Cottagecore Cartoon: Moomin

"Here they are for one and all, the Moomins are about to call,

Come and sit down here with me, they’re here for you on your tv, they are the Moomins..."

Meet Moomin, star of the animated series from 1990. A cute and cozy cartoon about the adventures of the troll-like Moomins in their pastoral paradise of Moomin Valley. Based on the books by artist Tove Jansson, the Moomin series has been a cultural phenomenon for over fifty years. The beloved children's books and animated series embody the Finnish concept of mökkielämä, all about spending summers in vacation cottages, close to nature and the sea.

Most of the early episodes are on YouTube, a rare trove of treasure! The animation was done by a Japanese studio, and there are anime influences in the plot and art style. The episodes offer a slice of life in the Moomin household, a cozy and slow-paced space where anything could happen. The nature scenes are top-notch feats of animation, as you will feel the rustling breeze, the flow of the river, the pitter -patter of the rain and the calm ocean rolling by...

Although I had read an article about Janssen earlier in the year, it wasn't until a friend sent me a meme that I really started researching the books and movies based on Moomin. The meme showed the character Snufkin meditating near a river. I was immediately intrigued by this character and looked the show up...

The character of Snufkin is a free-spirited wanderer with disdain for authority. He leads a nomadic lifestyle camping through the valley, always going on adventures with his friends. Interestingly enough, there is a video game coming out in March 2024, Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley. 

So tune in and join the fun with Moomintroll, Snufkin, Little My and all the friends for another peaceful day in the valley...There are a grand total of 78 episodes to enjoy, as well as a feature-length film Comet in Moominland. Not to mention, a brand new CGI series, Moominvalley that was recently released.

Perfect for fans of: Little Bear, My Little Pony 1986, and 

Rilakkuma and Kaoru.

The First Forest Fox Film!

 

Le Roman De Renard was the first stop-motion animated film ever. Created by filmmaker Ladislas Starevich in the 1930s, this was Fantastic Mr. fox before Wes Anderson. The story follows the legend of medieval Renard the Fox, who is always getting into mischief and causing problems for the fellow creatures. We are adding this remarkable movie to the list of the 44 Forest Films. In fact, one could call it the first forest film. It's that iconic.

Best Cottagecore Cartoons

  While we've already watched forty-four forest films and storybook stop-motion movies we have been craving cottagecore cartoons lately. The animated adventures of forest creatures living their lives in idyllic woodland communities. Waking up on the weekends to make coffee and breakfast while watching these shows is a great way to start the day! Here are the top ten cottagecore cartoons...

Little Bear

Based on the beloved books by Else Minarik, this show is just right for relaxing. The animation is done tastefully, the music is superb and each episode is like a slice-of-life piece of pie served at lunch in Little Bear's cabin. The animals living in the forest celebrate friendship in this show from the 1990s.

David the Gnome 

The tales of a gnome who lives in the forest and works as a healer. Based on the books by Wil Huygen, this series offers a rare window into the world of the gnomes. Let the lifestyle of the ancient race of gnomes inspire you to live in harmony with nature.

Strawberry Shortcake

Escape into the world of Strawberryland, where everyone farms berries and lives in a world of wonder. The original cartoon from 1980 featured a theme song written and performed by The Turtles.

World of Peter Rabbit and Friends

The tales of Beatrix Potter come to life in this british animated series from 1992, featuring the familiar stories with a twist. The show's intro is live-action and shows a cozy scene of young Miss Potter painting in her studio with rabbits.

Animals of Farthing Wood

This british children's cartoon from the 1990's is based on a series of books by Colin Dann. It recounts the struggles of a group of animals being dispalced from their woodland realm by suburban development. A more serious show for older children reminiscent of Watership Down.

Redwall: The Animated Series 

Based on the books by Brin Jacques, this fantasy series from the 1990s has been described as "Game of Thrones meets Brambly Hedge" Redwall is the epic tale of mice and other animals living in an abbey in the medieval ages.

Sylvanian Families

A feel-good family animation from the 1980's based on a japanese line of toys. The toys were small dolls based on animal forest families and their furniture. The television show is aimed at small children and teaches moral lessons.

Chip and Dale

The original cheeky chipmunks of the cinema, Disney's Chip and Dale were always getting into mischief in their efforts to steal acorns. The earlier episodes from the 1940s provide lush forest visuals and comic relief.

Franklin

"Hey, it's Franklin. Coming over to play..." This 1990's animated series makes up for in forest fun what it lacks in animation quality. Based on a series of books by Paulette Bourgeois, the story follows Franklin and his friends as they navigate through the woods and growing up.

New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

We're really scraping at the bottom of the barrel here (er, bottom of the honey jar?) to dig up this 1990's Disney animated series about the inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Wood. However, the cozy woodland setting earns this iteration of Winnie the Pooh a place on the list.

Three Free Fun Forest Films

If you love forest critters and all types of animation, here are three free forest films to watch that are all based on classic children's books...

Frog and Toad Are Friends

There exist two claymation short films based on Arthur Lobel's Frog and Toad books. The cozy and cottagecore stories of writing letters and lost buttons are a nice antidote to the hustle and bustle of urban living.

Wind in the Willows

A stunning stop-motion movie based on the beloved Kenneth Grahame book about the lives of four woodland animal friends.  Fun fact: the soundtrack was composed by Keith Hopwood, guitarist for British 60s band Herman's Hermits...

World of Brambly Hedge

The animated anthropomorphic animals come to life in this stop-motion series featuring nine episodes based on the books about the mice of Brambly Hedge. 

Forest Fiction and Film: Home from the Hill

 

"Here he lies where he longed to be; Home is the sailor, home from the sea, And the hunter home from the hill"

                                                                                           -Robert Louis Stevenson

I recently had the pleasure of viewing the classic MGM movie, Home From the Hill starring Robert Mitchum.  The DVD had crossed my path a few times in the library sorting room and intrigued me.  I decided to check it out last weekend and was treated to lush rustic visuals, colorful storytelling, and a dramatic plot full of family secrets.  To top it all off, there is a love triangle.  The story is about a young boy who is trying to become a man by learning how to hunt with his father and friend.  Eventually he learns about love and pain too.  Directed by Vincent Minelli, who was reknowed for his use of color in film.  Fans of westerns and classic drama will devour this!

Home from the Hill is based on a book by Willim Humphrey.  The story really stuck in my mind all week, so I decided to look for the book at the library to read.   The novel was available for checkout, as was a collection of short stories perfect for fall!  The book is very different from the movie and is missing a major character from the movie.  Still worth a read though!

Forest Film: Follow Me, Boys!

 

Always on the lookout for a fresh forest film, I stumbled across this rare Disney movie from the 60s!  Follow Me Boys is the story of a scoutmaster in 1930s America.  This ain't on Disney+ Featuring a song by the Sherman Brothers and starting Fred MacMurray (Check him out in The Happiest Millionaire, which IS on Disney+)  Camping, adventure and romance make this the perfect summer movie!

Dressing Daisies: A Study of Style in Czech Cinema

Discovering rare psychedelic films like Daisies is always a sweet summer treat.  This gem from the Czechoslovak New Wave (Directed by Vera Chytilova, this movie was banned in the 60's by communists.) is an absurdist romp about two girls out to become rotten as green apples in a corrupted world.  Their misadventures are wild and whimsical, an endless source of inspiration... 

 

Meditating on a bed of AstroTurf and apples, while palm leaves weave the headboard is my aesthetic goal for the summer.  What better way to recharge after a night of romping in the woods before a glass of green juice and a jog down the beach?

 

 

Exploring a forest farm to steal crops requires camouflage.  Items found in nature can double as a hat made of bushes or an old fishing net can become a shawl.  Pair flower crowns with everything!

 

 

Brunch in bed with my best friends while lounging around in silk pajamas in paisley prints. Pairing lingerie with cyclists shorts for those hot days around the house.  Apples and croissants, avocado toast and acid...

 

 

A summer of 60's fashion and frenzy sounds fun to me!  Watch Daisies on The Criterion Channel.

 

44 Forest Films

 

 

Need a new pick for movie night?  Look no further than this curated list of forest films!  From fairy tale to horror, here is a grand list of movies that have inspired countless forest fans through the years...

 

 

Disney's Enchanted - My favorite!  A forest maiden from the animated world falls into reality.

Legend - An 80's fantasy flick with Tim Curry as the devil!

Moonrise Kingdom - A Wes Anderson action drama about scouts who run away.

Lord of the Rings : The Two Towers- Featured the Ents and Treebeard helping hobbits.

The Village - A village in a forest holds a dark secret in this M. Night Shymalan

 

Maleficent - Disney twists the timeless tale of sleeping beauty for a forest fairy.

Star Wars : Return of the Jedi -Takes place on a forested moon,  what more could you ask for?

Fairy Tale-The true story of the Cottingley sister's fairy scandal.

Pan's Labyrinth - Gulliermo del Toro's dark fantasy masterpience.

 

Green Mansions- Classic romance film starring Audrey Hepburn living amongst the animals.

Fuck for Forest - Inspiring documentary on sex workers saving the rainforests!

Girl of the Limberlost- A fan favorite about a girl who catches bugs in the woods to sell.

Into the Woods- Sondheim songs and fractured fairytales meet in this musical.

Evil Dead - A horror with some evil trees hellbent on revenge.

 

Tinkerbell - All the new Disney Tinkerbell movies are fun and forest!

Fern Gully: The Last Rainforest- an animated classic about saving the environment.

Midsummer Night's Dream - the 1909 version of the 1990's, either are enchanting!

Stardust - An epic adventure based on the book by Neil Gaiman.

Robin Hood- The Disney animated version, the Kevin Costner one, or the Men in Tights Edition!

The Forest - Modern thriller about the suicide forest in Japan

The Juniper Tree- Bjork stars in a Brothers Grimm tale!

Into the Forest - Two sisters must survive in the wilderness in this dark drama.

Angels and Insects - A romance of botany and bugs in Victorian England.

Pan - An interesting take on the tale of Neverland and Peter Pan that came out recently.

 

 Big Fish - A story about telling tall tales directed by Tim Burton without the signature stripes.

Horns- The guy from Harry Potter grew into a hot demon in this mystery!

The Brothers Grimm - A fantasy comedy about the real brothers Grimm and their hijinks!

 The Kingdom of the Fairies - Georges Méliès finest silent film...

 Hans my Hedgehog - a Jim Henson special about a half human half hedgehog.

 

My Neighbor Totoro - The Miyazaki animated classic with a big cuddly forest spirit.

Pom Poko-Japanimated movie about raucous raccoons in the woods.

Park Avenue Logger-  A city slicker comes to the forest in this classic.

Bambi- Cartoon critters come of age in this beautiful Disney film.

Tale of Tales - Three Italian fairy tales intertwine in this gorgeous visual feast.

The Magic Door- An indie adventure about a tribe of elves.

Man of the Forest - Old black and white wilderness romance with a rugged hero.

Once Upon a Forest - An animated movie about the importance of recycling.

Into the Wild - The tragically true tale of a man who sets off to live in the wilderness.

The Singing Ringing Tree - A fairytale fantasy from the 50's!

 

Timber Queen - Girl inherits lumberyard, villains plot to steal it in this old fashioned flick.

A Monster Calls - Tragedy in the trees strikes in this modern horror.

The Secret World of Arietty - An animated movie about a "borrower" in the garden.

The Gnome Mobile - Two cute kids find the secrets of the gnomes in this musical.

The Forest Man - Documentary about an individual who created a forest.

Favorite Foxy Films

Friends of the forest, here are the foxiest films for fall!

Disney's Robin Hood is my favorite cartoon about foxes.  The classic tale features action, romance and a very catchy soundtrack.  We were just singing some of the songs from the film with our friends a few weeks ago!

Obviously, no list of foxy films would be complete without Wes Anderson's adaption of Fantastic Mr. Fox!  All the little details intrigued me when I would watch this in my craft room.

Disney's Fox and the Hound is so sad and sweet.  A classic that everyone knows, I like to watch it once in a while.

Friends of the Forest, what are your favorite fox films?

Forest Films: Vintage "Logger" Movies

Friends of the forest, I've got a new obsession!  Vintage logger movies from the 1930's and 40's.  These films are an interesting peek into how the logging industry used to be.  Wild, rough and rugged.  I love seeing the guys climb up the trees with their special equipment, logrolling down rivers, and riding the logs down the chutes (which is where the concept of a log ride came from)  These movies make me pine for a time when people worked the land, living in harmony with nature.  Here are my favorite films of the genre.

This movie came out in 1944.  It is a romantic film that tells the story of a guy who helps his dead best friend's wife with her failing lumber business.  They need the money quick, and to keep the company out of the hands of a conniving competitor.  The hollywood gals aren't used to working in the woods, but the guys prevail.  You know it's a good 40's film when the guy's sidekick is called squirrel.  This movie is available to watch free on youtube.com.

Spoiled rich kid gets sent to the lumber yards by his father hoping to give him a taste of hard work.  The boy goes to the forest and has to prove his worth to the brawny lumberjacks who laugh at this "park avenue logger"  He eventually finds a gal and saves the camp from a bad boss.  The movie was based on a short story that was published in a newspaper in the 30's.  This movie is also available on youtube.

This is the only movie on the list I haven't seen yet, but I want to!  Tukkipojan Morsian, or 'The Log-Roller's Bride' is a Finnish film that I can't find anywhere online!  Apparently "logger films" were a huge thing in the 30's and 40's in Finland.  The classifying characteristics of these movies are the sprawling shots of the loggers rolling down the river, the pastoral countryside, and folk songs.  Sigh.  I wish I could be a logroller's bride...

Well, friends of the forest, I hope you were inspired to check out this very intriguing genre of classic film.  What are your favorite foresty classics?