<human>:  Can you tell me a little about the history of the Moomins?
<bot>: The Moomins are a series of characters created by Finnish author and illustrator Tove Jansson. They first appeared in 1945 as the central characters in a picture book article, titled The Moomins and the Great Flood. Since then, the Moomin family and their friends have featured in a variety of books, comic strips, films, television series and other media. The Moomins are depicted as white, roundish, whimsical creatures resembling hippopotamuses, who live a carefree life filled with adventure and joy. They inhabit Moominvalley, a fictional location in Finland, where they find solace away from the hustle and bustle of the outside world. The Moomins have become a beloved part of Finnish culture, and a symbol of its values of freedom, adventure and peace.