History
1914
Tove Jansson is born on August 9th, the eldest child of an artistic family.
1935
Tove studies art both in Finland and abroad and she starts making Moomintroll paintings. Her first Moomin-like character is later seen in the magazine Garm in 1943.
1945
Söderström & Co publishes the first Moomin story – The Moomins and the Great Flood – in Swedish. It is the story about Moominmamma’s and Moomintroll’s search for the missing Moominpappa and how they found their way to the Moominvalley.
1946
The second book, Comet In Moominland (Swedish title Kometjakten / Mumintrollet på kometjakt / Kometen kommer) is published. Comet in Moominland is often seen as first novel in the series as it introduces many of the main characters, like Snufkin and the Snorkmaiden, and is set in Moominvalley.
1948
Finn Family Moomintroll (original Swedish title Trollkarlens hatt, ‘The Magician’s Hat’), the third in the series of Tove Jansson’s Moomins books, is published. It owes its title in translation to the fact that it was the first Moomin book to be published in English, and was actually marketed as the first in the series until the 1980s. The 1961 English publication features a foreword “by Moominmamma“, where she explains the nature of Moomins for fear that English children may not have heard of them; she also apologises for her “rottn” English.
1950
The Exploits of Moominpappa is published. It is the fourth book in the Moomin series by Tove Jansson and it will be considerably revised in 1968 under the title Moominpappa’s Memoirs. The story found in this book is mentioned in the previous Moomin books, as Moominpappa writes his memoirs in those stories. Unlike Comet in Moominland and Finn Family Moomintroll, both versions of the novel were translated into English.
1952
The Book about Moomin, Mymble and Little My was the first Moomin picture book by Finnish author Tove Jansson, published in 1952 in Swedish. Moomintroll is taking milk back home to his mother, Moominmamma when he meets The Mymble who is searching for her missing sister Little My. Together the pair go looking for her.
1954
The world’s largest newspaper – London’s The Evening News – starts to publish the Moomin comic strip. The strip reaches up to 20 million readers daily in over 40 countries. It continues until 1974. From 1960, Tove’s brother Lars Jansson draws the strip. The first Moomin products come onto the market.
1954
Moominsummer Madness (Swedish title Farlig midsommar, ‘Dangerous Midsummer’), the fifth in the series of Tove Jansson’s Moomins books, is published. The major theme of the novel is that of theatre, described as an infuriating but ultimately rewarding process.
1957
Moominland Midwinter (Swedish title Trollvinter, Finnish title Taikatalvi), the sixth in the series of Tove Jansson’s Moomins books, is published. This book sees Jansson adopt a darker, more introspective tone compared to the earlier books that is continued in the remainder of the series. Often in the book Moomintrollis either lonely, miserable, angry or scared – the result of being forced to survive in a world to which he feels he does not belong. While preserving the charm of the previous novels, the story involves a more in-depth exploration of Moomintroll’s character than before.
1959
Tove’s first theatre play, Troll i kulisserna (Moomins on Stage), premieres. The first Moomin television series is aired in Germany, a puppet animation produced by Augsburger Puppenkiste.
1960
Who Will Comfort Toffle? is the second picture book in the Moomin series by Tove Jansson. It was first published in 1960. It was first translated into English by Kingsley Hart. The lonely Toffle leaves his home to look for friends, eventually finding the Miffle and rescuing her from The Groke.
1962
Tales from Moomin Valley (Swedish: Det osynliga barnet och andra berättelser) is published. It is the seventh book in the Moomin series and unlike the other books, it is a book of short stories, not a novel.
1965
Moominpappa at Sea (Swedish: Pappan och havet) is published. It is the eighth book in the Moomin book series by Tove Jansson. In the novel the Moomin family is off to live in a lighthouse on a tiny island, because even the home-loving Moomins need a change of scenery sometimes.
1969
Fuji TV Zuiyo Enterprises produces an animated Moomin series in Japan and the Moomins become very popular there.
1969
The Swedish TV produces a series called Mumintrollet (Moomintroll).
1970
The last Moomin story – Moominvalley in November – is published. Tove decides to stop writing Moomin books, but continues to write for adults. She publishes The Summer Book.
1974
The Moomin Opera premieres in Helsinki.
1977
The Dangerous Journey (Orig. Swedish Den farliga resan) is published. It is a children’s picture book in the Moomin series by Tove Jansson. It follows the nightmarish adventures of Susanna, the Hemulen, Sniff, Sorry-Oo and Thingummy & Bob through Moominvalley.
1979
Film Polski releases a Moomin-themed puppet animation in Poland. The Swedish Film Institute completes a half-hour animation of the book Who Will Comfort Toffle?
1987
Moominvalley opens at the Tampere Art Museum.
1990
Telecable produces 104 half-hour Moomin animations. The series is sold to over 60 countries.
1993
The theme park Moominworld opens its doors in Naantali, Finland. Moomin licensing steps up and many new Moomin products hit the market.
2001
Tove Jansson passes away on 27 June.
2006
Canadian publisher Drawn Quarterly publishes the renewed Moomin comic strip in English.
2014
In 2014, a century will have past since the birth of Tove Jansson. To celebrate the anniversary, special Tove 100 centenary events are arranged worldwide throughout the year.
2015
Moomin 70 years Jubilee. 70 years since the first Moomin story was published.
2016
Adventures in Moominland – the first major interactive exhibition on Moomins opens at UK’s largest art centre, the Southbank Centre, in London.
2017
The world’s only purpose built Moomin Museum with original artwork opens at Tampere Hall. The collection hosts more than 2000 original works donated by Tove Jansson.
2019
The new animated Moominvalley TV series premieres worldwide in the spring of 2019, featuring renowned actors and cutting edge 2D/3D blending animation techniques.
2019
The new MoominValley Park in Japan opens in March of 2019 and is a part of the park facility called Metsä. Metsä Village, that opened in November 2018, allows visitors to experience the Nordic atmosphere and lifestyle whilst the MoominValley Park highlights the world of the Moomins.
2020
To mark the 75th anniversary of the Moomins Moomin Characters Ltd launches the #OURSEA campaign in collaboration with the John Nurminen Foundation to help raise funds to save the Baltic Sea and its vibrant culture.