And while we're at it, Snufmin?
A beautiful ship!!
Here are some headcanons of mine:
I like to envision that, as the elder of the two, Snufkin is also the taller one through their childhood. However, mumriks stop growing sooner than most other creatures. Instead of going through a massive growth spurt during puberty, their fur just gets a bit thicker, they grow some body-hair, and lose some of their baby fat.
So at some point in their adolescence, Moomintroll becomes as tall as Snufkin— and then keeps growing.
I like this, because I like imagining the way that their dynamic matures over time.
As children, Moomintroll idolized Snufkin, always looking up to him, both figuratively and literally. It was the beginnings of a crush, but an innocent, child crush. Snufkin, meanwhile, was predominantly carefree as a child. Though Moomintroll’s clinginess occasionally chafed at his nerves, Snufkin was always quick to forgive his best friend.
(Similar to their dynamic in the early Moomin books)
As young adolescents, Snufkin developed more of a preference for being left alone, craving freedom and a sense of independence above all else. Moomintroll’s clingy nature began to irritate him more easily. At the same time, however, Snufkin was secretly flattered by Moomintroll’s attention, though it flustered him terribly, and sometimes caused him to avoid Moomintroll entirely.
(Similar to their dynamics in the 90’s anime)
As older adolescents, Moomintroll matured quite a bit, and his childlike worship of Snufkin ebbed away slowly but surely. Their friendship also matured. Once, they were always touching, and neither of them thought anything of it. But as full-fledged teenagers, they both attempted to act more casual around one another, as if trying to prove themselves manly men.
(Similar to their dynamics in the 2019 Moominvalley tv series)
And as young adults, Snufkin is the one looking up to Moomintroll. Having matured into a fine adult, with all the calm compassion of his mother and the creative mind of his father, Moomintroll is no longer chasing and pining after Snufkin all the time. He has adult matters to worry over, such as preparing to build his own house. And despite himself, Snufkin starts to miss all the attention.
I just really like the idea of Snufkin starting to pine after Moomintroll just as the moomin starts becoming more independent.
Plus I love the mental image of Snufkin getting all blushy and swoony over a tall, adult Moomintroll, whose naturally plump body has developed from that of a marshmallow to that of a bear: still fat, still round, but with a lot of muscle and strength hidden beneath.
