Ninny, the invisible child

Ninny is a child who was once visible, but then became invisible. Her being invisible, was the reason she was taken to the Moomin family. The family approaches Ninny with warmth and curiosity. They both engage with her and leave her alone, and as with most things in Moominvalley, meeting Ninny is also a little adventure.

When Too-ticky takes Ninny to the Moomin family, Ninny is completely invisible. The only thing you see of her is a silver bell that she wears around her neck. It is also the only thing you hear of her, because she doesn’t speak or make any sounds. Ninny immediately becomes someone the family wants to take care of, someone they want to introduce to play and chores, but also someone who arouses their wonder and frustration as they don’t understand her or how to help her.

Cruelty made Ninny invisible

Ninny became invisible because she had been mistreated by the relative who took care of her. She was subjected to ironic cruelty and thus disappeared more and more, taking up less and less space, until she was no longer visible at all.

“Moominmamma saw the quilt raise itself to form a very small mound. A dent appeared in the pillow.”

The invisible Ninny is a proper child. She wants to please and do what is expected of her. When the others want to teach her to play, which she has never learnt, she plays out of politeness, not because it is fun. Much to Little My’s disappointment, Ninny can’t get angry either.

Ninny is a girl with willpower

Thanks to the Moomin family’s care, Ninny becomes more visible, but only a little bit at a time. When she gets scared or worried that she has done something wrong, some of the visible parts become invisible again. Over time, thanks to Moominmamma’s care and warmth, as well as grandmother’s medicine, she becomes more and more visible. Finally, just as Little My thought, it takes a good dose of anger for Ninni to become her true self again.

It is Ninny’s love for Moominmamma that finally makes her free and visible again. Once Ninny is free of everything that has been holding her back, she turns out to be an energetic girl with a strong will and drive, and she can laugh!

“”Oh dear!” Ninny was shouting. “Oh, how great! Oh, how funny!” The landing-stage shook with her laughter.”

 

Ninny only appears in the story The Invisible Child, but has in addition to
 the book, reached and touched many through the animated series. For the
 composers of the music for the Moominvalley TV series, the music for the Ninny episode was one of their favourite parts to compose.

Ninny quotes:

  • “You all know, don’t you, that if people are frightened very often, they sometimes become invisible, Too-Ticky said…” (Tales from Moominvalley, 1962)
  • ”The bell came tinkling downstairs, one step at a time, with a small pause between each step. Moomintroll had been waiting for it all morning.” (Tales from Moominvalley, 1962)
  • “You’ll never have a face of your own until you’ve learnt to fight. Believe me.” (Tales from Moominvalley, 1962)
  • “Do you know any good games?” “No,” Ninny piped. “But I’ve heard about games.” (Tales from Moominvalley, 1962)
  • “She bobbed and nodded and very seriously replied, “Quite” and “How funny” and “Of course”, but it was clear to all that she played only from politeness and not to have fun.” (Tales from Moominvalley, 1962)
  • “Ninny was standing on the landing-stage. She had a small, snub-nosed, angry face below a red tangle of hair.” (Tales from Moominvalley, 1962)