Was a bit suprised to see these, I always wanted them but never seen them before. There is a few without obis and what I thought overprices, but apperently there are Mumin collectors who want these...

http://page10.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/a ... m152700069

I think some Moomin stuff is either permanently out of print forever or at least confined to Japan forever due to them completing an entire series based on a children's book and then never actually telling the author or compensating her in any way.

I don't know much about it though...

Might be, but are you sure it was released without any compensation, isnt this the same series that was aired in both sweden, denmark, norway and finland?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84fBZpCZSTc

original japanese:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdOQLZ9MIBs

But I have to say, I had actually no idea that this series was japanese. And that the key animator was Hayao Miyazaki from ghibli, so I gues there are several levels on this that makes it wanted.

The Mumin series you're reffering to in the Youtube clips are the more modern one from 1990 or so which is very common in Scandinavia, but there was one made already in the late 60s if I remember correctly and was very rarely shown outside of Japan. And that is what you've found on Yahoo Auctions. Not sure if it has ever been issued on DVD or Blu-Ray.

ah I see, I had no idea when this "nordic" version where made. Thanks for clearing this up. Except for youtube and a certein pirateb site there seem to not be avaible at all. I guess thats explains alot,really cool lds....

japan 1969
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Snte8rM ... 9j&index=3

I can add that on what I found from the japanese and english wiki, they seemed to have contract to make them, but since they changed to much they will prob not grant a new release. But there seem to be a lot of contract conflicts on the japanese side too. Money talks and Mumin world are so sold out nowdays so I hardly think they would stop a release of an historical value like this.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moomin_%2 ... _series%29
"Given Jansson's distaste for the 1969 series, her heirs are unlikely to grant permission for a DVD release in the foreseeable future"

Its prob. true. But in all honestly I am sure Tove Jansson would dislike what Mumin is today anyway. They been commercializing the characters and names beyond the books. Today the name and characters are bigger and bringing more money then the original stories.

And if I understood it correctly, she signed a contract for 28 episodes, didnt like it, but signed a new contract to another company in Japan, and then even when they new that they didnt care for the original stories, they gave them another chance in 90s, and the result was that Mumin is today one of the largest exports in Finland. They have it all to thank to the japanese companies. So I would think that they might be possible, becouse it does serve a importen part of the mumin history.

But also, if no one tries to get it release in Japan, due contract issues in Japan, then it will never get to fam. Janssons table anyway.

I'm %90 sure about something being made without permission, I guess it was probably the 60s series.

Back then Japan's respect for intillectual property was about like China now. They ripped off stuff left and right. Lupin III is an example, not as blatant as Moomin though.

Moomin in book form is actually very different to what most people know of them. It all takes place in a very dark and depressing setting where they're all by themselves and have barely any friends. I guess The Groke is much more frightening in the books than the series.

https://translate.google.co.jp/translat ... t=&act=url
”Otsuka Yasuo of character design, it has been received and are in Japan pretty rounded, as it were to question Jansson, it is like sharpness seemed a no fat style of a different thing.”
" Therefore, on the condition that "broadcast only in Japan", and was returned as of Tokyo movie version of the character design."