Snufmin

Snufmin is the slash ship between Moomintroll and Snufkin from the Moomin fandom.

Canon
Snufkin is the first actual friend Moomintroll meets, as Sniff is considered more of an adoptive little brother. Moomintroll is quick to admire his free spirit and Snufkin's nomad lifestyle. The two of them grow very attached to each other in a short time, with their relationship only deepening. In many ways, Snufkin becomes one of the most important people in Moomintroll’s life. When Snufkin decides to start his traveling lifestyle after living with the Moomin family for a while, Moomintroll is deeply saddened. He even spends his wish from the Hobgoblin to send their feast to Snufkin. And during Moominsummer Madness, Snufkin being late causes Moomintroll to be so sad, that he can't even bring himself to be happy for Snorkmaiden.

Their relationship is defined by Moomintroll’s sentimental attachment and Snufkin’s need for freedom. Moomintroll is a dependent person who feels the need to feel close to the people he loves and needs continued support from those around him. Snufkin in turn holds Moomintroll dear, but this goes against his free nature and personal need to be alone. So Moomintroll needs Snufkin, but Snufkin doesn't want to need him or be needed in turn. Moomintroll understands this and tries to respectfully hide his emotions so he would not bother Snufkin with them. But Snufkin is always able to see through just how much Moomintroll misses him. There are many times when Snufkin is actually torn by this, because he feels guilty for keeping Moomintroll in such a state, and this guilt makes him a bit angry.

Eventually, these issues seem to even out between them. Moomintroll grows his understanding during the last books and learns to enjoy solitude. Instead of needing people desperately, he learns to appreciate them but also likes his new independence. He does miss Snufkin during the last few books, but he is also happy to be able to share his experiences with him. And in the last Moomin book, Moominvalley in November, Snufkin has trouble writing a song and finally realizes that he has always been able to be free with the people who love him. It's because they love him that they have always understood him and let him have his space, leading Snufkin and Moomintroll to be closer and healthier than before.

Many adaptations keep their relationship very intimate. One of the most famous examples is the popular Moomin (1990s TV series). This version shows how deeply Moomintroll misses Snufkin when he leaves for winter and his return is the most important sign of spring. This emotional attachment goes so far that Moomintroll can't seem to recover from his cold until Snufkin returns to him. There are also many scenes where Moomintroll makes it clear he would rather spend time alone with Snufkin than with any of his other friends, including Snorkmaiden. The series also included Snufkin’s conflicted feelings, where he is torn by his love for Moomintroll, need for freedom and guilt caused by it all.

In the last episode, where Snufkin gives his beloved harmonica for Moomintroll to keep until he returns, this solidifies the importance of their bond. The series has established many times that the harmonica is the only material possession Snufkin is attached to and it is a big part of his character, as he has used it to bring joy, calm and safety for everyone. And he leaves it in Moomintroll’s hands.

Fanon
Snufmin is the most popular ship in the Moomin fandom. Since the series goes as far as the 1940s, the "shipping" of these two characters by fans has been a thing for a long time. In the past, queer fans of the series found a lot of comfort in Moomintroll and Snufkin's relationship, as they could identify with it. There have been many analyses by fans and academics alike on homosexual themes in Tove Jansson’s work, especially in her Moomin books, which is understandable as the author herself had relationships with women, and lived in a life-long, committed relationship with a woman as well.

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Trivia

 * Snufkin is strongly inspired by Atos Wirtanen, a Finnish left-wing intellectual who Tove Jansson had a relationship with. While Moomintroll in turn is Tove Jansson's alter ego, meaning that these two characters are modeled after people who were in-real-life lovers.