watch for kids, but I am sure their parents would appreciate it even more. If I were a father, I would definitely watch this with my kids, and both sides would be satisfied. Watching Tanoshii Muumin Ikka feels like home; and that is thanks to its peaceful, tranquil and comforting vibe.

With this review, I express my satisfaction and congratulate both Tove Jansson for her great books, and Telescreen’s staff that produced such an amazing adaptation. It is clearly one of the best TV shows out there. Thank you for sharing this show with us!

Having watched every episode there is of this show the three past months, I can safely say that the Moomins will fit everyone with a sense of adventure. It's calm, it's exciting, and most of all, the characters are lovable.

The series follows the basic formula of nearly every other Anime. Something happens, the Moomin family must fix it and everything turns out well. However, the series isn't completely episodic. There is a handful of episodes which introduces new characters, while others add background history, giving more depth to the main characters. The best way to watch this is in chronological order.

The animation is fantastic and ... superior compared with the second series, "Tanoshii Muumin Ikka Bouken Nikki". Everything is fluid, nothing is crudely drawn and the backgrounds are beautiful. The music is a masterpiece in itself and will stick itself to your brain for months. The same goes for the opening and ending. Season 3 introduces some new music which isn't as great as the prior, but it still fits the series.

No matter what age you are, you should give this a try. This is a smash hit in scandinavian countries (and, of course, Japan), and with good reason. Every episode will make you feel like home. The enviroments are beautiful and there will be many instances where you wish you lived in the moomin valley: not having to worry about getting a job, going to school or any criminals (Stinky isn't really dangerous anyways). This is a perfect, peaceful life, where only their own mistakes and curiosity makes each adventure possible. This is the life of the Moomins.

Inspired by Tove Jansson's book series about the Moomin family, this wonderful experience of what not many know is an anime, is a masterpiece TV anime show of 20th century - well at least in my opinion. Considering its goal were the kids of younger age, yet even adults loved, and still love it, Tanoshi Moomin Ikka (also simply known as "the Moomins") is a lovely experience for anyone wanting to try the Moomin way of living.


~Story~ (10)

While some of the episodes do get back remembering happenings from the one before, it doesn't really matter if you saw it or not - almost each episode ... is for itself, telling a different adventure the Moomin family lived trough that day - or their neighbors and friends for that matter. Still, even if it tells about something you missed, it can't be anything big enough to ruin this delightful watch.


~Art~ (9)

Considering this is pretty old, the animations is very good - in fact, I would dare to say the animation is better than in some (if not most) anime of today, made with the "super special awesome" computer animation, where characters tend to stay still and merely open and shut their mouth for 5 minutes, as in the manner of speaking. Sometimes, classic animation is the best, and Moomin is the perfect example of it.


~Sound~ (10)

While the music in this anime is for the most part awesome, some may encounter a problem when it comes to a language barrier - the Japanese OP and END songs were only used in Japanese version, and it was kind of emotional, and more of a sad song, while the rest of the world made quite different but none-the-less lovely happy song which many still remember.
Then when it comes to the dubbing itself, I can say I encountered no problem - I've seen the Japanese, English and Croatian dub, and they were all equally awesome, with rare exceptions of some characters being better in one version than another.


~Character~ (10)

Incredibly well developed and deep characters, with pasts, decisions, and their own little demons. The most impressive characters are probably Snuffkin and Littly My, from whom we get to see the most of - other characters are, naturally, just as well developed, but are more acting like regular folks, making these two somewhat special.
The design was no less of brilliantly perfect, as I can't imagine anyone, not even the fearsome, yet lonely Groke looking any differently.


~Enjoyment~ (10)

A fantasy slice of life (an ACTUAL slice of life, really) with hints of genres from everywhere, Moomins are put trough adventures on seas, horrors of dark woods and their enemies, comedies of a regular day, enjoyments of music and new finds, and drama of everyday problems - you may easily find yourself indulged into the series as it has many things to offer, even many hints of romancing that develop trough time.


~Overall~ (10)

Many would argue about what actually makes a piece of animation good. Mostly, it is considered to be characters, who actually help bring the plot.
The Moomins is not one of those anime. In fact, The Moomins is so wonderful piece of a show, you will not be able to decide just what did you like the best. I highly suggest to anyone looking for a light-hearted, yet interest-catching show to watch this, especially if you're into story-telling and slice of life genre.

aah...Moomin or "Muumit" as we say here in Finland was the show of my childhood, like the normal Finn that i am. I dont even remember when i first watched these.
The stories were and still are pretty damn entertaining. They take you to so many different places out of this world, from past to real time. i dunno how to explain but they just were so well written.
The art style was all new when Tove Jansson first published her novel stroies or what ever theyre called. And Japanese made quality work animating it. You could sense clearly all the feelings of the characters and ... the atmosphere from just looking at it.
For sound im reviewing the Finnish version, cuz thats what i grew up with. The voices of the characters matched the personalities perfectly. Moominmamma has her lovely and calm voice, Pappa has his firm and kinda wise voice and sniff sounds .... well like sniff . I can´t explain it better. The character voices are just so perfect. The music tracks are also something so unbeliveable. Usually they were the biggest aspect when it comes to making the setting and atmosphere of the scene from scary and ominous night in forest to kinda magical and calm winter journeys.
And the characters ohhh boy. Every character had their own, kinda iconic personalities. Mamma is motherly, calm an very kind to everybody. Snufkin is the cool and wise traveller that cares a lot about his friends but still likes to be alone, even though it may hurt him and others. And Stinky, although he was most times playing tricks to everyone, he still has a (relatively) warm heart. And the thing in the character design is that, like us humans we all have those little times when we get full of fury or just burst into happy tears. So did the Moomins, unlike some characters from other shows . From worried father saving his scared son from danger to something unexpected and irreversible happening.
These adventures and their characters will always be the shiny pearl of my childhood.

As a first review of mine, It is fitting to begin with the series me and many others have first seen. To summarize, this is an excellent adaptation of the original stories, and has established itself as one of the best children's anime series that also adults can easily appreciate. This review is based on the Finnish dubbed version.

Story 10/10

Story arcs of the original work are split into singular episodes and larger arcs of several episodes. It is in the latter that this adaptation truly shines. While these are self-contained stories, I recommend viewing the series in chronological order. The changing of seasons is an ... important driving force in the story, and many of the plots are interconnected, rewarding dedicated viewers with an engrossing view of life in the Moomin Valley.

Art 10/10

The art is phenomenal. From the characters to representation of the scenery, the art of the series lends itself as a focal point for conveying the story.

Sound 10/10

The soundtrack of the series is very captivating, and varied. Tranqul moments, sense of adventure, danger, and happy reunions, there is a perfectly fitting music for every occasion.

The Finnish and other western airings of the show had opening and closing themes more upfitting, catchy tone than the Japanese. Ultimately the Japanese original lends itself as a better version conveying the wide spectrum tones present in stories, and does not wear on your ears when viewing multiple episodes in a row.

The last thing to mention is the Finnish dub cast which is as fitting for the characters as you could imagine.

Characters 10/10

Character designs are very well adapted and lovable. Although there are some tonal differences with the characters to the way they are represented in the books, the main aspects are definitely there, and the voice actors really help in conveying the
characters on-screen.

Enjoyment 10/10

Even after seeing all the episodes as a kid, I've grown a great appreciation to the creators of the series for making this adaptation. Regardless, you are in for a treat whenever you will take a visit to the Moomin Valley when watching this series.

Overall 10/10

The Moomin series adapts the stories presented in the source material masterfully, complemented by perfectly fitting visuals and audio.

As a Finn, I honestly feel that I have to say something about this series! It's one of the best children's anime series I've ever seen! Because it's not only for kids but also adults can enjoy this with a big heart! Tove created a really philosophical world full of great characters and this anime makes that world even better! In Finland, this series wasn't divided into seasons, so here this series has a total of 104 episodes with the same opening and ending, but this review will focus on the first 78 episodes.

Story: 10/10
Well, this series has no real plot. You can watch ... the episodes in any order, except for the story arcs which usually lasts 2-3 episodes. Otherwise, the episodes are separate, except they may still have references to previous episodes and there are also some subplots like Snork's flying ship arc. I really like how the episodes vary from adventurous to regular episodes where we just deal with the life of the Moomin family. It creates a good balance. Some episodes can be boring, but there are no really bad episodes in this series!

Art: 9/10
The art stays really consistent in this series. Although in some episodes you can notice that the drawners have changed and the characters may look a little strange, but otherwise there is quite little of variation here (compared to the second season, which is drawn almost entirely in anime style). Honorable mention definitely goes to the beautiful backgrounds that sometimes look very realistic, especially the winter landscapes!

Sound: 10/10
I have watched this series completely only in Finnish with a very successful old 90s dubbing, so I can say based on that the sound quality is very crystal clear and good.

Music: 10/10
Perfect! Just perfect! It's noticeable that Sumio Shiratori and his wife Emiko Shiratori really enjoyed making these songs! There's many varying songs, happy, funny, scary, sad.

Voice acting: 10/10
As I said, I have watched this series in Finnish and with a very awesome dub! The dubbing of the anime was here for a long time... if not bad, then at least mediocre, but Moomins was really well done! It's mostly due to the good direction and the very highly trained actors/actresses as a voice actors/actresses. I should watch the whole series in Japanese as well, but what I have seen from the clips, they sound really good too.

Characters: 9/10
All the characters are really different personalities and I like that in Moomin Valley everyone is valued for who they are and everyone's talents can be helpful. My favorite characters have always been the philosophical wanderer Snufkin, the greedy and fearful Sniff, the small but clever Little My, Snork the inventor, the old and funny plant-collector Hemulen and the Moomin's always so gentle parents, Moominpappa and Moominmamma! I don't really hate any of the characters (except Mrs. Fillyjonk, she's just so annoying!), even Stinky has his good moments despite being the only "main villain" in the series. Like everyone else, I was scared of Groke like crazy as a kid, but later I realized she's a really likable character. The Witch and her granddaughter Alicia were also very nice add to this series as they didn't appeared in the original stories.

Enjoyment: 10/10
Even though I must have seen all the episodes a million times, I never get tired of this series! It's part of the magic of it that these stories take you with them as much like they did as kid.

Tanoshii Moomin Ikka definitely gets 10/10 from me! It's a series that everyone should see at least once in their life so they can understand its beauty and those deep messages behind the stories!

This review was produced in a facility that may contain traces of spoilers or spoiler-related products.

Tove Jansson's Moomin is a national treasure in Finland, and its author a major literary celebrity. Almost every Fin who grew up in the 90s has probably seen at least a few episodes of Tanoshii Muumin Ikka, although they may not have known that they were viewing a Finnish re-dub of a Japanese cartoon, just as I couldn't have told you that Pokemon was Japanese when I watched it as a child. It's not as well-known elsewhere - as a matter of fact, I seem to be the first non-Scandinavian ... to review it on MAL. We Canadians must have some kind of affinity for Moomin, because a publishing house from this country is also responsible for the first English re-printing of Jansson's Moomin comic strip. We probably relate to Scandinavians because we spend so much time in the cold.

Jansson's comics are delightful, but they just might be too edgy to show your kids. One memorable story-opening has Moomin putting on a cute little pair of swim-shorts to go and drown himself (someone on this site claimed that Moomin is a precursor to Final Fantasy VII, but this sequence proves that it is actually the precursor to End of Evangelion,) and one story opens with the contemplative line "Why is it that the heroine in a book is always more beautiful than the one waiting at home?" and deals with the destruction of Moomin's relationship with Snorkmaiden. Another good example appears when Moomin's demure mother hunts and kills a wild boar, enraging his wife, who shortly after calms down and forgives the family because she found him boring - but asks them to at least bury his bones.

Tanoshii Muumin Ikka is lighter than that, but it retains a portion of the comics' edge. The first episode contains something very near to body horror, and every member of the Moomin family has his own moment of comic callousness or cruelty. The episode where Moominpapa abandons his family to go adventuring returns from the comics, for example. Contrasted against the saccharine tone and cutesy character designs, this allows Muumin to boast of surprisingly strong comedy and characterization, so that while it's not as edgy as the comics it is no less delightful.

I could only find 27 episodes of this show in Japanese (I couldn't bear it in any other language once I was used to the great opening animation and Dio Brando voicing Snufkin,) and I plowed through those in exceptionally short order. I was particularly drawn to the atmosphere and to Jansson's strange character designs (Snufkin's outfit is also a great, visually distinct design.) All of Moomin's central characters and bizarre creatures have some kind of symbolic significance to them. The Groke, for instance, represents loneliness. Because she freezes everything she touches, contact with others becomes impossible, so that although The Groke is a reoccurring image in Finnish nightmares she is sympathetic at the same time. It's even possible to take the interpretation that Tove was representing herself with these monsters.

Jansson reportedly based Moomin Valley on memories of her childhood. Her family's summer home must have been quite beautiful, if this anime is anything to go by. Images like the river re-awakening at the start of spring or Snufkin playing his harmonica on the bridge while Moomintroll stands beside him and listens have stuck in my mind since I watched it. Heavy rain and winter snow transform the valley into a different place, and the stalwart Moomin explores it with his friends even then, finding the beauty that the tough whether unveils.

In one episode, a zoo's staff mistake the Moomins for hippos and capture them to put on display. While another anime's heroes might stage a daring rescue in the dead of night, sneaking past the zoo's guards, Snufkin and the Hemeulin take a different approach and scientifically prove that Moomins are their own species, using this evidence to persuade the zookeepers to free them. This is part of a short arc that also includes man-eating (but music loving) plants, whose first episode ends with Snufkin sitting in the center of the creatures playing his harmonica while they swing to the music, an excellent atmospheric scene that uses the proximity of danger to enhance the feeling of strangeness and wonder - a feeling that is also prominent in the beautiful, carefully composed music and captivating bizarre imagery of the encounter with the Lady of Cold. That feeling and the aforementioned eccentric comedy are the two main strengths that run through the series.

In contrast to the comics, the anime places a much greater emphasis on the relationship between Moomintroll, the protagonist, and Snufkin, a hobo who spends his summers in Moomin Valley. This turns out to be a wise decision and their bromance forms the emotional heart of the entire series. The highlight of what I saw was the two episode arc composed of "Snufkin Leaves on a Journey" and "Snufkin Doesn't Come Back," which deal with the tug-of-war between Snufkin's introverted tendencies and his love for Moomintroll. Their relationship is emotionally resonant and complex because Snufkin's nature means he needs to travel alone, unfortunately leaving the young and extroverted Moomintroll confused and despondent. Despite their mutual love they cannot be together during the winter simply because that's how Snufkin wants it, although it pains them both. Tove was probably using it to represent longing itself, when she came up with the clever idea to have Snufkin leave every winter. This pair of episodes also contains the visual apex of the series in the form of the campfire exchange between Snufkin and Teety-Woo, which uses beautiful animation to imitate the flickering light and long shadows cast by a fire in the night.

When Moomin offers to leave his family and travel with Snufkin, he is demonstrating that he's close to growing up. His father allows it (but Snufkin does not) after recalling the adventures of his own youth, which he remembers fondly to the point of obsession, often being preoccupied for long hours writing his memoirs. Nostalgia is the main theme of the series for Moominpapa, for Tove, and in all likelihood for the viewer, and Moomintroll in this episode has a parallel to the rest of us. Moomin Valley is such a scenic, immersive, and inviting place that it's tempting to stay there forever. But we all must grow up and move on, whether it's to make our own adventure, to follow a close and admired friend, or simply because we aren't willing to watch the unprofessional English dub. No one can blame us, though, if we occasionally wish to go back.

This is mainly talking about the English dub version since I watched more of it than the original Japanese version and other dubs.

One of the most wholesome animated series I've seen!

I first watched it in summer 2019 after seeing people share pictures of it on social media. I thought it was all for the jokes and memes until I started watching it and I realized that they were serious about it.

Every episode I watch I feel a lot of things. I feel like I'm escaping from the real world. Even though it's a Japanese animation, the way the show is animated makes me feel like ... I'm going back to the 90's and watching the show in a European home on a gloomy day even though I am from the States and I don't think I watched this when I went to Scotland during childhood. To put it simply, it feels like a European cartoon. In addition, I feel like I get something out of every episode and don't feel out of place watching it.

Now for the characters. It is no wonder why fans go crazy over Snufkin with the way he was designed and portrayed. For me, Snufkin started out as a chill guy the Moomins liked hanging out with. But as the series progressed, I feel as if he became more assertive and willing to stand up for his friends when it was needed. His English VA was great and adds to the appeal. As for the Moomins, I respect their lifestyles and culture. I respect their desire for adventure and willingness to get out of their comfort zones, which is basically what I aspire to be. Little My and Sniff do a good job in adding comedy to the anime and seeing their antics makes me laugh.

Now, while I like Moomin/Moomintroll's English voice, I personally prefer the Swedish one and the English dub Moominvalley ones more cause I feel a deep voice suits him more. Still, his voice is cute and it fascinates me how his VA also voiced Noddy, a childhood cartoon of mine, and Princess Eilowny of The Black Cauldron.

All in all, it was a great anime and I would say it is one of my comfort shows.

And thus me childhood began.
Moomin is a childrens book/comic made by Tove Jansson and Lars Jansson. Then for some reason the japanese made a moomin adaptation of a finnish childrens book, but oh boy I loved this as a child and even now I still do. It's fun for all ages.
There is not much of a story to speak about. Its kinda episodic show. There are few longer parts that I remember. One is when the moomin valley transformed into jungle and they had to destroy it since there were man eating plants. Then of course moomin pappas childhood.
The characters. Here are the important ... ones: Moomin troll is this white blob who is the main focus of most episodes. Moomin Pappa is the familys dad who is a nice fellow. Moomin Mamma is the mom who makes good pancakes and is a helpful person. Little my is this very small annoying little shit. Best boi snufkin is moomin trolls best friend and little mys cousin. Snufkin likes to travel and fish. Sniff is this greedy animal I think. He is a scaredy cat. Floren is the main love interest of the show. Moomintroll has a crush on her. The groke is this "purple pile of shit" who can freeze anything in his path. I was scared of it as a kid. Hemulen is a florist or a scientist. Stinky is another annoying little shit, he is the moomin valleys trouble maker. Ice Queen appears few times but holy hell, when she appears and the music plays, the shit is gonna go down.
I recommend everyone to watch this. Even tho it is a childrens show many adults and teens may enjoy it.

If I only could choose one series to describe my childhood it would be without a doubt this one! I probably can quote every episode by heart. As a matter of fact, I would say that a lot of my friends and family would say the exact same thing. Moomin was our childhood! Growing up we watched this story countless of times.

The characters are loveable and funny. They have their own quirks, which makes every single own memorable. It's hard to choose only own favorite characters from the series. Characters like Snufikn, Little My and Moominmama are all so loveable.

The stories in Moominvalley gives ... a comfort and nostalgic. Even til this day, I go back from time to time to watch an episode or two. They're just that good! All the episodes are amazing. The majority of them are fun adventures. However, some of the episodes actually are even scary. I believe every Finnish child's nightmare growing up the Groke. I'm not embarrassed to admit that til this day I get chills down the spain when the soundtrack of the Groke's arival is played.

However, nowadays I also appriciate the lessons taught by a lot of the episodes. Some of them teach you to love youself. Others being accepting towards other. Also how to sometime just be in the moment and enjoy and create memories with your loved ones.

In the end, this is just a fraction of the reasons why I love the Moomins so much. I could talk forever about how good the series is. It's just simply that good of a story.

It is my duty as a Finn to review this anime before others and give it a 10/10. This is heavily nostalgia based opinion, but this anime is every Finnish kids childhood and every Finnish mothers mug collection. Very few of our people actually know that it is an anime, but I would like to thank the Japanese people who had a part in making this piece of our childhood and culture. If you can, definitely give it a try. Maybe even show it to your kids. It's really good.
To be more specific, the soundtrack is beautiful and the characters are lovable. The show is ... for children, but there is one or two episodes that show a rifle but it is not used to harm anybody. The Moomins are the friendliest of creatures possible, trust me. Also one really good thing to mention is that the series teaches kids to think differently. Many of the evil seeming characters are not black and white. No one in the series is completely evil. Also the anime honors Tove Janssons original books really well. She herself even commented happily about the finished show with teh words: "They are living!"

A national treasure. It was an absolute joy to watch this when i was younger.

This show is very nostalgic to me, but that fact is only a small factor in why i have rated this so highly. The characters, the story, and the overall feeling this show has is extraordinary.

I absolutely recommend this to you. I don't think it is as good as this, but in 2019 they released a new Moomin series. The art style is fresh. But this is still the amazing original.

There are so many good plots in this. For example the one where they go to an old lighthouse, or ... that one time a flood came through the valley, and their house was submerged.

Each 22-minute episode is bursting with Moomin wisdom such as: “The only thing you really need to fear is fear itself.”

Conclusion: This show is not only for kids, but adults as well. It is very good.