Box, who won an Oscar for The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, will direct a new series based on the classic childrens’ animation.

Moomins

Oscar-winning director Steve Box, whose credits including Wallace And Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit, will direct a new Moomins animation series.

Box will also head the writing team which includes Mark Huckerby and Nick Ostler, with Laurie Hutzler attached as story consultant.

The team behind the series includes those who worked on the recent Moomins On The Riviera feature film.

Filmlance Managing Director Lars Blomgren will executive produce and work closely with Sophia Jansson, the niece of the late Moomins creator Tove Jansson. Marika Makaroff will serve as creative director.

Filmlance International has struck a licensing deal for the series with Moomin Characters and Bulls Licensing.

Cate Elliott (Charlie and Lola, Me & My Monsters) and John Woolley (Shaun the Sheep) will produce. Endemol Shine International will handle distribution.

Sophia Jansson said: “At Moomin Characters we are tremendously happy that we have been presented with this opportunity to work with Filmlance, Endemol Shine Group and such a fantastic creative team. I am very confident that in their hands the Moomins will become something new and wonderful, created with great respect for Tove’s original stories and characters.”

Blomgren said: “The opportunity to gather together such a brilliant group of creative minds in order to develop a new version of the Moomins is a dream come true for me. Tove’s work is filled with such empathy and joy; something our children need and deserve today more than ever before.”

Makaroff added: “The series will honour Tove Jansson’s original style of illustration, as well as the original stories, while utilizing the latest techniques and bringing those stories to present day.”