The name is a pun on Mumintroll, the children's books by Tove Jansson, translated into Russian as "Mummi Troll".

[6] In May 1997, Mumiy Troll released their first studio album, Morskaya (Russian: «Морская», lit.

[verification needed] The group wrote and produced soundtracks for a full-length cartoon movie and gave a new sound to classic Russian silent sci-fi movie and donated tracks to feature films including Russian blockbuster Night Watch, where Lagutenko also plays the Vampire.

[citation needed] Their 2005 album Sliyaniye i pogloshcheniye (Russian: Слияние и Поглощение, lit.

'Merger and Acquisition') was called back from the printers on the day of release when distributors realized that the bride and groom on the cover were wearing masks of Putin and Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

[3] The group has participated in various international festivals and music conferences, including SXSW, Culture Collide, Zandari Festa, Mu:Con, Sound City, and Visual Japan Summit.

They are also well known for conservation activities on wild life in Far-East taiga and helping local minorities to survive.

[citation needed] In 2022, the group condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and, as a result, had all their concerts in Russia canceled by the authorities.