*The award-winning series has now been sold in over 25 territories*
MOOMINVALLEY, the record-breaking adaptation of Tove Jansson’s beloved Moomin stories, has been awarded ‘Best Animated Kids Programme’ at the fifth annual Content Innovation Awards in Cannes.
The Content Innovation Awards celebrate companies that are helping transform today's global television industry. They are judged by a panel of industry leaders, including Sumi Connock, Creative Director of Formats at BBC Studios; Paul Robinson, CEO of Imira Entertainment; and Manori Ravindran, Editor of TBI.
Marika Makaroff, CEO of Gutsy Animations and executive producer of MOOMINVALLEY, said: “The Gutsy Animations team approached this project with the ambition to create a world-class prime-time family drama which captured the spirit of Tove Jansson's beautiful and complex stories. The first season of Moominvalley has been, and continues to be, immensely well received by audiences worldwide, and we're thrilled to receive this acknowledgement from the industry.”
MOOMINVALLEY has so far been sold in over 25 countries. Award-winning entertainment distributor PGS has secured new leading broadcasters across 20 territories including NPO ZAPP (Netherlands), Czech TV (Czech Republic), and Puls TV (Poland). More broadcasters will be announced shortly.
In addition to the above deals brokered by PGS, PPW have acquired all rights to the first two series of MOOMINVALLEY in Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. PPW have sub licensed the rights to HK Television Entertainment Company for their ViuTV channel and associated VOD and mobile platforms with launch planned for December 2019. Discussions are under way with other partners in China and Taiwan.
Dazzler Media has licensed the DVD and DTO rights in the UK and Ireland to the first two series of MOOMINVALLEY, with the DVD launch of series one planned for 4th November 2019.
The first episodes from the series have also been licensed by Global Eagle to Finnair who will show in three language versions on all flights to/from Asia and USA and on selected European flights. Episodes are available from September 2019.
In Moomin’s home country of Finland, MOOMINVALLEY is in the process of being translated into the three indigenous languages of the Sámi people: the Northern Sámi, Inari Sámi and Skolt Sámi languages, following a motion put forward by the Sámi Parliament. Similarly, a deal has been done with BBC ALBA for a Scottish Gaelic dubbed version of MOOMINVALLEY.
Marika Makaroff added: “The importance of inclusivity and of welcoming difference is made very clear in the Moomin stories, so it is of course important to us to be reflecting this in our production. We’re so pleased that the Sámi people and Gaelic speakers will be able to enjoy the series in their own mother tongue.”
MOOMINVALLEY is based on the beloved Moomin stories by Finnish-Swedish author and artist Tove Jansson. A Finnish-British co-production, it is directed by Academy Award® winner Steve Box (Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit) and produced by Gutsy Animations in association with Yle and Sky.
The commissioning broadcasters, Yle and Sky, started successfully broadcasting the series in spring 2019. In Finland, the series saw record-breaking ratings, with one in four Finns (1.5 million people) tuning in to watch the first episode. 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. The series enjoyed similar success in the UK, as broadcaster Sky’s second most downloaded box set in its launch week, behind Game of Thrones.
MOOMINVALLEY is distributed globally by PGS Entertainment. Please contact PGS here with enquiries.
ENDS
For further information please contact Caitlin Allen at Riot Communications on
020 3174 0118 / 07814 403 000 / caitlin@riotcommunications.com
NOTES TO EDITORS
About MOOMINVALLEY
MOOMINVALLEY is a brand new adaptation of the much-loved Moomin stories of Tove Jansson, a Finnish-Swedish writer and artist whose books have been translated into over 50 languages. Aimed at a family primetime audience, the drama fantasy series is full of life and laughter for lifelong Moomin fans and complete newcomers alike.
MOOMINVALLEY has benefitted from a 25% cash rebate production incentive for production costs in Finland. This production incentive is intended to increase international interest in Finland as a production location and to promote the development, growth, and internationalisation of Finnish companies.
About Gutsy Animations
Gutsy is a team of creators and producers who believe that the world is in need of funny, clever, gutsy and – above all – meaningful content. All of its productions are aimed at international audiences and based on a concept of genuine social impact.
About Moomin Characters
Oy Moomin Characters Ltd is the owner, originator and official company responsible for supervising and managing the Moomins' brand, copyright and registrations. The company was started in 1958 by Tove Jansson and her brother Lars Jansson and even today is run by family members. Sophia Jansson, Lars's daughter and Tove's niece, is Chairman of the Board and Creative Director at Moomin Characters. All characters from Moominvalley are registered trademarks. MOOMINVALLEY has the approval of Moomin Characters and Bulls Licensing, their global licensing agent.