The cuddly troll family known as the Moomins, who are the basis for many books, comic strips, and TV shows, including the 2019 series Moominvalley, are now getting an American movie adaptation, a first for the franchise. Originally created by Finnish artist and writer Tove Jansson during World War II, the Moomins are a family of trolls who live in a valley of magical adventures.

Variety has reported today (October 6) that iconic Steven Universe creator Rebecca Sugar is now writing and directing an animated feature film about the Moomins, with an unknown release date. Moomin Characters is partnering with Annapurna Animation (2023’s Nimona) to develop the film, with Julia Pistor attached as producer.

Moomin Characters CEO Roleff Kråkström said in a statement:

We are thrilled to partner with the talented Rebecca Sugar as well as Annapurna for this milestone new film. We are excited to see how this accomplished team will reinterpret the beloved Moomin stories and for them to be discovered and rediscovered by old and new fans alike.

Annapurna co-presidents Robert Baird and Andrew Millstein said in their own statement:

We’re honored to bring Tove Jansson’s timeless vision to the big screen. Along with Rebecca and Julia, we can’t wait to introduce these beloved characters—and the humor, heart, and subversive spirit Tove brought to her work—to new audiences.

Jansson introduced the Moomins in the 1945 book The Moomins and the Great Flood, and went on to continuously depict them as friendly to everyone they meet. Jansson, who pᴀssed away in 2001, penned nine novels, five picture books, and a comic strip syndicated in 40 countries about the Moomins. Meanwhile, the creatures were adapted for the screen many times by other creators.

The Moomins books have been published in more than 60 languages, while TV adaptations have been made in 120 countries. The Finnish-British TV show Moominvalley attracted the talents of Rosamund Pike, Matt Berry, Taron Egerton, and Warwick Davis. Thus, the movie will likely feature additional high-profile artists alongside Rebecca Sugar.

Sugar is primarily known for the award-winning series Steven Universe, which remains one of Cartoon Network’s best TV shows; she is also credited as a writer for 22 episodes of Adventure Time. Moreover, Sugar is an animator, singer, and songwriter; in addition to co-directing the animated musical Steven Universe: The Movie, and recently released their second album, Lonely Magic.

A lot is unclear about the Moomins movie at this time — what the main storyline will be, what animation style the creators may opt for, who the cast could feature, etc. The background of the director suggests that the movie could go in a hand-drawn direction, capturing the atmosphere of the original material, but the studio may favor stylized 3D animation.

Also, given the Academy Awards’ trending away from Disney movies in recent history, the Moomins could be up for an Oscar in the coming years. Sugar and Annapurna could create a soft, whimsical movie, somewhat like Studio Ghibli but with its own unique idenтιтy, which will ensure the Moomins remain relevant and make an impact on fans old and new.