[REVIEW] Moomins and the Winter Wonderland

Every culture has their special franchise that is important to little children. Whether it is Winnie the Pooh in UK/USA or My Neighbor Totoro in Japan, these franchises are simple, comforting, and become an integral part of our childhoods. In Sweden, such a franchise exists called the The Moomins and they are pretty adorable. This year they have released a feature film based on the Moomins called Moomins and the Winter Wonderland and, if you have little ones in your home, they will love it.

Created from stop-motion footage from the 80s, Moomins and the Winter Wonderland, is a sweet story about the Moomins getting ready for a special visitor: a visitor that is, in fact, Christmas itself. They would normally be hibernating but Little My (Alicia Vikander) informs the Moomin family that the mysterious guest is coming and they must get the village ready. This includes decorating the tree and making delicious food.

As they get things ready for Christmas, they learn simple lessons about working together, being kind, and what it means to be a good friend. These are the type of sweet messages that we don’t get enough of in childhood animation that feels like it constantly has to make bathroom jokes and scream to entertain little ones.

Just like Winnie the Pooh and Totoro are hopeful, loving characters for children, so are the Moomins. And you can watch a movie like Moomins and The Winter Wonderland and feel like you’ve gotten a big hug and that everything will be okay. It makes you want to be a little kinder and friendlier to those around you just like the Moomins would do.

The animation is also refreshingly nostalgic. Some might be bothered that the characters mouths don’t move when they talk but I got used to it very quickly. Alicia Vikander, Stellan, and Bill Skarsgård bring an obvious affection and love for the property into their vocal performances (they are all Swedish and grew up with the Moomins).

Basically Moomins and the Winter Wonderland is adorable and I highly recommend checking it out if you have little ones. They will love it. Adults might find it a little slow in points because there isn’t much plot; the Moomins are just getting ready for Christmas but in an adorable way. I hope they continue to make more Moomins movies and that this film gets on a streaming service so people become aware of just how cute it is.

★★★★

Correction- While very popular in Sweden, Moomins are from Finland. And this film is a Finnish-Polish collaboration film. My apologies for the error.

Edited by: Kajsa Rain Forden