Joxter is Snufkin’s father, who greatly resembles his son in both look and manner. He is first introduced in the fourth Moomin book, Exploits of Moominpappa/Moominpappa’s Memoirs. The book follows Moominpappa’s story about his youth and coincidentally, two of his friends were also the fathers of his son’s friends.
Joxter’s name Joxaren means someone who fools around. As his name implies, Joxter rarely take things seriously. He is described as someone who was simply born lazy and as such, will not take on any troublesome tasks. He is only motivated by doing things that are forbidden, so he might help out if you tell him not to.
Joxter also has an endless supply or sarcasm. He always seems to know a relative or acquaintance who has already done something and suffered for it. When the aunt tries to have their group eat porridge, Joxter knows someone who died from porridge. When asked about his parents, he quips that when he last heard of them, they were in a war with a park keeper. And it’s never clear if he truly has such a wild collection of family or if he just trying to get a rise out of people.
Joxter is completely independent and emotionally distant, even more so than his son. This is why he and Moominpappa have an uneasy relationship. Moominpappa feels that Joxter’s eyes, clear as water and judgemental, see through all his bravado. It’s impossible to impress Joxter, because he does not care about things that people usually consider glorious. Joxter thinks fame is tiresome and efforts are meaningless.
However, Joxter is very impressed with Mymble. Her happy disposition enchants him as soon as he sees her. Joxter thinks of her as a very special woman and spends an entire evening with her. Moominpappa confirms that Joxter probably liked Mymble very much.
Joxter and Mymble end up having Snufkin together, but Joxter never sees his son until he is already grown. Snufkin is still very proud of his father after hearing about him from Moominpappa. When they meet, the father and son embrace each other happily.
Joxter is often left out of all other versions besides the novels. Unlike Sniff’s father, he is not mentioned at all in the comics. Comics also changed Mymble’s character and her situation with Moomin family, so Snufkin is no longer her son with Joxter.
So far, Joxter has only appeared in the 1990s Japanese adaptation Moomin (Tanoshii Mūmin Ikka). The animated series adapts the events of Moominpappa’s Memoirs into three episodes. Joxter has kept most of his basic traits such as his laziness and fondness of forbidden things, but he tells less wild tales. The adaptation also removes his romance with Mymble and made great changes to her character. As such, Snufkin’s mother in this version is never confirmed.
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