Moomin (Swedish: Mumin / Mumintrollen; Finnish: Muumipeikko) is a comic strip created by Tove Jansson, and followed up by Lars Jansson, featuring their Moomin family of characters. The first comic strip, entitled Mumintrollet och jordens undergång (Moomintroll and The End of The World) was a short-lived project for the children's section of the Finland-Swedish leftist newspaper Ny Tid. It was written between 1947 and 1948, at the request of the editor, a friend of Jansson's, Atos Wirtanen. The series was published with two new strips weekly, and was mainly an adaptation of Comet in Moominland. The series has been reprinted in book form under the name Jorden går under (The World is Ending) by the newspaper.
The main series of Moomin comic strips were made directly for the British market: they were spread by the British Associated Newspapers comic strip syndicate and the original publisher was the Evening News newspaper. The series originally appeared in newspapers from 1954 to 1975. At its peak, Moomin appeared in over 40 countries and about 120 papers, with over 20 million readers daily, making it the most successful Finnish comic strip ever published. Tove and Lars Jansson received the Finnish Comic Strip Association's "Puupää-hattu" award in 1980.
In the 1990s, a comic book version of Moomin was produced in Scandinavia after Dennis Livson and Lars Jansson's Moomin animated series was shown on television. The Janssons had no involvement in these comic books. However, in the wake of the comic book's success, two new Moomin comic strips were launched under the artistic and content oversight of Lars and his daughter, Sophia Jansson-Zambra. Sophia now provides sole oversight for the strips.[1] The original comic strip stories made by Tove Jansson and Lars Jansson has had adaptations including Moomin (1990) anime series and the 2014 animated film based on Moomin on the Riviera comic strip story.
History
The comic strip was born, when Charles Sutton, the leader of the Associated Newspapers syndicate contacted Tove Jansson. Jannson's first Moomin books Comet in Moominland (1946) and Finn Family Moomintroll (1948) had already been translated to English and had been successful in the United Kingdom. In a letter to Jansson in January 1952, Sutton asked if she was willing to transfer the Moomins to comic strip format:
"It has come to my mind, that your 'Moomin' family could make an interesting comic strip, which would not necessarily be aimed at children. It is obvious that the Moomin family appeals to children, but we think these wonderful creatures could be used in comic strip form to satirise our so-called civilised lifestyle."
At the time, Tove Jansson had already had experience in drawing Moomin comic strips. She had already published a long comic strip story Mumintrollet och jordens undergång in the Finland-Swedish Ny Tid newspaper in 1947, which was loosely based on her book Comet in Moominland. The comic strip attracted strong criticism from the left-wing readers of the newspaper, who thought the Moomins were too bourgeois, and the newspaper did not order any more comic strips from Jansson. After Sutton's offer, Jansson made a seven-year contract to draw Moomin comic strips in June 1952. Before the comic was published, Jansson developed the strip together with the comic press of Associated Newspapers, and particularly Charles Sutton guided the artist in great detail. For a time, the syndicate sought a separate writer for the strip, but in the end, the decision was that Jansson would both write and draw the strip herself.
The newspaper that would publish the Moomin comic strip ended up being Evening News, part of the Associated Newspapers syndicate, which was the largest afternoon newspaper at the time, with a circulation of 12 million. The comic strip Moomin was first published in the newspaper on 20 September 1954. Sutton had organised a very prominent advertisement campaign to support the start of the new comic strip. The strip was quickly sold to other countries, particularly the Nordic countries. In Finland, the strip started on 21 April 1955 in Ilta-Sanomat, the largest afternoon newspaper in the country. In the same year, the strip also started in the Swedish-language local newspapers Västra Nyland and Vasabladet, and in 1957 in Åbo Underrättelser. Most newspapers publishing the Moomin comic strip were European, but it was also published in more distant places. In North America, it was finally sold to the CanadianToronto Daily Star, but in the United States, no newspaper worthy of note accepted it on its pages.
List of comic strip stories
The strip was divided into episodes, each with distinct titles and storylines.
Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol.2 (2007) ISBN9781897299197
6.
Moominmamma's Maid
Låtsaslek
Kuvitteluleikki
Tove
February 22, 1956
7.
Moomin Builds a House
Mumin bygger ett hus Att bygga ett hus
Talonrakennus
Tove
April 25, 1956
8.
Moomin Begins a New Life
Mumin börjar ett nytt liv Vi börjar ett nytt liv
Aloitamme uuden elämän
Tove
May 30, 1956
9.
Moomin Falls in Love
Mumin blir kär Mumintrollet blir förälskat
Muumipeikko rakastuu
Tove
July 18, 1956
Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol.3 (2008) ISBN9781897299555
10.
Moomin Valley Turns Jungle
Mumindalen blir djungel Vi bor i en djungel
Viidakkoelämää
Tove
September 5, 1956
11.
Moomin and the Martians
Mumin och marsmänniskorna Mumintrollet och marsinnevånarna
Muumipeikko ja marsilaiset
Tove
February 27, 1957
12.
Moomin and the Sea
Mumin och havet Muminfamiljen och havet
Muumiperhe ja meri
Tove
March 13, 1957
13.
Club Life in Moomin Valley
Föreningsliv i Mumindalen Föreningsliv
Yhdistyselämää Muumilaaksossa
Tove
April 24, 1957
14.
Moomin Goes Wild West
Mumintrollet i vilda västern Mumin i Vilda Västern
Muumipeikko villissä lännessä
Tove/Lars
May 1, 1957
Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol.4 (2009) ISBN9781897299784
15.
Snorkmaiden Goes Rococo
Snorkfröken i rokoko Snorkfröken i Rococo
Niiskuneiti rokokoossa
Tove/Lars
January 22, 1958
16.
Conscientious Moomin
Mumin och medborgarkänslan Mumin blir social
Muumipeikko ja velvollisuudentunto
Tove/Lars
February 12, 1958
17.
Moomin and the Comet
Mumin och kometen
Muumipeikko ja pyrstötähti
Tove/Lars
April 9, 1958
18.
Moomin and the Golden Tail
Mumin och den gyllene svansen Den gyllene svansen
Muumipeikko ja kultainen häntä
Tove
May 7, 1958
19.
Moomin Winter
Muminvinter
Muumitalvi
Tove/Lars
January 21, 1959
Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol.5 (2010)ISBN9781897299944
20.
Moomin under Sail
Mumin till sjöss
Muumipeikko merillä
Tove/Lars
February 11, 1959
21.
Fuddler's Courtship
Klåttdjurets frieri
Hosulin kosinta
Tove/Lars
March 18, 1959
22.
Moomin's Lamp
Mumins lampa
Muumin lamppu
Lars
February 3, 1960
Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol. 6 (2011) ISBN9781770460423
23.
Moomin and the Railway
Mumin och järnvägen
Muumipeikko ja rautatie
Lars
1960
24.
Moominpappa and the Spies
Muminpappa och spionerna
Muumipappa ja vakoojat
Lars
1960
25.
Moomin and the Circus
Mumin och cirkusen
Muumipeikko ja sirkus
Lars
1960
26.
Moomin the Colonist
Mumin Nybyggaren
Muumit uudisasukkaina
Lars
1961
Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol. 7 (2012) ISBN9781770460621
27.
Moomin and the Scouts
Mumin och scouterna
Muumipeikko ja partiolaiset
Lars
1961
28.
Moomin and the Farm
Mumin brukar jorden
Muumipeikko maanviljelijänä
Lars
1961
29.
Moomin and the Goldfields
Mumin och guldgrävarna
Muumipeikko kullankaivajana
Lars
1961
30.
Moomin Family Robinson
Robinson Mumin
Robinson Muumi
Lars
1962
Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol. 8 (2013) ISBN9781770461215
31.
Artists in Moomin Valley
Mumin och konsten
Muumipeikko ja taide
Lars
1962
32.
Sniff's Holiday Camp
Sniff's badort
Nipsun kylpylä
Lars
1962
33.
The Inspector's Nephew
Polismästarens brorson
Poliisimestarin veljenpoika
Lars
1962
34.
Damsel in Distress
Dam i dilemma
Neitonen ahdingossa
Lars
1963
Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol.9 (2014) ISBN9781770461574
35.
Fuddler and Married Life
Knappar och äktenskap
Nappeja ja avioliittoja
Lars
1963
36.
Sniff's Sport Shop
Sniff's sportshop Sniffs sportaffär
Nipsun urheiluliike
Lars
1963
37.
Mymble's Diamond
Mymlans diamant
Mymmelin timantti
Lars
1963
38.
Moomin and the Vampire
Mumin och vampyren
Muumit ja vampyyri
Lars
1964
Originally published in London's The Evening News. Reprinted in D&Q's Moomin Vol.10 (August 2015) ISBN9781770462021
39.
Moomin and the TV
Mumin och TV
Muumipeikko ja televisio
Lars
1964
40.
The Underdeveloped Moomins
De underutvecklade mumintrollen
Alikehittyneet muumit
Lars
1964
41.
Moomin and Aunt Jane
Mumin och moster
Muumipeikko ja täti
Lars
1964
42.
Moomin and the National Park
Mumin och naturparken
Muumit ja luonnonpuisto
Lars
1965
Originally published in London's The Evening News.
43.
Moomin and the Good Old Days
Mumin och den Gamla Goda Tiden Den gamla goda tiden
Muumipeikko ja vanhat hyvät ajat
Lars
1965
44.
Moomin's Pet
Hundliv i Mumindalen
Koiranelämää Muumilaaksossa
Lars
1965
45.
Moomin the Private Eye
Mumin detektiven
Muumisalapoliisi
Lars
1966
46.
Spring in Moomin Valley
Vårkänslor
Kevättunteita
Lars
1966
47.
Moomin Rescues a Princess
Mumin räddar en prinsessa
Muumipeikko pelastaa prinsessan
Lars
1966
48.
Moomin and Agent 008 ½
Mumin och agent 008½
Muumipeikko ja agentti 008 ½
Lars
1966
49.
Moomin Lives Dangerously
Mumin lever farligt
Muumipeikon vaarallinen elämä
Lars
1967
50.
Moomins in Torrellorca
Mumin på Torrelorca
Muumit Torrelorcalla
Lars
1967
51.
Snorkmaiden Crashes Society
Snorkfröken i societeten
Niiskuneiti seurapiireissä
Lars
1967
52.
Moomins in Ancient Greece
Redan de gamla grekerna
Jo muinaiset kreikkalaiset
Lars
1967
53.
Sniff Goes Good
Sniff blir god
Nipsu parantaa tapansa
Lars
1968
Originally published in several newspapers (but not London's The Evening News).
54.
Moomin the Journalist
Redaktör Mumin
Muumipeikko toimittajana
Lars
1968
55.
Moomin and the Orphans
Mumin och de föräldralösa
Muumipeikko ja orpolapset
Lars
1968
56.
Sir Moomin
Riddar Mumin
Ritarimuumi
Lars
1969
57.
Horsey Moomin
Mumin till häst
Muumipeikko ratsailla
Lars
1969
58.
Moomin and the Mermaid
Mumin och sjöjungfrun
Muumipeikko ja merenneito
Lars
1969
59.
Emancipated Moomins
Misans återkomst
Miskan paluu
Lars
1970
60.
Moomin and the Radicals
Mumin och Radikalerna
Muumipeikko ja radikaalit
Lars
1970
61.
Moomin Christmas
Mumin-Jul
Muumijoulu
Lars
1970
62.
Moomin in Ancient Egypt
Mumin i Egypten
Muumipeikko Egyptissä
Lars
1971
63.
Sniff Falls in Love
Sniff blir kär
Nipsu rakastuu
Lars
1971
64.
Moomin Engagement
Mumin förlovar sig
Muumipeikon kihlaus
Lars
1971
65.
Moomin and the Flying Dutchman
Mumin och den flygande Holländaren
Muumipeikko ja Lentävä hollantilainen
Lars
1972
66.
Snorkmaiden the Seer
Snorkfröken blir synsk
Niiskuneidistä tulee ennustaja
Lars
1972
67.
Moomin and the Beach
Mumin och badstranden
Muumipeikko ja uimaranta
Lars
1973
68.
Moomin Gets Rich
Mumin blir rik
Muumipeikko rikastuu
Lars
1973
69.
Moomin and the Guru
Mumin och Gurun
Muumipeikko ja guru
Lars
1973
70.
Moominpappa and Old Age
Muminpappan på ålderns brant
Muumipappa vanhuuden porteilla
Lars
1974
71.
Moomin in Battle
Batalj i Mumindalen
Taistelu Muumilaaksosta
Lars
1974
72.
Moomin in Neander Valley
Mumin i Neanderdalen
Muumipeikko Neanderthalissa
Lars
1974
73.
Moomin and the Ten Piggy Banks
Mumin och de tio sparbössorna
Muumipeikko ja kymmenen säästöporsasta
Lars
1975
Republication
The comic strips are currently being republished in a set of hardback books, in original publication order, by Canadian publisher Drawn & Quarterly. The first five volumes collect the Tove and Tove/Lars strips, and are titled Moomin: The Complete Tove Jansson Comic Strip. The sixth and subsequent volumes collects Lars' strips, and are titled Moomin: The Complete Lars Jansson Comic Strip.
Adaptations
The Moomin (1990) anime series featured several episodes, which are loose adaptations based on comic strip stories, while several characters from comic strips are featured in the anime series as well. The second season, known as sequel anime series Delightful Moomin Family: Adventure Diary (楽しいムーミン一家 冒険日記, Tanoshii Mūmin Ikka: Bōken Nikki) in Japan, has also several episodes based on the comic strip stories more rather than original novels made by Tove Jansson. Notably, few episodes featured time traveling with the time machine, that has accidentally created by Moominpapa. Both of seasons' episodes are directed by Hiroshi Saitô and Masayuki Kojima.
The 2014 traditional animatedcomedy film directed by Xavier Picard and produced by Hanna Hemilä, is based on the Moomin on the Riviera comic strip story and has been first released on 10 October 2014 in Finland to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Tove Jansson's birth.[4][5] The film is heavily faithful to the original comic strip story, while it features some elements from other comic strip stories and adds several characters who didn't appear in the original story to the film such as Little My and Snufkin.[6]