The first commentor complitely missed the point. It is, however, refreshing to see someone who apparently did not like Moominland stories.
The Japanese TV series is amazingly close in atmosphere to the original books. Much of this is assumably because of the author, Tove Jansson, spent a lot of time looking over how her characters are treated by others.
Let's look at it from this point of view: isn't it nice to see a show where each character is an individual. Not everyone is either picture book good or simply bad. Amidst all the adveture, dangers, monsters, comets, and unexpected events there is an overall atmosphere of love and acceptance the characters feel for each other. This is completely opposite from Pokemon that I would not let my children to watch.
And one more possibly important item: Moominland stories are children's stories that adults like to read and watch as well. Children, at least in Finland, are simply hypnotized by them.
My only wish is that these will come out on DVD before my children have grown up.
