‘Moominvalley’ and ‘L/Over’ Producer Sets New Project

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Renowned Finnish artist and producer Marika Makaroff, known for the popular animated series “Moominvalley” and the Canneseries competition entry “L/Over,” has recently acquired worldwide rights to create a TV show or movie based on the tale of Kim Casali, the brains behind the “Love Is…” brand. This announcement was made on the opening day of Canneseries. The agreement was finalized with Minikim, an Italian company owned by Stefano Casali, son of the iconic New Zealand cartoonist who drew the globally recognized romantic images in the late 1960s.

Initially drawn as personal, tiny caricatures of the cartoonist and her Italian spouse Roberto, the illustrations were initially exposed to the public when they were published in the Los Angeles Times in 1970. After this, their popularity soared worldwide once they were syndicated across media outlets in more than 50 countries.

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Created as private, miniature caricatures of the cartoonist and her husband Roberto, the illustrations first gained public attention when published in the Los Angeles Times in 1970. They later became globally recognized after being syndicated to media outlets in over 50 countries.

The upcoming “Love Is…” trilogy, which is yet to be officially titled but is described as a tale of love, loss, resilience, and triumph, will for the first time narrate the personal life experiences of Kim Casali on-screen.

The romance drama for young adults is being created in close partnership with Stefano Casali. It narrates not just Kim’s surreal rise to stardom and her joyful love story with Roberto, but also his tragic death from cancer at the age of 31. In a groundbreaking move following his death, Kim decides to give birth to a child using her late husband’s genetic material, fulfilling their shared dream.

Makaroff expressed his excitement about partnering with a renowned brand, stating that they are eager to portray its touching and genuine love tale on-screen. By merging poignant drama and animation, the narrative will acquire a distinctive flavor.

Gutsy Pictures, a new venture by Makaroff, is now responsible for ‘Love Is…’. Previously, she had run Gutsy Animations, but has recently closed that company. Her previous production house was the base for four seasons of the acclaimed and Emmy-winning animated series ‘Moominvalley’, which was supported by Moomin Characters Oy Ltd.

New Gutsy Start

Despite taking a significant stride forward, Gutsy Pictures represents a milestone for Makaroff and her key collaborators, Katherine Senior (head of international sales) and Emmi Nilivaara (concept developer). The ‘Gutsy’ team remains dedicated to preserving the fundamental principles of Gutsy Pictures: “hope, acceptance, equality, and life-affirming messages.” Whether it’s drama or animation, our aim is to produce top-notch content that resonates beyond the screen, lingering in people’s thoughts and emotions. Makaroff shared this vision with EbMaster.

The Cannes-selected film “L/Over,” co-produced by Makaroff and featuring non-Moomin related IP from Gutsy Animations, is an ideal fit for the Gutsy brand due to its narrative of power abuse and self-empowerment against victimization.

Drawing from Makaroff’s personal history of abuse, the story was collaboratively developed by the producer alongside U.K.-based Frog Stone (“Bucket”) and author Nina Honkanen. Her novel “Pohjakosketus” (“Running Aground”) served as a general inspiration for the fictional content.

The series narrates the story of Roosa, a single mother played by Krista Kosonen, who becomes smitten with the captivating author Juha, portrayed by Jani Volanen. However, their romance spirals into destructive manipulation and abuse. This tale was penned by Stone in collaboration with Bafta-nominated Kevin Rundle (“Hollyoaks”) and Sophie Swithinbank.

Makaroff shared that “L/Over” delivers a gripping narrative with a glimmer of hope, and he believes this tale could help individuals identify unhealthy relationships. He himself spent years in a similar situation, acknowledging its toxicity only after much reflection.

The show, helmed by Aleksi Salmenperä, was created for Finland’s commercial channel MTV, in collaboration with the Lumiere Group of Benelux, with additional funding from TV4 Sweden and REinvent, a company based in Copenhagen that manages global sales.

Helene Aurø, the director of sales and marketing at REinvent, will be attending the global debut of the show in Cannes on April 25, joining other important cast members and team members.

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2025-04-24 20:17