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(More customer reviews)The Moomins need no introduction. This cartoon show, however, may. Around 1990, Telecable Beneluxe and Bulls Tokyo created a tv cartoon series on the Moomins. This was to be the first cartoon series to get the approval of their creator, Finland-Swedish author/painter Tove Jansson. The series stayed more true to the spirit of her philosophical Moomin world, and it still is a series watched by people the world over - it has as much universal appeal as the books have always had.
Who doesn't know innocent, adventurous Moomin? Or the consistently-stoic Moominmamma? The restless, sometimes boyish Moominpappa? The irresponsible Little My or the carefree vagabond Snufkin? I for one have yet to meet a person who doesn't. In the first 12 episodes, included on this set, we follow the Moomin family and friends as they find a magic hat, discover a desert island, help an invisible child become visible again and deal with a horrific monster. However, the little things in life are also present, such as friendship, rivalry, depression and even falling in love. The immense popularity of these series is not surprising to me, because they are very sincere, and thus remain true to the books. The voice acting is, for the most part, spot-on - with the possible exception of Moominpappa, who sounds a little too lighthearted for a restless soul like him, in my opinion. Also Ninni's ("The Invisible Child") voice actress fails at progressing her voice at a pivotal point of the story, which cuts the impact of her road to becoming visible again - a bad error, as far as I'm concerned. But these are minor flaws, and for the most part the subtle animation and good voice-acting make this a very pleasant series to watch.
And yes, these series do differ on the books for some part - Little My and Mymble for instance already knowing the Moomin family at the time of the first episodes, based on "Finn Family Moomintroll" (in which the two weren't present). The Snork has become an inventor, whose dearest ambition is to build a flying ship; a process that's followed through the entire series. Also certain characters from the comic strip get major roles, like the police inspector, one of my personal favourite characters. All in the benefit of these series, allowing it to stay close enough to the books but still allow it plenty of room to expand. And we mustn't forget that Tove Jansson herself wasn't always too strict on continuity with the books, either.
Because earlier DVD releases of these series were a fiasco, completely messing up the order and thus continuity of the episodes, I was immensely glad when Dutch company Telescreen took the first step into doing the thing properly. This is the first of intended future releases, and features, as said, 12 episodes. However, as a DVD set, it feels more home-made than a professionally-crafted release, both in picture and sound quality, while decent enough. Also there are no interactive menus on the first disc, and the order of episodes on disc 3 of 4 is messed-up ("The Hobgoblin" should come before "The Invisible Child 1").
But these are also small flaws indeed and don't detract from the overall viewing experience. If you remember these series fondly like me, by all means get this set. Even if you aren't too fond of the Moomin books, you still might like these series. Whether they're drinking tea on the veranda or fending off frightening monsters, falling in love or outsmarting pirates, the Moomins and co are a charming sort as always. This is a nice place in which to get acquainted with them.
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Moomin valley lies somewhere in the realm of fantasy, in what might best be described as a parallel world. But for Moomin, his family and friends and all the other little beings of the valley, it is gigantic. For them Moomin valley is an exciting paradise with mountains and forests, oceans and islands. Everything may occur there and anything can suddenly make an appearance. Sometimes it appears dreadfully dangerous. But there is always a marvellous underlying sense of security in the knowledge that, whatever the excitement, there will be a happy ending. And sometimes even the worst crooks are shown to have disarming weaknesses. Episodes in this set are: 1. Spring in Moominvalley 2. The magic Hat3. The wreck4. The desert island5. The Hattifatteners6. Thingumy and Bob7. The suitcase8. The Hobglobin9. The invisible child 1 10. The invisible child 2 11. The wings 12. The pirates
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