Free Republic

Stinky is a member of the Moomin cast in Japan Credit: Moominvalley Park Certain cartoon characters from Europe such as Asterix, Smurfs and Tin Tin have become international children’s legends and from Finland it’s the Moomins. So popular are the Moomins who first appeared in 1945 that these round fairy-tale characters with large snouts that make them resemble the hippopotamus appeared in books, comics, tv series as well as having two theme parks in Finland and Japan. This year, it was agreed that the Brooklyn Public Library in New York would host an exhibition entitled Tove Jansson and the Moomins:...

The Brooklyn Public Library in New York has removed an image of the Moomin character Stinky, known in Finnish as Haisuli, from a Tove Jansson exhibition after a donor found the character potentially racist. The exhibition, titled Tove Jansson and the Moomins: The Door Is Always Open, is the first major showcase of Jansson’s work in the United States. It presents her legacy as a writer, illustrator, pacifist and queer artist, alongside illustrations, archival materials and immersive events. It will remain open until 30 September. Roleff Kråkström, CEO of Moomin Characters, which oversees the use and licensing of the...