For the '90s series, see here.
Books
- Moomin's complete terror after being (temporarily) transformed by the Hobgoblin's hat. He's physically unrecognizable and his friends and family refuse to believe it's him, treating him like an imposter. He begins crying and when his mother shows up, he desperately pleads with her to recognize him. Mercifully, she does, and he changes back shortly thereafter.
- Moominland Midwinter:
- The death of the squirrel with the marvelous tail. The Lady of the Cold picks him up, pets him on the head... and when she puts him back down, he's been frozen solid. This horrifies Moomintroll, who proceeds to give him a funeral while calling out Little My for wanting to turn his tail into a muffler. The scene is actually so upsetting that Tove Jansson added an author's note about how, if the reader begins crying, to take a peek towards the end of the book... where Moomin meets an identical-looking squirrel and wonders if it's the same squirrel who somehow survived anyway.
- While the Groke may be pure Nightmare Fuel most of the time, here she comes across as a Tragic Monster instead. During the great bonfire, she tries to warm herself by sitting on the still-glowing embers, but this only puts them out, causing everyone else to leave. As Too-ticky explains, all the Groke really wants is to feel warmth, but she's a being of pure cold, so anything hot she touches immediately becomes freezing, so any attempt at warming herself up is doomed to failure and disappointment.
- Throughout the story, Sorry-oo (a dog) idolizes wild wolves: although he's terrified of them, he simultaneously hopes that he can one day be adopted by a pack, who will help him become stronger and braver. Unfotunately for him, this doesn't work out, and after getting far too close to a wolf pack, Sorry-oo realizes that the wolves are not people you can befriend and becomes so resigned that he accepts that he will pay for his life for his folly. Fortunately, the Hemulen pulls a Big Damn Heroes.
- The Lighthouse-Keeper's background story, as deduced by Moomin, in Moominpappa at Sea. After finding several long-dead birds on the ground, and discovering many small graves (which Little My confirms are the graves of birds), Moomintroll understands why the Lighthouse-keeper left: The birds flew towards the light and died when hitting the glass. The Lighthouse-Keeper buried them, but more birds would eventually fly into the light... eventually, the Lighthouse-keeper couldn't take it anymore and left.
- Moominvalley in November
- This story is overall very melancholic, but special mention goes to the beginning, when several people arrive at the Moominvalley hoping to find a friendly family and a warm house, but the family has left, and the house is cold and empty.
- The book as a whole can be depressing - especially if you hoped for a happy ending. There isn't one. The book ends as Toft waits for Moominmamma to come back home; but will she ever?
- Perhaps the saddest fact about this book is the context in which it was written. Tove Jansson's mother had passed away the year it was written, and Tove herself stated that after that, she "couldn't go back and find that happy Moominvalley again," thus causing her to stop writing the books. One could almost think of Moominvalley in November as a eulogy for the family that may never return.
Moominvalley (2019)
"You saw through me all this time.
I'd forgotten people are kind.
I was hurting and you knew.
So you showed me what to do."
— dodie (Ready Now | Episode 12 ending song)
Again. You REALLY should have told him, Snufkin.
- While Little My acts as an aggressive person who (intentionally) mistreats Moomin for a reason, she does envy Moomintroll of having a room that he alone could have. Mostly because she had to cram herself with her siblings and find a space where she could have a time on her own.
- Best seen in "Little My Moves Out" where Moomintroll invites her family back so they could take Little My away — which makes My miserable, and even Moomintroll feels extremely guilty for what he did.
- Snufkin's Nightmare Sequence. The episode shows Snufkin's characterization in the new series; while he is the same calm character, he also shows his flaws and fears. His nightmare involved returning to Moominvalley so he could reunite with Moomintroll. Even though there are obstacles along the way, like the roots and branches restraining Snufkin while having his treasured harmonica get snatched by an owl, he stays determined to see his friend again. When he arrived to Moomintroll's house, a voice mocked him that no one remembered Snufkin because he's been out for a long time. And when he tried to reach out to Moomintroll, he learned that his friend replaced him. The way Snufkin woke up in panic makes the viewer have sympathy for the traveler.Hedgehog: It's no use. No one will remember you here. You've been gone too long, Snufkin!
- When Sniff puts out Moominpappa's and Moominmamma's bonfire so that it wouldn't attract Groke. Groke then sees that fire has gone out and she just sighs sadly.
- Before the ghost bids farewell to Moomintroll, he asked the latter if they're best friends. Moomintroll tearfully says yes.
- Episode 12 itself. Ninny's story is adapted in the 2019 animation. When her aunt abused and neglected her, Ninny sent a note calling for help before she fades away completely. It goes worse when Moomintroll didn't listen and attempted to take Ninny back to her home. It obviously backfired. Nice going, Moomintroll.Ninny's aunt: I never wanted to look after her in the first place.
- And just before the happy ending, Too-Ticky gave Moomintroll a merciful warning that Ninny isn't the only one who needs someone to listen to. Then cut to the open winter landscape of Moominvalley... followed by a shot of Snufkin walking in the forest is seen before the credits roll.
Too-Ticky: I have some good friends Ninny can stay with. But I need you to keep listening for me, Moomintroll. There are other lost souls out there that need to be heard. - Snorkmaiden leaving Moomintroll in "Farewell, Snorkmaiden," when she realizes that he is not capable of living without his Mamma's care.Snorkmaiden: You're not ready to leave them yet.
Moomintroll: I am! I did! It's just... Well... It would be nice to still be able to see them and you. Why do I have to choose?
Snorkmaiden: You don't. Because I'm choosing for you. (leaves)
