If you’re a fan of Guillermo Del Toro, you’d know that the filmmaker is well-known for inserting striking and horrific imagery into his film projects. However, his latest endeavour is a little different.
Directed by the same director whose idea of a fairy tale involves rebel torture and child murder, Del Toro brings to life a new animated Netflix series based on the young adult novel of the same name that he co-wrote with Daniel Klaus. The animation is called “Trollhunters”.
Production for “Trollhunters” was initially intended to be made into a film when it was first announced in 2010. The animation film eventually became a TV series, and now, 6 years later, we finally have the first trailer accompanied by the poster, thanks to Netflix.
The animation kicks off with a bang, showing a battle between 2 trolls – one armoured, one evil, fighting under a bridge. Instead of giving up the precious amulet to the foe, the armoured troll jumps off the bridge into the sunlight. As a result, his body turns to stone and shatters, leaving behind the mystical amulet in the rubble.
The official synopsis of “Trollhunters” is as follows:
“When ordinary teenager Jim Lake Jr. stumbles upon a mystical amulet on his way to school one morning, he inadvertently discovers an extraordinary secret civilisation of mighty trolls beneath his small town of Arcadia. Strong-willed and seeking adventure but wholly unprepared for the responsibilities thrust upon him, Jim is forced to take on the exalted mantle of Trollhunter, sworn to protect the good trolls from powerful enemies bent on revenge. The first human ever to hold the honour, Jim abruptly goes from fighting his way through the daily mayhem of high school to joining a war that has raged for centuries, a conflict that now threatens all of mankind and troll-kind alike.
“Accompanied by his closest human friends and a few key troll allies, the courageous fifteen-year-old must plunge headlong into a fantastical world of astonishing creatures, glorious cities, and fierce enemies desperate to destroy him. Suddenly destined to play a crucial role in an ancient battle of good and evil with stakes that couldn’t be higher, Jim is determined to save the world — right after gym class.”
The characters here are extremely likeable, and if you enjoyed watching “How to Train Your Dragon” and “ParaNorman”, chances are, you’ll enjoy watching Del Toro’s latest venture too. Alongside the fun-looking animation, the series also features the voices of the late Anton Yelchin (who died back in June), Charlie Saxton, Kelsey Grammer, Ron Perlman, and Steven Yeun.
It’s rather bittersweet to hear Anton Yelchin‘s unmistakable voice as the lead character Jim. “Trollhunters” was one of his final projects before he tragically passed away. “We went through great pains to ensure that his voice is preserved for the series. He was so passionate about it, and he had so much fun doing this.” said the director.
Watch:
“Trollhunters” will hit Netflix on 23rd December 2016.
Sources: Collider, /Film, Screen Rant.
