Frequent readers of the blog will know that I enjoy shows that hit the sweet spot where kids and adults can both enjoy them. Animated or not, if they give me a good, fun story of Good vs Evil with character development and interesting visuals, I'm in.
Dreamworks and Netflix have hit one out of the park with Trollhunters.
Plot Summary:
High schooler Jim Lake is chosen as the first human Trollhunter, a protector endowed with magical might to defend the peaceful residents of both the human and Troll worlds from the evil armies of the banished Gunmar. Now Jim must balance the needs of both worlds and grow to become the champion he is called to be.
Costumes and Visuals:
With character designs by Guillermo del Toro, well, I don't have to say much more, do I?
Like Dreamwork's Voltron reboot, the show uses color and character design to convey the obvious light vs dark motif. Trolls vary in shape, size, and personality and there were meticulous choices made to differentiate them from one another.
In addition, the Troll society is odd, silly, intriguing, and wondrous. The first scenes depicting Hearthstone Trollmarket (the major safe haven for Trolls) is beautiful. Touches like having Gnomes be "pesky vermin" were weird but funny and endearing.
 |
| Don't Touch His Hat |
Acting:
There is some serious talent on display in the voice acting for this show.
Kelsey Grammer as Blinkus Galadrigal: Grammer steals the show as the mentor/father figure of Blinky. His delivery is perfect, whether wise advice or comedic jump shot.
Anton Yelchin as Jim Lake, Jr. : The sadly departed Yelchin delivers a solid performance with good range to it. I hope that whoever fills his shoes as the show continues can do as well.
You'll also find the voice talents of Fred Tatasticore, Frank Welker, Ron Perlman, Jonathan Hyde, and Thomas F. Wilson.
That's right: Frasier, Lt. Chekov, the animated Hulk, Optimus Prime, Hellboy, and Biff (from Back to the Future) are in this show.
Writing:
There is just so much good to talk about, I'm uncertain where to begin.
First, there is actual character development for both heroes AND villains. Jim in particular doesn't just learn how to fight Gunmar's forces. He comes into his own as a young man. He has purpose and responsibility and he takes both of those seriously. In so doing, he eventually brings his Troll detractors (more than a little skeptical of a human protector) around as allies and friends.
Second, the show treats the threats seriously without being gory or gross. This is part of what makes the show enjoyable for whole families.
Third, the writers slowly ramp up the stakes and make them more personal. Complications abound and the plot is not so simple it can be solved in a single episode. Again, they successfully walk the tightrope between "too kiddy" and "for grown-ups only".
Fourth, despite the high school kids getting most of the attention, the grown ups in the show are (with a few exceptions there for comedic relief) genuinely interested in their charges well being and are not simply wallets with legs, providing for some of the complications mentioned earlier.
Fifth, and lastly, the show is genuinely funny when it wants to be, with good dialogue and use of subtext. (Yes, a "kids" show will introduce them to subtext if you help them connect the dots. Almost as if the writers aren't talking down to the audience...)
There is some crude potty humor at times, but I can put up with that for the sake of an engaging and entertaining plot with complete characters and good dialogue.
Action:
We have car chases, fights with bullies, sword fights, arena combat, magic curses, vandal gnomes, a forbidden house party, Romeo and Juliet, kidnapped baby brothers, a horde of rampaging goblins, and super fast travel by light speed roller coaster.
Fight scenes are many, well choreographed, and different in each environment.
There are mysteries to be unraveled, quests to fulfill, and people to rescue.
Did I mention airborne fight with the pterodactyl in a lightning storm?
Summary:
If you haven't seen this show on Netflix, go check it out. If you've got older elementary school aged kids who enjoy fantasy action or superheroes (or if you're in touch with your own inner 8 year old) you'll have a blast watching this show together.
No comments:
Post a Comment