Japan to open Moomin theme park The theme park is due to open in 2015 to coincide with the centenary of the birth of Tove Jansson, the cartoon's creator. The location of the new attraction is yet to be confirmed, but the project will be a joint venture between FinTech Global Inc, a Finnish investment bank and Puuha International, a park construction company. The Moomin characters first appeared in Finland (although the books were published in Swedish) in 1945, and have since been turned into an animated television series that remains popular in many countries. The characters are known for their distinctive, round hippopotamus-style shapes and their eccentric adventures. Those wishing to visit a Moomin theme park do not have to wait until the attraction is complete in Japan. There is an existing park in Finland, which attracts around 200,000 visitors a year. The park is noted for its lack of rides, as well as its five-storey Moomin House. Tampere Art Museum in Finland also features many of the original works of Tove Jansson. The world's strangest theme parks