Two weeks ago I made a discovery in Wal-Mart that was extremely exciting for me. My long-awaited desire to see Trolls return finally came true! I discovered three new large Trolls and several assorted smaller Trolls, all looking very much like the Trolls of the 1990s that captured my imagination and my joy. While I am grateful to Dreamworks for breathing new life into the brand in America, the movieverse Trolls are not “my” Trolls, and I was highly disappointed when the 60th anniversary Trolls five years ago seemed to take a lot of cues from the Dreamworks movie Trolls. Perhaps that feeling was fairly universal and that is why this time around, the anniversary Trolls look like the ones most older fans will remember.
I have always been fascinated by franchises with multi-colored beings. My Little Ponies and Care Bears are two other such interests from all of my life, especially the Ponies. Trolls are right up there too. I was enchanted by them from the first time I knew they existed. Unfortunately, my dad was not a fan and it was very difficult to obtain Trolls merchandise as a kid. I did have Trolls stickers, a Trolls sticker book, a demo of the DOS video game, and a Trolls keychain figure that I managed to dress in a long strip of rag. Then when I was 9, I discovered Trolio Troll plushies at Smith’s! I was over the moon excited, especially as I had some gift money from my aunt and could get one or two. I chose a cute green-haired Troll in a yellow dress with matching bow. Next week, I decided to get another. By then I only had one choice, a red-haired clown Troll, and I was happy with that. Those plushies are still very beloved by me.
Somehow Dad actually did finally buy me one Troll figure, a rainbow-haired sailor Troll for Christmas one year. I also received a set of three cheerleader Trolls from another aunt. One year I also found a small green-haired Troll figure on a pencil. I treasured them all. I didn’t have any more Trolls until 2006, right after the original creator Dam regained the U.S. license and immediately set to work putting out many wonderful Trolls in the States. I obtained a blue-haired messenger Troll in a smaller size, as well as a white-haired angel Troll and a yellow-haired ladybug troll in a larger size. Of course, I would have to get the one cosplaying a ladybug! ;) Then those disappeared and we haven’t had proper Trolls again until now.
Two weeks ago, I stood looking at the new display in excitement and awe. I chose a blue-haired rockstar Troll in the larger size. Of course I wouldn’t leave without one! I am quite determined to collect all of them in this special anniversary line. Who knows when we’ll see more like this! Maybe if the line is successful, they will keep making classic Trolls.
Last week I was determined to get a pink-haired larger Troll with white shirt and blue jeans. The shirt says “I Love Trolls.” Or “I Heart Trolls,” if you want to read a heart picture literally. Then I realized that Troll looks almost entirely like the Troll in my beloved DOS video game! His hair is purple, but he’s dressed the same in a white shirt and jeans. There are hair color power-ups in that game, and although I’m not aware of a pink one, I decided to say he’s the Troll from the video game with a pink hair power-up.
I also realized that, as the Trolls were selling quite well, it would be foolish to not also get the smaller ones I especially liked right at the time. I haven’t had success finding the line anywhere else, even at other Wal-Marts. They had a green-haired one and a purple-and-blue-haired one, and I grabbed both up. I also particularly hope to find the blue-and-white, pink-and-purple, and purple ones. I am contemplating the idea of saying the small ones are the babies from the video game, especially as the ones in the game all had green hair. Perhaps I will get several of the green-haired one!
Tonight they had one lone Troll left, the other larger one. This one has pink-and-yellow hair, a combo I haven’t ever seen before, and she says “Material Troll.” She’s dressed very 80s or 90s, making for quite a nostalgic look! I brought her home but haven’t de-boxed her yet.
So how do these new Trolls hold up compared to the old ones? Well, as others have noted, they’re not quite as well-made. I can feel some kind of odd mesh inside the hair, which was not the case with the old ones. And on the small ones, the glue around the gems can be clearly seen. Both my and a YouTuber’s green-haired one shed hair, weirdly. I wonder why that would be the only one to be afflicted in that manner. But I am still ecstatic to finally see Trolls return as I remember them and hope to see more!
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