"He thought about how much he loved everything, the forest, the sea, the rain and the wind, the sunshine, the grass and the moss, and how impossible it would be to live without them all..." - Comet in Moominland
Step into Moominvalley and close your eyes. You might hear a river running between the sea and the mountain. You might hear the leaves in the trees, the birds chirp in the distance, or maybe a noise from a creature or two making their way through the forests. Whatever it is you hear, this is the symphony of nature, the Melody of Moominvalley.
It is a sense of harmony and contentment that creates peace and balance. This place is home for many inhabitants, almost all of whom possess a deep love and respect for nature. From the towering peaks of the Lonely Mountains to the lush green slopes and clear waters of the bordering sea, the valley offers a dramatic vista that feels both familiar and mysterious.
When shaping the world for the beloved characters, Tove Jansson drew inspiration from her Nordic roots and experiences, spending over 30 summers on the island of Klovharu in the Finnish Archipelago with her partner Tuulikki Pietilä. While not all parts of nature are conventionally pretty, Jansson recognised that there is beauty to be found in it nonetheless if you simply look closely enough.
The environment in Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley
To have Tove Janssons’ world come to life, it was important for us to go into the details of every element when we were creating the environment for the players to explore– from the trees, to the flowers, and the grass itself. Jansson’s colourful and storybook style is cherished by people around the world who have come to love the Moomins, drawn by the distinct and whimsical art. When designing for the game, our artists at Hyper Games have spent a great deal of time making sure we honour and stay true to the vision of Moomin’s beautiful respect for nature.
The process starts with looking at much of the original work, then moving to concept art, figuring out how each aspect will look in the game whilst honouring and recreating the inspirations of the comics and books. This means that we have created very many concepts, then handdrawn and crafted them into place in the environments in the game. We wanted to create a world that players would want to get lost in.
Our vision and goal for you as a player is to truly feel like you’re stepping into Moominvalley. We want you to explore everything, from the different landmarks to the different trees, flowers, and inhabitants in a never-before-done way. When Snufkin returns to Moominvalley in the spring, he notes that some of the noises, the river’s waters, and even the leaves on the trees are…different. The melody has been disturbed. As Snufkin, you’ll have to find out what has happened to the valley, and how Moomintroll is involved – if you can find him!
One more thing before we wrap up: As a Nordic tradition, we will be off on vacation throughout July and we wish you all a happy summer. You’ll still see Snufkin online, but we’ll see you back in August!
/Are CEO of Hyper Games