Comet in Moominland

In Moominvalley the sky turns red and the weather goes strange. Moomintroll and his friend Sniff decide to go to the observatory and find out what is happening. On the way they meet Little My, Snufkin, Snork and the Snorkmaiden. What they learn at the observatory is simple: a comet is coming toward the valley and the date of its arrival is known. The journey back becomes a walk taken while the end of the world approaches. Hiroshi Saito's film rests on the Japanese animated series adapted from Tove Jansson's book. The narrative does not make the catastrophe frightening; the characters go on making friends, dancing and eating along the way. That tone is the distinguishing quality of the Moomin stories. The design stays faithful to Jansson's drawing, and the red sky in the passages where the comet nears is among the series' most memorable imagery. Who it's for: Moomin readers, and anyone who likes children's animation and calm adventure. Who it's not for: The pace is slow and the tension is low. Newcomers to the series also get little introduction to the characters.