Finnish production company Gutsy Animations has announced the first raft of voice cast members confirmed for its highly anticipated, beautifully vibrant TV series, Moominvalley, inspired by the classic Moomins world and characters created by author-illustrator Tove Jansson. Two 13 x 22 min. seasons are set to begin airing in Spring 2018.
Taron Egerton will play the lovable Moomintroll, with Rosamund Pike as the wise and caring matriarch Moominmamma, and Matt Berry as the adventurous and knowledgeable Moominpappa. Akiya Henry will voice style-conscious, sometimes flirtatious Snorkmaiden.
Other Moominvalley residents will be Kate Winslet as spick-and-span Mrs. Fillyjonk; author Will Self as philosopher The Muskrat; Warwick Davis as Moomintroll’s adopted younger brother, the slightly cowardly Sniff; and Richard Ayoade will get in touch with his spectral side to play The Ghost.
“We are thrilled with this stellar cast who have been carefully chosen to inhabit Tove Jansson’s much-loved characters,” said Gutsy’s Creative Director and Executive Producer, Marika Makaroff. “They will speak to audiences young and old and for the family drama that we are creating, which doesn’t shy away from the depth and complexities of Jansson’s original work, they couldn’t be a more talented or suitable line up.”
Moominvalley is a hybrid animation series combining 3D rendered characters in a painterly environment featuring 2D elements. In addition to the star-studded voice cast, the creative team shines with Oscar-winning director Steve Box (Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit), BAFTA-winning producer John Woolley (Shaun the Sheep) and Emmy-winning writing duo Mark Huckerby and Nick Ostler (Peter Rabbit). Original music will be created by Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto (whose father composed with Tove Jansson and wrote the Moomin Opera in 1974) and percussionist Samuli Kosminen.
The series is being developed in association with YLE Drama and with the full support of brand manager Moomin Characters, set up by Tove Jansson and her brother Lars, and currently run by niece Sophia Jansson as Chairman of the Board and Creative Director. She says:
“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.”
