Animator and Steven Universe creator Rebecca Sugar has been tapped to write and direct a new U.S.-based animated Moomins feature in partnership with Annapurna Pictures and Moomin Characters. Julia Pistor, known for producing films like The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie and multiple Barbie films, will also serve as producer for the project.
The Moomins were initially created in 1945 by Finnish author-artist Tove Jansson. The creatures are whimsical, troll-like characters who live in “Moominvalley,” a fictional town celebrated for central themes such as courage, friendship, and subtle wonder. Over the past eighty years, the Moomins have appeared in many different forms of media—TV shows, films, and games, as well as novels and comics—translated into over 60 languages and adapted for television in more than 120 countries.
In announcing the collaboration, Roleff Kråkström, CEO of Moomin Characters, expressed excitement for the upcoming project. Kråkström hopes that Sugar will give Jansson’s creations a fresh interpretation while retaining their core spirit. Annapurna Animation will be producing the film, with executives emphasizing their commitment to the Moomins’ “humor, heart, and subversive spirit” of the original works.
While no release date or specific plotlines have been revealed, it remains unclear whether Sugar will choose to follow a particular Moomin novel or intertwine multiple elements from Jansson’s series. This will mark the first American-based Moomins film and raises interest in how Sugar’s abilities will impact the legacy of Jansson’s beloved characters.
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