Moomins on the Riviera

Freely adapting the work of Finnish writer and artist Tove Jansson, Moomins On The Riviera is a leisurely animated feature, a respectful tribute to her creations.

Very young children may be amused by these minimal characters, but the slow pace and thin content will have older children and adults fidgeting in their seats.

Long live the Moomins.

Gradually, the simplicity yields an idiosyncratic charm.

Sharp gags about the value of art and the worthlessness of wealth are interwoven through the folk-tale noodling, while the gentle strokes of the animation provide a pastel-hued riposte to more fashionably frenzied family-friendly fare.

This yarn, based on Tove Jansson's Moomins comic strip, is a wistful and gentle affair, hand-drawn and far less brash than the typical animated Hollywood feature.

Like the Moomins themselves, this film is charming and endlessly imaginative.

The pastel colours and etched landscapes infuse it with more heart and tender loving care than most of Hollywood's animated output combined.

In a digital cinematic era, this traditional animated film outstands from commercial animated movies. [Full review in Spanish]

You won't see any high-speed chases or fire-breathing monsters - just a beautifully simple cartoon that truly captures the spirit of the originals. This is true Moomin heaven.