Will Self to star in new Moomin animation

Novelist Will Self is to star alongside Kate Winslet and Rosamund Pike in a new Moomin animation series, which follows a hugely successful crowdfunding campaign.

Self will play “philosopher and deep thinker” The Muskrat, while Winslet takes the role of “spick and span” Mrs Fillyjonk.

They will join Taron Egerton (“Kingsman”) who will play Moomintroll, with Pike as the “wise and caring protector of the Moomin family”, Moominmamma, alongside Matt Berry (“Toast of London”) as Moominpapa. Akiya Henry will voice the part of “style-conscious” Snorkmaiden, Warwick Davis will voice Moomintroll’s adopted younger brother, Sniff, while Richard Ayoade will play The Ghost.

“Moominvalley” has been developed by Finnish production company, Gutsy Animations. Two series of the 13 22-minute-long episodes are slated to air in spring 2019 after the studio raised more than $253,000 through crowdfunding earlier this year. The Indiegogo fundraiser for the “pioneering” animation was announced in March, with $30,000 raised in the first few hours.

Tove Jansson’s much-loved creation, the Moomins, are one of Finland’s most significant cultural exports with the original books having been translated into more than 50 languages.

The new show is being created with a “cutting-edge 2D/3D hybrid technique” where characters are developed in 3D with some 2D illustrative or painterly elements added on.

It is being developed in association with Finnish public broadcaster, Yle Drama, with the support of Moomin Characters, the business set up by Jansson and her brother Lars to manage the Moomin brand. Lars’ daughter, Sophia Jansson, is now chairman of the board and director of the company.

She said: “Tove gave the inhabitants of Moominvalley the values of tolerance, love, respect, friendship and bravery – which are needed in today's world more than ever.

“We’re very excited to have a wonderful cast and team who share these values bringing Moomin to life in a new way for fans young and old.”

Further cast members will be announced in the coming months.