Tove Jansson and The Hobbit

Director
NOWNESS

Stella Scott unlocks the Moomin-creator’s life and fantastical vision through the story behind her rare illustrations for J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit

As the curious creator of the Moomins, Finland-Swedish author and illustrator Tove Jansson imagined fantastical characters and folkloric worlds that found a sense of wonder in the natural landscapes that informed her early experiences. Shaped by childhood summers spent in the Pellinki archipelago and the shadows of World War II, her beloved Moomin stories presented escapism and adventure, while holding a psychological mirror to the political context of the era, as Moominvalley’s inhabitants overcome looming threats and unexpected events.

Channeling her lifelong fascination with horror, wilderness and catastrophe, Jansson was commissioned to illustrate the first Swedish-language edition of The Hobbit in 1960, reinterpreting J.R.R. Tolkien’s lonely mountains, strange creatures and dark landscapes. While underappreciated at the time of release, Jansson’s expressive and unconventional drawings are revisited for a new edition marking The Hobbit’s 90th anniversary, inviting the next generation to connect with her whimsical, distinctly Nordic portrayal of Middle Earth.

For the short documentary Tove Jansson and The Hobbit, created in partnership with Moomin Characters, director Stella Scott explores the life and work of Tove Jansson, and the lasting legacy of a rare commission that unites two celebrated storytellers. Between archival fragments and self-shot footage captured on 35mm film, Scott reflects on how one artist interpreted another’s imaginary world – and why Jansson’s distinctive vision took decades to be fully appreciated.