Famous Finnish children story characters from a Swedish speaking Finnish writer Tove Jansson. Peek into their world and get to know them.Moomin (eng.), Muumi (fin.), Mumin (swe.)
Moomins are one of the best known Finnish children book characters and they were created by a Swedish speaking Tove Jansson.
Originally they were published as a Swedish comic strip by Schildts. The first two books about the Moomins were published in 1945 (The Moomins and the Great Flood) and 1946 (Comet in Moominland), and deal with natural disasters; they were influenced by war and Jansson's depression during the war years.
According to Wikipedia:
They are a family of white, roundish fairy tale characters with large snouts that make them resemble hippopotamuses. The carefree and adventurous family lives in their house in Moominvalley. They have had many adventures along with their various friends.I have been born on the North East of the Czech republic and spent my childhood watching Polish TV, because the signal was just way much better :). Moomin TV series was very popular by then... and so until I have moved to Finland, I was convinced that Moomins have been created in Poland :))
I can tell this story to any Finn I meet and I get exactly the same reaction - raised eyebrows and, blank stare and a silent and quite offended "What?!". Finns are very proud of their Moomins!
Key characters
(source by Wiki and Wiki, and Moomin.com)Let me introduce you some of the key characters of the Moomin world. :)
MOOMINTROLLS (Muumin)
They are white, fluffy, and live in the tall tower-like blue Moominhouse (Muumitalo) with a red roof in the Moomin Waley.
 |
| Moominpappa (picture from moomin.com) |
Father of the family, boyish and adventurous.
He likes to be present when something unusual happens. He is philosophical at times and likes writing his memoirs.
Orphaned in his younger years, 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.
Orphaned in his younger years, 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, inside which is painted, "M.P. from your M.M." to differentiate it from all the other top hats in the world.
The character has been inspired by Tove's own father.
The character has been inspired by Tove's own father.
 |
| Moominmamma (picture from toolbox.finland.fi) |
The calm mother, who makes sure that Moominhouse is a safe place to be - both for her family and for visitors. No-one is ever unhappy in Moominmamma’s company: she’s always ready to help and console.
She wants everyone to be happy, appreciates individuality, but settles things when someone is wronged. She very rarely gets cross and takes even the most distressing circumstances in her stride.
She always brings good food as well as whatever else may be necessary on a journey in her handbag, which she carries around everywhere.
Just as Muumipappa, the core of this character comes from Tove Jansson's own mother.
- - Muumipeikko (Moomintroll or Moomin)
The little boy of the family, interested in and excited about everything he sees and finds, always trying to be good, but sometimes getting into trouble while doing so, he is very brave and always finds a way to make his friends happy.
He lives life fully, and views the world with a feeling of wonderment for such simple pleasures as collecting stones and shells. As gullible as he is enthusiastic, he is also naïve and extremely good-natured.
In the cartoon strip he finds himself beset by endless problems, and is almost always unhappy, though this is by no means the case in the books.
SNORKS (Niisku) are almost identical to Moomins, except that Snorks come in different colors (Moomintrolls are white), have hair on their heads, and their skin changes color depending on their mood.
- - Niiskuneiti (Snorkmaiden)
Moomintroll's fair lady friend and admirer. She does fall in love with others sometimes, but returns to Moomintroll before things get too serious. She is easily jealous.
She is happy and energetic, but often suddenly changes her mind on things. She has blonde hair and sports a golden anklet. She loves nice clothes and jewelry and is a little flirtatious.
When she gets upset, she turns light green.
OTHER CHARACTERS:
- - Pikku Myy
- - Mymmeli
- - Nuuskamuikkunen
- - Haisuli
- - Nipsu
- - Surku,....
There are so many to talk about... I will continue some other time...
Tove Jansson once stated that she sees herself the most in the character of Muumipeikko and Pikku Myy :) I wonder which of the Moomin characters would you be?
Sources:
She always brings good food as well as whatever else may be necessary on a journey in her handbag, which she carries around everywhere.
Just as Muumipappa, the core of this character comes from Tove Jansson's own mother.
- - Muumipeikko (Moomintroll or Moomin)
 |
| Moomintroll (source of the pic Wiki) |
He lives life fully, and views the world with a feeling of wonderment for such simple pleasures as collecting stones and shells. As gullible as he is enthusiastic, he is also naïve and extremely good-natured.
In the cartoon strip he finds himself beset by endless problems, and is almost always unhappy, though this is by no means the case in the books.
 |
| Niiskuneiti (source of the pic) |
- - Niiskuneiti (Snorkmaiden)
Moomintroll's fair lady friend and admirer. She does fall in love with others sometimes, but returns to Moomintroll before things get too serious. She is easily jealous.
She is happy and energetic, but often suddenly changes her mind on things. She has blonde hair and sports a golden anklet. She loves nice clothes and jewelry and is a little flirtatious.
When she gets upset, she turns light green.
OTHER CHARACTERS:
- - Pikku Myy
- - Mymmeli
- - Nuuskamuikkunen
- - Haisuli
- - Nipsu
- - Surku,....
There are so many to talk about... I will continue some other time...
Tove Jansson once stated that she sees herself the most in the character of Muumipeikko and Pikku Myy :) I wonder which of the Moomin characters would you be?
 |
| original animation (downloaded from Finnish Wikipedia) on the picture Nipsu, Nuuskamuikkunen, Muumipappa wth. Muumimamma, Muumipeikko, Mymmeli, Mörkö, Niiskuneitti, Surku (from left to right) and Hattivatti (in the right down corner) |
Sources:
No comments:
Post a Comment