Press release -
Filmlance International To Develop New Moomin Animation series.
Filmlance, the production company behind critically acclaimed Scandinavian thriller Bron/ Broen announce licence agreement with Moomin Characters and Bulls Licensing.
Filmlance to work with the Jansson family estate on the project.
Academy-Award winning director, Steve Box (Best Animated Feature for “Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit) attached.
STOCKHOLM Monday 15th Feb 2015: Filmlance International today announced it has entered into a licence agreement with Moomin Characters and Bulls Licensing to develop the new Moomin animation series.
Filmlance Managing Director Lars Blomgren is set to executive produce and will work closely with Sophia Jansson, the niece of original creator Tove Jansson anddaughter of Lars Jansson, on bringing the original children’s classic to a global audience. Marika Makaroff will act as Creative Director on the project.
Attached to direct is Steve Box, Academy Award winner for Best Animated Feature for Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. Box will also head up the writing team, joined by Emmy and BAFTA-nominated Mark Huckerby & Nick Ostler (Peter Rabbit, Danger Mouse) with Laurie Hutzler attached as Story Consultant.
Cate Elliott (Charlie and Lola, Me & My Monsters) and 2014 Bafta winner John Woolley (Shaun the Sheep) will produce. Distribution will be handled by Endemol Shine International.
Created by Finnish writer and illustrator, Tove Jansson in 1945, the magical book series featuring a family of Moomin characters has gone on to capture the imagination of children and adults around the world.
With 13 books and 73 comic strips being published in over 40 countries, the reinvigoration of the much loved characters will be based on the original source material. The most recent film adaptation, Moomins on The Riviera was released in 2015 to wide-spread critical acclaim. There have been three made for television adaptations, with the most recent, Moomin, produced in 1990.
On the project Sophia Jansson says:
“At Moomin Characters we are tremendously happy that we have been presented with this opportunity to work with Filmlance, Endemol Shine Group and such a fantastic creative team. I am very confident that in their hands the Moomins will become something new and wonderful, created with great respect for Tove’s original stories and characters.”
Executive Producer Lars Blomgren says:
"The opportunity to gather together such a brilliant group of creative minds in order to develop a new version of the Moomins is a dream come true for me. Tove's work is filled with such empathy and joy; something our children need and deserve today more than ever before.”
Creative Director Marika Makaroff says:
“The series will honour Tove Jansson’s original style of illustration, as well as the original stories, while utilizing the latest techniques and bringing those stories to present day.”
For further information please contact:
Contact (International):
Alex Wells
Tel: +44 (0) 7795520633
Marika Makaroff (Filmlance)
Phone: +46 70 533 41 34
Marika.makaroff@filmlance.se
Topics
- Art, Culture, Entertainment
About the Moomins
The Moomins were created by Tove Jansson, a Finnish pictorial artist and author. The first book "The Moomins and the Great Flood" was published in 1945. Tove Jansson wrote and illustrated nine novels, four picture books and hundreds of comic strips. Her books have been translated into nearly 50 languages. The first TV animation was created in 1969 and since then different animations have been aired in over 100 countries.
Moomin Characters Oy Ltd is the official body responsible for Moomin copyright supervision. All of the Moominvalley characters are globally registered trademarks.
About Bulls Licensing
Bulls Licensing is the worldwide agent on behalf of Moomin Characters Ltd. Founded in 1929, Bulls has built a solid track record in generating revenue from brand properties. With an established network of sub-agents and licensees, Bulls Licensing is currently working with approximately 500 companies including H&M, Finnair, Samsung and UNICEF.
Filmlance International is one of Sweden’s largest production companies and since its establishment in 1988, Filmlance has produced high-end television and feature films. The filmography includes more than 100 titles of major motion pictures, animated children’s films, TV films, TV series and short films. Filmlance is part of Endemol Shine Nordics.
