Ever wondered how Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake would look like as TROLLS?

Started as a borderline cute and eerie toy, now they’re here in the animated world of DreamWorks’ studios. Just look at how fast time flies: Since its popularity in the 1900s as “good luck dolls”, lots of 90s kids grew up brushing and styling the neon-colored hair of these almost-always naked dolls known as Trolls.

Although not everyone would agree that these dolls are already at their most adorable state, we can’t deny the fact that there’s something about them that would make you want to stare for a long time. If you’re one of those who are creeped out by Trolls, we highly suggest that you watch this animated film that features a more colorful and sparkly bunch, voiced by well-loved celebrities like Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Zooey Deschanel, and even James Corden!

From the creators of Shrek comes DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls — a smart, funny and irreverent comedy about the search for happiness, and just how far some will go to get it.  The film transports audiences to a colorful, wondrous world populated by the overly optimistic Trolls, who have a constant dance in their step and a song on their lips, and the comically pessimistic Bergens, who are only happy when they have Trolls in their stomachs.

To give you an overview: After the Bergens invaded Troll Village, Poppy (voiced by Anna Kendrick), the happiest Troll ever born, and the overly-cautious, curmudgeonly Branch (Justin Timberlake) set off on a journey to rescue her friends.  Their mission is full of adventure and mishaps, as this mismatched duo try to tolerate each other long enough to get the job done.

Poppy (Anna Kendrick) and Branch (Justin Timberlake) in 'Trolls' (DreamWorks/ 20th Century Fox)

Poppy (Anna Kendrick) and Branch (Justin Timberlake) in ‘Trolls’ (DreamWorks/ 20th Century Fox)

Happiness was foremost in the minds of director Mike Mitchell and co-director Walt Dohrn, even during the earliest stages of story discussions with screenwriters/co-producers Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger and producer Gina Shay.

The two filmmakers had worked together on DreamWorks Animation’s blockbuster Shrek franchise, and their familiarity with the beloved ogres of that world led them to their distant cousins, the Trolls. Their research into Troll lore, which sprang from Scandinavian mythology, revealed that Trolls came in myriad shapes and sizes, from monstrous giants to tiny creatures who granted wishes. As DreamWorks had done with Shrek, Mitchell and Dohrn decided to adapt the Trolls mythology to create a new universe and set of characters.

Trolls opens November 2, 2016 in cinemas nationwide (2D and 3D) from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

In case you need a guide on whose voice goes to which troll, here’s a recap from the trailer:

(DreamWorks/ 20th Century Fox)

(DreamWorks/ 20th Century Fox)

(DreamWorks/ 20th Century Fox)

(DreamWorks/ 20th Century Fox)

(DreamWorks/ 20th Century Fox)

(DreamWorks/ 20th Century Fox)

(DreamWorks/ 20th Century Fox)

(DreamWorks/ 20th Century Fox)

(DreamWorks/ 20th Century Fox)

(DreamWorks/ 20th Century Fox)

(DreamWorks/ 20th Century Fox)

(DreamWorks/ 20th Century Fox)


Such jumpy Trolls, IMHO. (DreamWorks/ 20th Century Fox)

Such jumpy Trolls, IMHO. (DreamWorks/ 20th Century Fox)

Thoughts from the filmmakers:

The filmmakers noted that they did embrace one aspect of previous Trolls history.  “We were fascinated by how these creatures were originally scary and evolved over time into being cute and lovable,” says Mitchell.  “In the 1970s they became a symbol for happiness.”

“Those ideas compelled us, as did the opportunity to create a story and mythology from scratch,” says Dohrn.  “We decided it was time to start spreading some joy again.  Mike and I had a blank slate, from which we could create anything with these characters, their story and their environments.  With happiness as a guidepost, we wanted to create a film with a mix of fun, adventure, heart, music, color and textures.”

In many ways, says producer Gina Shay, another of Mitchell and Dohrn’s Shrek franchise alumna, “Trolls” hearkens back to the 1970s, a time “when there was this feeling of freedom; disco, pop and dance music were everywhere; and everybody seemed to be roller skating.  We wanted the Trolls to reflect that joy in their society.  They’re also very peaceful.”

“The Trolls even have a special kind of watch that reminds them to hug every hour on the hour.  No matter what they’re doing, when the watch blooms, it’s ‘hug time’.”   Notes Mitchell: “Part of being happy is connecting with others, and what better way to show that than with a hug.”

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