A ballet featuring beloved Finnish cartoon characters, the Moomins, is currently showing at the Finnish National Opera in Helsinki. The dance of Moomins has been a hit with children and their parents.

"Moomin and the Comet" tells the story of Moomintroll and Snorkmaiden's perilous journey to a mountaintop, as a comet approaches that could destroy Moomin Valley.

"Moomin and the Comet" tells the story of Moomintroll and Snorkmaiden's perilous journey to a mountaintop, as a comet approaches that could destroy Moomin Valley.

For its choreographer, "Comet in Moominland" had all the elements for a great drama: an adventure, a love story, and an impending catastrophe.

"I saw the comet as a ballerina in the red tutu. The stars, the nine beautiful stars we have in the ballet, so we had the kind of basic things there," said Anandah Kononen, choreographer.

Jansson's book was initially published in 1946, in the aftermath of the Second World War. In addition to the original set of seven novels, there have been numerous TV series and feature-length movies.

"I'm sure we've been both like watching on Sunday evening at 6 o'clock. It's a half an hour show and you are always sitting there, eyes nailed to the TV screen," said Tiina Myllymaki, principal dancer from Finish National Opera.

But, while the Moomins are famous in the Nordic countries and in Japan, in some countries they remain relatively unknown. Indeed, many of the show's non-Finnish performers were unaware of the significance of the Moomins.

US dancer Kailey Kaba says she loves working with the Moomin family, but admits that helping them transition to ballet has been challenging.

"So the challenge of working with these Moomins is that the hole that they are looking through is quite small and they have a screen underneath. So if they're asked to put their right arm out and you have to grab their right arm- they don't know where to put their body, so we have to also move them and adapt to them," said Kailey Kaba, dancer from Finish National Opera.

For audiences young and old, "Moomin and the Comet" promises a full classical ballet experience mixed with the wonder of Janssons' fantastic universe. Tickets are now sold out for regular performances, but the Opera House has promised more performances later in May.

The Moomins also take time to meet with the audience and fans after the show. No autographs here, but hugs and smiles all-round.

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