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North Jutland trolls to make 2016 Dreamworks debut
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October 23rd, 2014
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Troll figurines made in northern Jutland are to be the stars of a new film from Dreamworks Animations
The ‘good luck trolls’, which you may remember if you grew up in the 1960s or 90s, are to star in a 2016 feature-length animation from the company that made 'Shrek' and 'Madagascar'.
After appearing as ‘extras’ in 'Toy Story 3' in 2010, Dam Things Holding sold the film rights to Dreamworks in 2011, so this is the first time they will star in their own film.
Realising a dream
The ‘trolls from Gjøl’ were first created nearly 60 years ago by Thomas Dam, and today his son Niels is employed by Dam Things Holding.
“This is a huge event for us because it was always Thomas’s dream for his trolls to end up in a film,” company spokesperson Calle Østegaard told Politiken. “The film will give him the credit as an artist he never got in his lifetime, and maybe it will bring his other works into the spotlight.”
Dam Things Holding does not yet know anything about the movie.
“I am sure that Dreamworks has held to the original story that the trolls are happy and sweet and come from forests in northern Jutland,” suggested Østegaard.
Increasing popularity
The company hopes a new adventure will begin for the trolls after the film’s premiere. Next year a new series of toy trolls will hit the market, as well as a ‘designer troll’ for adult collectors.
“There are hundreds of thousands of collectors today. I know that it sounds exaggerated, but it is really true – interest in the trolls is enormous all over the world,” said Østegaard.
Spotlight on Dam
It isn’t just the trolls that people are interested in. The life of the creator has also become a source of inspiration. Jakob Kokkedal, who is also from northern Jutland, is writing a novel about Dam’s life, which Dam Things Holding wants to adapt to film.
“Many have told me that his life was the American Dream part two,” Østegaard told Politiken.
“He came from a poor background and took any job going in his bid to make the trolls popular. His whole family used to sit in a shed, sticking hair onto the trolls and sending them all over the world.”
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