Sony Music label Columbia Records has struck a deal with Finnish production company Gutsy Animations to help soundtrack an animation series based on the Moomin stories.
Titled MOOMINVALLEY, the first series will run across 13 22-minute-long episodes that will each feature a track by one of Columbia’s artists.
The series will air in spring 2019 on Sky One and Sky’s on-demand service NOW TV in the UK and public broadcaster YLE in Finland, with many more deals under negotiation worldwide.
Ferdy Unger-Hamilton, president of Columbia Records UK, said: “We are very proud here at Columbia Records to collaborate with Gutsy Animations on the MOOMINVALLEY soundtrack.
“The Moomins are culturally important around the world and we have a fantastic line up of artists across Sony Music Entertainment contributing featured songs to the soundtrack.”
ferdy under-hamilton, columbia UK
“The Moomins are culturally important around the world and we have a fantastic line up of artists across Sony Music Entertainment contributing featured songs to the soundtrack.”
Marika Makaroff, Creative Director and Executive Producer at Gutsy Animations, said: “From the beginning of this project we have been ambitious with our vision – and it has paid off in spades.
“I’m thrilled to be partnering with Sony Music, which is home to some of the world’s best artists, and can’t wait to announce the incredible names that will be writing brand new music for Moominvalley.”
Marika Makaroff, Gutsy Animations
“I’m thrilled to be partnering with Sony Music, which is home to some of the world’s best artists, and can’t wait to announce the incredible names that will be writing brand new music for Moominvalley.
“What we’ve heard so far is truly magical – it perfectly captures the sense of wonder and spirit of adventure so central to the world Tove created.”
The full line-up of Sony Music Entertainment artists contributing featured songs to the MOOMINVALLEY soundtrack will be announced in the coming months.
The tracks will complement an original score composed by Finnish musicians Pekka Kuusisto.
Written by Finnish-Swedish author and artist Tove Jansson, the Moomins are one of Finland’s biggest exports and have a global fan base.
They have enjoyed popularity in the UK since the 1950s, when the original Moomin comic strips were published in the Evening News newspaper.
MOOMINVALLEY has the approval of Moomin Characters, the business set up by Jansson and her brother Lars in the 1950s, and Bulls Licensing, their global licensing agent.Music Business Worldwide
