[Simultaneous Event in Japan & Finland] Moomin: Midsummer Madness Hands-On Demo Event Report

Moomin Fans Enjoy the World’s First Play Ahead of November 12 Release

On Friday, August 21, Shochiku Co., Ltd. Game Business Division (hereafter “Shochiku Games”) held the “Moomin: Midsummer Madness Hands-On Demo Event ~Summer Party~” in Tokyo and Finland. As the world’s first opportunity to experience the upcoming title Moomin: Midsummer Madness (scheduled for release on November 12), official Moomin Fan Club members were invited to play the game before anyone else. In addition to the event in Tokyo, a simultaneous hands-on event was held on the same day in Finland—the birthplace of Moomin creator Tove Jansson—at the head office of Moomin Characters Oy Ltd.

Moomin: Midsummer Madness is a point-and-click adventure game inspired by Tove Jansson’s novel Moominsummer Madness. The title is scheduled to launch on November 12 for PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch™, and Nintendo Switch 2™. Further opportunities to try out the game will be announced soon, so please stay tuned.

■ Event Report: Talk Show During the event, freelance writer Mami Hagiwara, who also writes articles for the official Moomin website, took the stage to share her thoughts after playing the game and discuss its connections to the original works.

The Charm of the Artwork Inspired by the Original Novels “The year 1954, when the original novel Moominsummer Madness was published, was also the year the Moomin comic strip began serialization in a British evening newspaper. Tove used various techniques across her nine novels, and while the illustration style varies, Moominsummer Madness shares noticeable similarities with the comic strip artwork—making it clear, distinct, and highly approachable. In that sense, I felt it was a story perfectly suited for visual adaptations and game design. While the original illustrations are in black and white, adding color gives a different impression, yet this game clearly treats the feel of the original source material with great care.”

A Unique Switching System Between Characters “Key characters from the novel Moominsummer Madness, including the Moomin family, Little My, and Snufkin, are all featured in the game. While the game primarily progresses from Moomintroll’s perspective as players solve puzzles and overcome troubles, what makes it particularly interesting is how control switches to Little My at certain points. Leveraging each character’s unique personality to advance through the game offers a fresh charm not seen in previous games. A rich lineup of unique characters, such as Fillyjonk, Emma, and the wood children, also make an appearance.”

■ Event Report: Hands-On Demo & Showcase Following the talk show, attendees played through the demo version. Guests shared enthusiastic comments such as, “I’m so curious to see what happens next!” and “I was moved to see the world of the original story brought to life so faithfully.”

After trying out the demo, guests enjoyed a social gathering with light refreshments inspired by Nordic culture, and the event concluded with all attendees writing messages on a commemorative group board.

■ Hands-On Event at Moomin Characters Oy Ltd. Head Office in Finland On the same day, a hands-on demo event was also held at the head office of Moomin Characters Oy Ltd. in Finland. Surrounded by a special atmosphere filled with artwork and merchandise, local Moomin fans thoroughly enjoyed their hands-on experience with the demo.

■ About Moomin: Midsummer Madness One day, while Moomintroll waits for Snufkin to return from his travels, Moominvalley is suddenly struck by a massive flood. Floating away on the water, the Moomin family arrives at a strange building. It turns out to be a mysterious theater filled with costumes, scripts, and the unique “magic” of the stage— . In this title, players can look forward to iconic scenes recreated with deep love and respect for the original work, as well as brand-new original adventures.