Trolls (film)

Trolls (film)
Name	Trolls
Director	Mike Mitchell, Walt Dohrn
Producer	Gina Shay
Writer	Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger
Starring	Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Zooey Deschanel, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Christine Baranski, Russell Brand, James Corden, Jeffrey Tambor
Music	Christophe Beck
Editing	Nick Fletcher
Studio	DreamWorks Animation, 20th Century Fox
Distributor	20th Century Fox
Runtime	92 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$125 million
Gross	$346.9 million

Trolls (film). *Trolls* is a 2016 American computer-animated jukebox musical comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by 20th Century Fox. Directed by Mike Mitchell and Walt Dohrn, the film is loosely inspired by the Good Luck Trolls dolls created by Thomas Dam. Featuring the voices of Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake, the story follows the eternally optimistic Poppy and the overly cautious Branch as they embark on a quest to rescue their friends from the Bergens, creatures who believe eating Trolls is the only way to achieve happiness.

Plot

In the kingdom of Bergen Town, the miserable Bergens believe they can only experience happiness by consuming Trolls. After the Trolls escape during the annual Trollstice festival, their jubilant princess, Poppy, throws a massive party that reveals their location to the vengeful Chef, a former servant of King Gristle Sr.. Chef captures several of Poppy's friends, leading Poppy and the survivalist Branch on a rescue mission back to Bergen Town. They discover the now-teenage King Gristle Jr. and his scullery maid, Bridget, who is secretly in love with him. Poppy and Branch help Bridget win King Gristle Jr.'s affection at a grand party, but Chef exposes the Trolls' presence, leading to a confrontation during a new Trollstice. Poppy, having lost her optimism, is inspired by Branch's newfound courage and a hidden song; they rally the Trolls and Bergens to embrace happiness from within, defeating Chef and uniting the two kingdoms in harmony.

Voice cast

* Anna Kendrick as Princess Poppy, the optimistic leader of the Trolls. * Justin Timberlake as Branch, a paranoid survivalist Troll. * Zooey Deschanel as Bridget, a scullery maid for the Bergens. * Christopher Mintz-Plasse as King Gristle Jr., the young king of the Bergens. * Christine Baranski as Chef, the former royal chef of Bergen Town. * Russell Brand as Creek, a Troll who is later revealed to be a traitor. * James Corden as Biggie, a large Troll who is best friends with a worm named Mr. Dinkles. * Jeffrey Tambor as King Peppy, Poppy's father and the former king of the Trolls. * Supporting roles are provided by Walt Dohrn, Ron Funches, Glenn Close, and Irene Bedard.

Production

Development began at DreamWorks Animation following the studio's acquisition of the rights to the Good Luck Trolls dolls. Mike Mitchell and Walt Dohrn were hired to direct, with the screenplay written by Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger. The film's aesthetic was heavily inspired by felt, yarn, and Silly String, aiming for a tactile, handmade look through advanced computer animation. Justin Timberlake, who also served as the executive music producer, was instrumental in shaping the film's soundtrack, which blends original songs with covers of popular hits from various decades. The animation team studied the movements of actual dolls and fabrics to achieve a unique visual style.

Release

*Trolls* had its world premiere at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City on October 8, 2016. It was released theatrically in the United States by 20th Century Fox on November 4, 2016. The film was marketed with extensive partnerships, including promotions with Taco Bell and Google Play. It was later released on Digital HD in January 2017 and on Blu-ray, DVD, and Ultra HD Blu-ray in February 2017.

Reception

The film received mixed reviews from critics but was a commercial success, grossing over $346 million worldwide against a $125 million budget. Critics praised the vibrant animation, energetic musical numbers, and performances of Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake, but some found the narrative formulaic. The song "Can't Stop the Feeling!" became a major hit, winning a Critics' Choice Movie Award and receiving nominations for a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award. The film's success led to the development of a franchise, including the 2020 sequel *Trolls World Tour*, a television series, and various specials.

Music

The soundtrack features a mix of original songs and covers, heavily utilizing a jukebox musical format. Executive music producer Justin Timberlake performed several tracks, including the original song "Can't Stop the Feeling!", which topped the Billboard Hot 100. Other notable musical moments include covers of Simon & Garfunkel's "The Sound of Silence", Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors", and Gorillaz's "Clint Eastwood". The score was composed by Christophe Beck. The album *Trolls: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack* was released by RCA Records and received a Grammy Award nomination.

Category:2016 films Category:American animated films Category:DreamWorks Animation films