#i could reread all this and double-check for errors and inaccuracies

[wormtoxin]

I want to get into moomin stuff but idk where to start 🥲 pls help. is there an order for reading/watching stuff? what do you recommend?

Hi anon,

Short answer: Tanoshii Muumen Ikka, released from 1990-1992 in Japan and later localized in English as The Moomins (or, Adventures in Moomin Valley), is my personal favorite version of the Moomins. It's the one I find the most atmospheric, endearing, and enjoyable. Sorry, but I don't know where you can find it these days. The books are the original media, and can be enjoyed in any order, as the story of The Moomins is mostly episodic. There is a new animated show, Moominvalley (2019) that is apparently pretty good, but I myself haven't watched it.

Long Answer and full story of the Moomin Hunt Google Drive below:

I have some bad news. In 2019 or so, my answer to this would have been very different! At the time, someone had compiled all the old 90s moomin episodes in a google drive folder, where you could watch them all for free. Passed around by word of mouth, the show was freely accessible online for anyone to view.

This is my personal favorite version of the Moomins- Tanoshii Moomin Ikka, Localized as The Moomins, aired from 1990-1992, and was later dubbed and released in english as Adventures in Moomin Valley. I watched most of it on the google drive at a low point in my life, and it was lovely to have something so peaceful, atmospheric, and sweet to cheer me up.

The Moomin Company is a licensing empire, led by the surviving relatives of the late original artist, Tove Jansson. They sell licensing rights to Moomin content, in exchange for a cut of the profits. Since The Moomins are such a finnish cultural icon, The Moomin Company guards the moomin characters fiercely. You can read more about that here: https://finland.fi/business-innovation/moomin-characters-ltd-keeps-a-national-treasure-in-the-family/

Even during the great moomin resurgence in 2018/2019, when a lot of American fans were getting into The Moomins for the first time due to the google drive, artists were warned away from selling any merch featuring the moomin characters at cons or in online stores. I know at least a few artists received cease-and-desists from The Moomin Company for exactly that. (I actually have an unofficial acryllic phone charm with moomin on it- it's especially dear to me, knowing the artist probably wouldn't have been legally allowed to sell it, and might have even received legal action for doing so).

In Feb 25th, 2019, the Moomin company released their new animated show, Moominvalley. Apparently it's good? I haven't watched it. If you're looking for the most accessible, contemporary place to start, that might be it? But I'm not personally familiar with it, sorry. Shortly after the release of that show, the Moomin Company took the user who originally hosted The 90s Moomin show on the google drive to court, suing them for a huge amount of money, and forcing the google drive to go completely offline. I don't know the details, but The Moomin Company threatened 10k in damages.

TL;DR here.

Shortly after, the Moomin Official youtube channel reuploaded the full series to their own youtube channel. For a while, these episodes were freely available to watch, just as they had been from the google drive. It was bittersweet. The 90s moomin show was more freely available than ever, able to be watched and enjoyed by everyone, and not just those in-the-know on the google drive. Seemingly a blow to the piracy industry, but a show of goodwill from the corporation holding the media rights to the moomin characters, right?

As of this moment, episodes 17-77 of the 90s moomin show are freely available online. Now that the accessible way to pirate the show is permanently down, Episodes 1-16 of The Moomins are copyright-restricted, at least in my country. Even the official uploads on the Moomins Official youtube channel are restricted for me. I can't recommend you start with the official uploads, as it would drop you directly in the middle of the series. I also can't DIRECTLY recommend that you pirate the show, as I don't have a clue how to safely torrent myself. I don't know where to direct you, or how to share the show with newcomers. The show is unavailable for rent or purchase on any platform I'm familiar with. You might be able to hunt down DVD releases, but I shudder to think what price these are going for now. If you're in the US, you're a little bit screwed. Sorry.

The good news is that Moomin content is largely episodic. If you can find any bit of moomin media, it will be freely accessible to you to enjoy without prior knowledge of the characters and story. If you're able to roll with the punches and learn characters' traits and habits on the fly, Moominvalley will be a very welcoming, peaceful place for you to enjoy. If not- I'm sorry.

Corporations destroy and restrict art. Capital is antithetical to artistic value. Never assume a company will give freely what it can bleed you dry for. Treasure AO3, fan content, and media piracy for exactly what it is. Steal everything you can get your little hands on.

If you know of anywhere left to watch the Moomin shows illegally, do NOT reply to this post. The google drive was too wide-spread, too public, and too unmanageable to last. If you know how to get your hands on Moomin content, please reach out to me PRIVATELY, I'd love to hear about it. I really miss that show. It would mean a lot to me.