Award-winning distributor PGS Entertainment is now global distributor (excluding Finland, U.K., Japan, China & South Korea) for Moominvalley, the new TV adaptation of Finnish writer/artist Tove Jansson’s beloved Moomin tales. The most expensive animated TV series from Europe, it is produced by Gutsy Animation (based in Jansson’s hometown, Helsinki). Commissioning broadcasters YLE and Sky debuted the show in spring 2019, as well as NHK in Japan. The series has also pre-sold to China and South Korea.
“We couldn’t be more excited to announce our partnership with Gutsy Animations. We are extremely proud and grateful to be a part of such an amazing brand and team. Moominvalley will surely connect with kids and families and we’re certain it will deliver massive success to broadcasters throughout the world,” said Guillaume Soutter of PGS.
The lavishly produced CG series (each episode costing approx. 1 million euros), made with state of the art 3D CGI with 4K deliverables, targets both family and kids. The brand new adaptation of the beloved works provides rich stories and laughter to both lifelong Moomin fans and complete newcomers alike. The star of the show, curious and idealistic Moomintroll, with his extraordinary family and whimsical friends, takes us on a grand adventure into the magical world of Moominvalley. The powerful outreach of the show lies in its strong narrative and its familiar, loving stories of optimism, openness, and deep connection with nature.
Moominvalley is created by executive producer Marika Makaroff, Oscar-winning director Steve Box (Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit), Emmy-winning producer John Woolley (Shaun the Sheep) and award-winning scriptwriters Mark Huckerby and Nick Ostler (Peter Rabbit). The loving family of white, roundish trolls with large snouts and their friends are brought to life by a stellar voice cast of Moomin fans, including Kate Winslet (Mrs. Fillyjonk), Rosamund Pike (Moominmamma), Taron Egerton (Moomintroll), and Matt Berry (Moominpappa). The original score was composed by Finnish composers Pekka Kuusisto and Samuli Kosminen, and the soundtrack was created in collaboration with Sony Music Entertainment and Columbia Records, with original music from Tom Odell, First Aid Kit, Alma, Delilah Montagu, Declan McKenna, MØ, SOAK, and many more.
The series launched in Finland with record-breaking TV ratings — one in four Finns (1.5 million people) tuned in to watch the first episode, “Little My Moves In.” The success continued on the VOD platform, where the show became the #1 program on YLE Areena with an average audience size of 348,000 (period between Feb. 25 – April 24). The music album was also launched on April 19 globally, and MØ’s theme song reached No. 7 on Spotify globally.
“We’ve been overwhelmed at the positive response to Moominvalley in Finland, Japan and the U.K., where it has already premiered, successfully charming and delighting existing and new fans alike. PGS is one of the world-leaders in terms of animated content, so we’re very happy to now be working with them to bring our creation to further audiences worldwide,” said Makaroff.
First published in 1945, the original Moomin books have been translated in over 50 languages. The Moomin brand is one of the most successful licensing properties in the world, with annual revenues close to a billion dollars each year.
