Moomin (1969 TV series)

Moomin (ムーミン, Mūmin) is a Japanese anime television series which was broadcast on Fuji Television between 1969 and 1970. The series is loosely based on the Moomin books by the Finnish author Tove Jansson.^[1] A sequel series entitled Shin Muumin (New Moomin) was later released in 1972. However, Jansson never approved of these series due to dramatic changes in areas such as plot, atmosphere, and character personality.

The series was never translated into any languages or released outside Japan. It is also notably different from the later anime television series Moomin, released in the early 1990s, which was translated into many languages and released in dozens of countries. The later series relies more on the original of the Moomin books (along with many of its comic strips), and was accepted as a part of the franchise.

Summary

Its first half is referred to as "Tokyo Movie version", the latter the "Mushi Pro version". Hisashi Inoue, a distinguished novelist and dramatist, participated as a screenwriter in the former. Tokyo Movie Shinsha undertook the production at first and drew Moomintroll's eyes like of Japanese children, who became an ordinary boy who occasionally fought or acted sly. To that, along with things such as Snufkin driving a car, Tove Jansson, the original author, angrily said: "My Moomin is no driver, fighter or moneymaker", an opinion shared by Hayao Miyazaki, who participated as an animator.

Although it had a high reputation as an adventurous, comedic, etc. series for boys, it was very different in areas like plot and atmosphere. In addition, the heroine who was only called Snorkmaiden was named "Nonono", after the first director's wife's pet. However, due to the author disliking her name being audible as 'non, non (no, no)', in the later "Delightful Moomin Family" she was renamed "フローレン, Fraulen", which parodied the German word "Fräulein", meaning "miss" (referring to an unmarried woman). As a result, Tokyo Movie had the contract cancelled and the designs were changed accordingly. After Mushi Pro took over, it had many more closely adapting episodes which included a mysterious, scary, comedic, or tragic story. Still, her consent was not obtained, and the program ended.

List of Moomin episodes

DVD release

This series has not been released on DVD, and there are no plans to do so.

Given Jansson's distaste for the 1969 series, her heirs are unlikely to grant permission for a DVD release in the foreseeable future. Moreover, several conflicting copyright claims exist on the Japanese side.

VHS and LD release

The series was released on VHS and LD in Japan, but was eventually discontinued.

LD

Vol.1-7 (episode 1-26)

VHS

"The volume of love" (episode 37, 49)

"The volume of dream" (episode 34, 64)

See also

• New Moomin

References

1. ↑ Jonathan Clements, Helen McCarthy. The anime encyclopedia. Stone Bridge Press, 2006. ISBN 9781933330105. 

External links

• Moomin (1969 TV series) (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia