‘Steven Universe’ Creator Rebecca Sugar To Helm ‘Moomin’ Animated Feature For Annapurna

Animation superstar Rebecca Sugar, creator of the groundbreaking Steven Universe, is set to write and direct the first-ever U.S.-produced animated feature based on the beloved Moomin stories.

The film, announced today by Moomin Characters and Annapurna Animation, marks Sugar’s first feature as a director and a major new chapter for one of the most influential artists in modern animation.

“We are thrilled to partner with the talented Rebecca Sugar as well as Annapurna for this milestone new film,” said Roleff Kråkström, CEO of Moomin Characters. “We are excited to see how this accomplished team will reinterpret the beloved Moomin stories and for them to be discovered and rediscovered by old and new fans alike.”

Robert Baird and Andrew Millstein, co-presidents of Annapurna Animation, added: “We’re honored to bring Tove Jansson’s timeless vision to the big screen. Along with Rebecca and Julia, we can’t wait to introduce these beloved characters — and the humor, heart, and subversive spirit Tove brought to her work — to new audiences.”

The film will adapt the works of Finnish artist Tove Jansson, whose gentle, adventurous Moomin family has captivated readers for eight decades. The franchise, translated into more than 60 languages and adapted for television in over 120 countries, has recently seen a resurgence in the U.S., with features in The New Yorker and an exhibition at the Brooklyn Public Library. Veteran producer Julia Pistor (The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, The Rugrats Movie) is attached to produce.

The project adds momentum to Annapurna Animation, which launched in 2022 under Baird and Millstein and earned acclaim with the Oscar-nominated Nimona. The studio is also adapting the hit indie video game Stray.

Sugar, meanwhile, is expanding her own beloved creation with Lars of the Stars, a new Steven Universe spinoff executive produced with her partner Ian Jones-Quartey (OK K.O.! Let’s Be Heroes). The series follows eternal teenager and space outlaw Lars Barriga as he and his pirate crew smuggle contraband, evade the authorities, and uncover the darkest secrets of the fallen Gem Empire.