Tanoshî Mûmin ikka

First of all, I have to say that I just can't give enough credit for this cartoon. Good, now we can start.

This is a show that every kid should see, and I mean every episode of it (I did). This show is funny, exciting and above all, it's deeply meaningful. It really gives you an idea of the important things in life: love, friendship, teamwork, happiness, adventures, ...

If you're thinking you're too old for this kind of show, you're just wrong. While it's the greatest thing for a kid to watch on TV, it's also good for everyone from teenies to grown ups. And another thing is that it doesn't get boring! I have seen every episode more than 5 times but that doesn't bother me, while there are some quite boring episodes, the majority is just awesome, magical at best. You won't live a complete and good life without having seen the moomins, maybe it's just my opinion... maybe it's the absolute truth.

While it's always scary when the groke shows up, you should look at it this way: If you see the first groke episode as a kid, you'll be scared and have nightmares, but you'll get over it (not completely, but still). Now after that, nothing will seem as scary as that. Other monsters from other movies and series will seem laughable. For example, zombie movies. While quite scary, you know they're just infested humans. But the groke, you know nothing about it, it just appears rarely and then disappears into the dark woods... it's always so mystically freaky: you think "what is that? Where does it harvest it's power? What does it eat? Why is it in the moominvalley? will it show up now, when I most expect it?" I don't know why, but you always kinda sense that the groke is about to appear. Even if it doesn't appear, you have the strong feeling that it's out there somewhere. I can't really describe why it's so scary, it just possibly is the scariest thing I know. Still I really like the groke-heavy episodes and would like to see more of it.

Given that I wrote very much about the groke, it's not even a major character. It's just something that has affected me much. Almost everyone is affected by the moomins, but in oh so different ways. It has something for (again, almost) everyone.

Watch.

...then watch it again. ...and again. Then, show it to your kids someday. I highly recommend it.

I'm from Finland so my whole childhood is this show. It's funny, cute, heartwarming although sometimes a bit scary. The animation is excellent and you can watch this even when you're older.

Oh! However, Whatever be the situation, I always remember the MoominValley

Proper storylines with good animation and SUPERB characterisation, I was overjoyed to see this was back on the BBC. Check it out on SAT early mornings and you will not be disappointed- it is much better than the sh*t which passes for kids shows these days. It is sacrelige that Dick and Dom in da bungalow are employed by the same channel which broadcast this wonderful programme.

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.