English-language voice cast includes Russell Tovey, Nathaniel Parker, Tracy Ann Oberman and Stephanie Winiecki, with the irrepressible Little My played by Ruth Gibson.
Helsinki -- The English-language voice cast has been announced for hand-drawn feature Moomins on the Riviera. Directed by Xavier Picard and produced by Hanna Hemilä, Moomins on the Riviera is based on Tove and Lars Jansson’s beloved “Moomin” comic strip and books. The film is a co-production between Finland’s Handle Productions and France’s Pictak Cie.
In the film, the Moomins, Snorkmaiden and Little My, in search of adventures of their own, set sail for the Riviera, where, after a journey fraught with menacing storms and desert island dangers, Snorkmaiden is dazzled by the attentions of a playboy and Moomin learns that jealousy’s sting is the most painful of all. When Moominpappa befriends an aristocrat and adopts the name “de Moomin,” an exasperated Moominmamma retires to the relative calm of their trusty old boat, to wait for her family to come to their senses. For the very first time, the unity of the Moomins is threatened.
Award winning British actor Russell Tovey (The Pirates! Band of Misfits) plays Moomin. Nathaniel Parker (Merlin, Stardust, The Haunted Mansion) and Tracy Ann Oberman (EastEnders, Filth) play Moominpappa and Moominmamma respectively. Stephanie Winiecki, in her first major movie role, plays Snorkmaiden.
The irrepressible Little My is played by Ruth Gibson. Philippe Smolikowski is Moominpappa’s new best friend, the wannabe artist, Marquis Mongaga. Dave Browne plays the upper-crust playboy Clark Tresco, who sets his sights on Snorkmaiden. Shelley Blond (Tomb Rider video title, Cruise of Gods) plays Audrey Glamour the Hollywood actress, idolized by Snorkmaiden.
Other roles are played by Dominic Frisby (The Inbetweeners Movie), Ian Conningham, Alison O’Donnell, Bernard Alane, Bruno Magnes, Maria Sid, Beata Harju, Andy Turvey, Kris Gummerus, Glyn Welden Banks, Lee Willis, Sanna-June Hyde, Christopher Sloan and Leslie Hyde.
Moomins on the Riviera is created in a unique hand-drawn animation technique inspired by the original comic strips. The animators are using a reduced color scale for the backgrounds to carefully adapt the strips for a modern audience while maintaining the original feel of the black-and-white comic strips.
A film for all audiences, the Moomins embrace cross-cultural understanding and tolerance. Addressing universal themes such as finding joy in the small things in life, family, and optimism, Moomins on the Riviera is sure to resonate with viewers around the world.
The film has already been sold to Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, France, Switzerland and Japan.
Moomins on the Riviera arrives in theaters beginning October 2014.
Source: Handle Productions
Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.
