A short introduction to the philosophy of Moomin

One of the lesser-known schools of modern philosophy is the Philosophy of Moomin. Like Cynicism or Epicureanism, it is difficult to pin down precisely, but subscribers speak of the importance of the individual, of liberalism and acceptance, and of the life-affirming joy of feeling. In the words of Moominpappa:

‘Just think, never to be glad or disappointed. Never to like anyone and get cross at him and forgive him. Never to sleep or feel cold, never to make a mistake and have a stomach-ache and be cured from it, never to have a birthday party, drink beer, and have a bad conscience… How terrible.’

Within this philosophical school, Moominpappa’s wife, Moominmamma, may be likened to Socrates; their son, Moomintroll, to Plato; while Fillyjonk, the solitary control freak, is Kierkegaard, only thinner and better dressed. The philosophy – not wholly tongue-in-cheek – falls under a broader ‘Moomin Phenomenon’, which might be translated as ‘Moomin Obsession’, and is global in its reach.

Fillyjonk, the solitary control freak, is Kierkegaard, only thinner and better dressed

Jennifer Saunders, who presents a new five-part series on the phenomenon (actress Lily Collins provides an accompanying audio guide), does not take it too seriously, which is a relief, given that most of the people she interviews are superfans. We begin in a tattoo parlour in Sweden, where a young woman is having her nth Moomin inking. Later on, we find ourselves in the shop of Moominvalley Park outside Tokyo, where there is much enthusiasm for the ‘cute’ creatures, but little way of conveying this down the airwaves. You’d have thought that a budget big enough to cover trips to Sweden, Finland and Japan would also have stretched to a Japanese translator.