Literature | Mauri Kunnas didn’t read children’s books as a child: “I’ve wondered how I ended up here”

Mr. Hakkarainen has been sneaking through in his dreams Mauri Kunnas children’s book production since 1984. Vuohiherra is blissfully unaware of his reputation as the newest sleepwalker in town.

An entire house in Sastamala has already been dedicated to Kunnas’ popular character, but he can now also be seen in the WeeGee exhibition center in Espoo, where a permanent exhibition presenting Kunnas’s life’s work opened.

Municipality did not participate in the planning of the exhibition, but has approved the plans. He saw the final result only last Thursday, in the morning before the press conference.

The exhibition, full of pirates, ghosts and space adventures, has a lot to do, especially for children – WeeGee has even been designed with a soft Hakkarai to bounce on – but the rooms where you can get to know Kunnas’ career and working methods are of interest to all ages. Sketches and copies of finished drawings are on display.

One the title on the exhibition’s timeline is “Looking for a profession”. After more than 70 children’s books and a career of more than 40 years, it sounds surprising that the career choice was not obvious.

“I had nice parents who didn’t make me work in the summer. I could draw and be at the beach. When the guys wondered about it, I said that I was practicing for my future job. At the time, though, I didn’t really believe that you could earn a living by drawing,” Kunnas recalls in the middle of the exhibition.

In 1970 Kunnas got into the University of Arts and Sciences at that time. There he met, among other things Tarmo Koivistowhich later became known Mammilä– from his cartoon.

Magic was also taught by an illustrator Timo Aarnialawho introduced students to, for example By Robert Crumb underground comics.

“Underground comics were an amazing insight! They were not neatly done. I thought I could do some crazy things too. Or Crumb was already very skilled at that time.”

Kunnas and others made cartoons in Taiki and published them in Helmia sioille magazine, which appeared in three issues. Kunnas remembers how big a deal it felt to see his own work in print.

When Donald Duck’s editor-in-chief and Disney expert Markku Kivekäs went to give a lecture at Taiki, he was very excited by the drawings of Aku that Kunnas showed, “even though they weren’t a wedding”, Kunnas states.

The material for Suomen Aku Anka already came through Denmark, and two of Kunnas’ scripts were bought. The famous Ankka cartoonist of the Vicar drawn by A wooden-legged alien – story appeared in Aku Anka in 1974.

“When the ducks I drew weren’t published, I got upset, and finally sent the last four-pager all the way to America myself. They replied that it looks good and that Denmark will contact them. Well, it wasn’t taken.”

Municipality drew Kotlant Jaarti cartoons for Iltaset magazine. There he also started making political cartoons. When Iltaset went bankrupt, Kunnas continued making caricatures for Turku Sanomi, where they appeared for seven years.

“At first I didn’t follow politics, but when the guys were making money with cartoons, I looked through a bunch of newspapers and drew a picture. That was a hundred marks, which was a lot of money at the time. And I slowly started to understand politics as well. I even had my own room at Turku Sanomat. The work was easy and free.”

Nyrok City – cartoon Kunnas made for Intro, Help and Suosikki magazines 1975–1986. Jokes at the expense of rock and movies have since been compiled into three books.

In addition, Kunnas worked as a freelancer for advertising agencies. But none of his cartoon output in the 1970s was aimed at children. That side only started in 1979 From the Finnish gnome book.

“I myself have wondered how I ended up here. I didn’t read children’s books as a child, only Donald Duck and later Fives. It wasn’t until I was studying that I saw my nephew Willen Richard Scarry – books. They really influenced my style.”

When from others there was no time from work, Kunnas started thinking about making a children’s book. He still remembers thinking about elves one evening with his father-in-law. Kunnas read a lot of books about them.

Especially Martti Haavion a folklore classic Finnish house elves (1942) directly offered various elves as characters.

Kunnas drew pictures and built a sketch from the manuscript. He took them to Otava to see. There, TV 2’s children’s editor came across the material Pertti Nättila, who was also known as Ransu Karvakuono’s voice actor. He contacted the Municipality.

First, a TV series was born Elveswhich started In Little Kakkones under Christmas 1978. Kunnas’s wife Tarja Kunnas participated in coloring the pictures. With the attention the series received, Otava became interested in publishing A Finnish elf bookwhich became a big success.

Since then, Kunnas’ books have been translated into 37 languages ​​and sold more than ten million copies around the world.

Mr. Hakkarainen walked in his sleep for the first time In the night book (1984). From that point on, the goat remained in Kunnas’s other books until he took on the main role in the book Good night, Mr. Hakkarainen (1999). Since then, there have been 12 more Hakkarais.

“Everything that can happen at night was thought about in the night book. The sleepwalker was a natural addition. However, it is difficult for Hakkarain to come up with stories. What can he do and solve at night in his dreams? I’m always in a bit of pain with that.”

Mr. Hakkarainen also wanders in Kunnas’ latest book The motley ghosts of Pippendorf. There are no less than three generations of the ghost family and other ghosts in it.

“Ghosts have been running around in my head for a long time. I’ve always liked them, UFOs and other mystical things. My first such book was Ugh, abomination in 1985. I still like it. Stories of the Vampire War in 1991 there was another. They were supposed to become series, but remained in one part.”

Pippendorf’s group already appeared He howled in horror. Kunnas has dedicated his new book to his grandchildren. 72-year-old Kunnas is rapidly reaching retirement age, but is constantly thinking of ideas for the next book. Zombies could be one possibility.

“I feel better when the work is done. Again, I feel like I should start a new book. I’m sitting in the evening thinking about how to make them, but it’s nice. And drawing is still fun, especially when I get to the clean drawing phase.”

Kunnas has also made cartoons along with children’s books. However, it has been ten years since the last one. Piitles (2012) told about Kunnas’ favorite band.

“Many times I have been able to continue Pittles. I read it every summer and still love it. I’ve also been thinking about a comic book About Yoko Ono and About John Lennon or Rollers. But it’s damn tedious to make a comic and there doesn’t seem to be enough time.”

Mauri Kunnas exhibition at the WeeGee center (Ahertajantie 5, Espoo). Open Tue 11am–5pm, Wed–Fri 11am–7pm, Sat–Sun 11am–5pm. Tickets 20e, under 18 free.