Troll doll
Encyclopedia
Troll dolls, originally known as Leprechauns and also known as Dam dolls, Gonks, Wishniks, Treasure Trolls, and Norfins, became one of America's biggest toy fads from the autumn of 1963 through 1965. The troll doll is sometimes mistakenly referred to as a Kewpie doll
.
Trolls became fads again in brief periods throughout the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, with as many as ten different manufacturers (such as Russ Berrie
, Jakks Pacific
, Applause, Hasbro
, Mattel
, Nyform, Trollkins and Ace Novelty) creating them.
In 2003, Toy Industry Association
named Troll dolls to its Century of Toys List, a roll call commemorating the 100 most memorable and most creative toys of the 20th century.
fisherman and woodcutter Thomas Dam
, the dolls became popular in several European countries during the early 1960s, shortly before they were introduced in the United States. Dam, a poor woodcutter, could not afford a Christmas gift for his young daughter Lila and carved the doll from his imagination. When other children in the Danish town of Gjøl saw the Troll Doll, they wanted one as well and Dam began selling them locally. The originals, also called "Dam Dolls", were of the highest quality, featuring sheep wool hair and glass eyes. Their sudden popularity, along with an error in the copyright notice of Thomas Dam's original product, resulted in cheaper imitations and knock-offs which flooded the American and North American shelves.
The DAM company never stopped making the trolls in Europe, where they were always a popular item. In the late 1980s the DAM trolls started making another come back in North America. The E.F.S. Marketing Associates, Inc (located in Farmingdale, New York) was one of the few corporations which was granted permission to import and market the Thomas DAM trolls for re-sale in the United States. These DAM Trolls were marketed under the trade name of 'Norfin (R) Trolls', with the Adopt A Norfin Troll logo on the tags.
Some imitations, also known as Uneeda's Wishnik Trolls, Treasure Trolls, Gonks, and other trade names, commonly shared the signature tall hair, lovable face and pot belly. It was not until 2003 that a Congressional law allowed the Dam family of Denmark to restore their original U.S. copyright and become the only official manufacturer once again. A division of Uneeda, a company that made millions of dollars various times by manufacturing Troll Dolls in the U.S., challenged the restoration of that copyright in court. They lost when the court ruled that the Dam Company was the sole owner.
Many people collect trolls; the originals maintain the highest value. Some collectors have thousands of troll dolls, ranging in size from miniature gumball machine prizes and pencil toppers to dolls over one foot tall.
lines such as the Troll Warriors, Battle Trolls
, Stone Protectors
(which also had a brief animated series), and even Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Trolls
. The popular Mighty Max
line also had a series named Hairy Heads, also known as Dread Heads. Success at these endeavors was marginal at best. Treasure Trolls were also marketed through other merchandise like T-shirts and even a gummy candy. A platform
computer game, simply titled Trolls was released in 1993 on Amiga
, PC
and C64
. Other games were released for the NES
and SNES
(Super Troll Islands
). This fad
capitalization even saw a 1994 re-release of Dudes with Attitude
simply modified into Trolls on Treasure Island.
The troll doll franchise also included The Trollies Radio Show, which was a direct-to-video musical with trolls singing hits, such as "Kokomo
", "Woolly Bully", and "Doo Wah Diddy", as well as some original songs.
In 2005, trolls were modernized in an animated series called Trollz
, which stars five trolls who live in a world of ogres, gnomes, dragons, and a bit of magic, but who have the same problems to deal as teens everywhere: boyfriends, pimples, clothes, money, school, and figuring out what it means to grow Trollish.
The new Trollz campaign made no impact in the aisles of toy stores and on America's children. It was soon dropped. In 2007, the Danish company filed a lawsuit against DIC Entertainment claiming that the company financially misrepresented its ability to create and market a modern troll doll toy campaign and destroyed the image and goodwill of the legendary doll.
announced plans to create a film based on the toys, under the direction of Tim Hill
. The brother-sister writing team of Adam Wilson and Melanie Wilson LaBracio will write the screenplay, and Dannie Festa of Festa Entertainment will executive produce.
, in which one of the characters, Drew's nemesis Mimi, collects them and keeps them on her desk at work. Another troll lover is Joy Miller from the movie The Beautician and the Beast
; she is a beautician who is interested in making new hair for her trolls. A troll doll is also featured in the Toy Story
movies but neither talks nor plays a significant role because of questions at the time regarding the doll's "public domain
" status, which would eventually return ownership by the Dam family. The trolls are also seen in the movies The Borrowers
, Tank Girl
, Whore
, 54
, Over the Hedge
, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
, Snow Day, and Toy Story 3
, as well as episodes in various television series, such as King of the Hill
, Gomer Pyle, USMC, Living Single
, The Nanny
, The King of Queens
, Friends, Step by Step, 7th Heaven
, The Simpsons
(episodes "Flaming Moe's
", "Bart's Girlfriend
" and "I Am Furious Yellow
"), Family Guy
(Peter transforms into one in segment two of "Family Guy Viewer Mail #1") and The Office
. As well, they are mentioned on Jimmy Fallon
's album, The Bathroom Wall
. The troll dolls appear in The Annoying Orange episode Trollin. Trolls also appear in an early incarnation of The Problem Solverz (Problem Solvers) — "Problem Solvers Episode #1211: "Give Pizza A Chance"", suggested to be an obscure reference to the Pizza Pass level on popular 1990's puzzle logic game Logical Journey of the Zoombinis .
Kewpie doll (toy)
Kewpie dolls and figurines are based on comical strip-like illustrations by Rose O'Neill that appeared in Ladies' Home Journal in 1909. The small dolls were extremely popular in the early 1900s. They were first produced in Ohrdruf, a small town in Germany, then famous for its toy-manufacturers....
.
Trolls became fads again in brief periods throughout the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, with as many as ten different manufacturers (such as Russ Berrie
Russ Berrie
Kid Brands, Inc. and its subsidiaries design, develop and distribute infant and juvenile branded products. These products are primarily distributed through mass market, baby super stores, specialty, food, drug, independent and e-commerce retailers worldwide....
, Jakks Pacific
Jakks Pacific
JAKKS Pacific, Inc. is a designer and marketer of toys and consumer products, with a range of products that feature numerous children's toy licenses...
, Applause, Hasbro
Hasbro
Hasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...
, Mattel
Mattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
, Nyform, Trollkins and Ace Novelty) creating them.
In 2003, Toy Industry Association
Toy Industry Association
The Toy Industry Association is a trade association that promotes the marketing of new toys, games, and puzzles. The organization usually has trade shows at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City during February. Consumers in general are not able to attend...
named Troll dolls to its Century of Toys List, a roll call commemorating the 100 most memorable and most creative toys of the 20th century.
History
Originally created in 1959 by DanishDenmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
fisherman and woodcutter Thomas Dam
Thomas Dam
Thomas Dam was a Danish woodcutter who designed and invented the "Good Luck Troll" which was the forerunner of the troll doll. Dam formed the Dam Things from Denmark to market the dolls.-External links:*...
, the dolls became popular in several European countries during the early 1960s, shortly before they were introduced in the United States. Dam, a poor woodcutter, could not afford a Christmas gift for his young daughter Lila and carved the doll from his imagination. When other children in the Danish town of Gjøl saw the Troll Doll, they wanted one as well and Dam began selling them locally. The originals, also called "Dam Dolls", were of the highest quality, featuring sheep wool hair and glass eyes. Their sudden popularity, along with an error in the copyright notice of Thomas Dam's original product, resulted in cheaper imitations and knock-offs which flooded the American and North American shelves.
The DAM company never stopped making the trolls in Europe, where they were always a popular item. In the late 1980s the DAM trolls started making another come back in North America. The E.F.S. Marketing Associates, Inc (located in Farmingdale, New York) was one of the few corporations which was granted permission to import and market the Thomas DAM trolls for re-sale in the United States. These DAM Trolls were marketed under the trade name of 'Norfin (R) Trolls', with the Adopt A Norfin Troll logo on the tags.
Some imitations, also known as Uneeda's Wishnik Trolls, Treasure Trolls, Gonks, and other trade names, commonly shared the signature tall hair, lovable face and pot belly. It was not until 2003 that a Congressional law allowed the Dam family of Denmark to restore their original U.S. copyright and become the only official manufacturer once again. A division of Uneeda, a company that made millions of dollars various times by manufacturing Troll Dolls in the U.S., challenged the restoration of that copyright in court. They lost when the court ruled that the Dam Company was the sole owner.
Many people collect trolls; the originals maintain the highest value. Some collectors have thousands of troll dolls, ranging in size from miniature gumball machine prizes and pencil toppers to dolls over one foot tall.
1990s and beyond
During the doll's period of popularity in the early-mid 1990s, several attempts were made to market the concept to young boys. This included action figureAction figure
An action figure is a posable character figurine, made of plastic or other materials, and often based upon characters from a film, comic book, video game, or television program. These action figures are usually marketed towards boys and male collectors...
lines such as the Troll Warriors, Battle Trolls
Battle Trolls
The Original Battle Trolls was a brand of action figures produced by Hasbro from 1992-1993. They were made in attempt to market the popular concept of troll dolls to young boys in the early 1990s.-Overview:...
, Stone Protectors
Stone Protectors
Stone Protectors was a multi-media entertainment property consisting primarily of an action figure line and animated series. The series also had a video game on the Super Nintendo. It served as a late attempt to market the troll doll craze of the early 1990s to young boys...
(which also had a brief animated series), and even Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Trolls
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (action figures)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figures are toys based on the franchise of the same name and have been produced by the company Playmates Toys since 1988...
. The popular Mighty Max
Mighty Max (toyline)
Mighty Max was a series of toys that were manufactured by Bluebird Toys PLC in the UK in 1992. The toys were similar to the earlier Polly Pocket toyline; however, these toys were marketed primarily towards young boys. In Canada and the USA, they were distributed by Irwin Toy Limited. and Mattel...
line also had a series named Hairy Heads, also known as Dread Heads. Success at these endeavors was marginal at best. Treasure Trolls were also marketed through other merchandise like T-shirts and even a gummy candy. A platform
Platform game
A platform game is a video game characterized by requiring the player to jump to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles . It must be possible to control these jumps and to fall from platforms or miss jumps...
computer game, simply titled Trolls was released in 1993 on Amiga
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
, PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
and C64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
. Other games were released for the NES
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
and SNES
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
(Super Troll Islands
Super Troll Islands
Super Troll Islands is an arcade platform game, based on the license of bright-haired toys known as Troll dolls. Each scrolling level is initially shrouded in an animated "mist" until they are cleared by running around platforms and ladders in the correct order. A brightly-coloured background is...
). This fad
FAD
In biochemistry, flavin adenine dinucleotide is a redox cofactor involved in several important reactions in metabolism. FAD can exist in two different redox states, which it converts between by accepting or donating electrons. The molecule consists of a riboflavin moiety bound to the phosphate...
capitalization even saw a 1994 re-release of Dudes with Attitude
American Video Entertainment
American Video Entertainment was a San Jose, California–based software development company that developed unlicensed video games for the Nintendo Entertainment System. The company developed two games on its own, Krazy Kreatures and Trolls on Treasure Island in 1990, and published 19 games...
simply modified into Trolls on Treasure Island.
The troll doll franchise also included The Trollies Radio Show, which was a direct-to-video musical with trolls singing hits, such as "Kokomo
Kokomo (song)
"Kokomo" is a song written by John Phillips, Scott McKenzie, Mike Love and Terry Melcher and recorded by The Beach Boys in spring 1988. Its lyrics describe two lovers taking a trip to a relaxing Caribbean island called Kokomo. It was released as a single in July 1988 by Elektra Records and became a...
", "Woolly Bully", and "Doo Wah Diddy", as well as some original songs.
In 2005, trolls were modernized in an animated series called Trollz
Trollz
Trollz is an American animated television series produced by DiC Entertainment and features the adventures of five fictional teenage girls, who call themselves the Best Friends for Life, who use magic to help them with their everyday life as well as battling whatever magical creatures and problems...
, which stars five trolls who live in a world of ogres, gnomes, dragons, and a bit of magic, but who have the same problems to deal as teens everywhere: boyfriends, pimples, clothes, money, school, and figuring out what it means to grow Trollish.
The new Trollz campaign made no impact in the aisles of toy stores and on America's children. It was soon dropped. In 2007, the Danish company filed a lawsuit against DIC Entertainment claiming that the company financially misrepresented its ability to create and market a modern troll doll toy campaign and destroyed the image and goodwill of the legendary doll.
Film
On June 22, 2010, DreamWorks AnimationDreamWorks Animation
DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. is an American animation studio based in Glendale, California that creates animated feature films, television program and online virtual worlds...
announced plans to create a film based on the toys, under the direction of Tim Hill
Tim Hill
Tim Hill is an American film director and television writer.He began his career in 1993 as a writer and storyboard artist for Rocko's Modern Life, he also created the Kablam! skit Action League Now!...
. The brother-sister writing team of Adam Wilson and Melanie Wilson LaBracio will write the screenplay, and Dannie Festa of Festa Entertainment will executive produce.
Pop culture
The fan base of trolls has been acknowledged and prominently featured on the TV sitcom The Drew Carey ShowThe Drew Carey Show
The Drew Carey Show is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from 1995 to 2004. The show was set in Cleveland, Ohio, and revolved around the retail office and home life of "everyman" Drew Carey, a fictionalized version of the actor....
, in which one of the characters, Drew's nemesis Mimi, collects them and keeps them on her desk at work. Another troll lover is Joy Miller from the movie The Beautician and the Beast
The Beautician and the Beast
The Beautician and the Beast is a 1997 American family comedy film directed by Ken Kwapis and starring Fran Drescher and Timothy Dalton as the title characters. The story follows the misadventures of a New York City beautician who is mistakenly hired as the school teacher for the children of the...
; she is a beautician who is interested in making new hair for her trolls. A troll doll is also featured in the Toy Story
Toy Story
Toy Story is a 1995 American computer-animated film released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is Pixar's first feature film as well as the first ever feature film to be made entirely with CGI. The film was directed by John Lasseter and featuring the voices of Tom Hanks and Tim Allen...
movies but neither talks nor plays a significant role because of questions at the time regarding the doll's "public domain
Public domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
" status, which would eventually return ownership by the Dam family. The trolls are also seen in the movies The Borrowers
The Borrowers
The Borrowers, published in 1952, is the first in a series of children's fantasy novels by English author Mary Norton. The novel and its sequels are about tiny people who live in people's homes and "borrow" things to survive while keeping their existence unknown...
, Tank Girl
Tank Girl (film)
Tank Girl is a 1995 science fiction action film loosely based on the Tank Girl comic book created by Alan Martin and Jamie Hewlett. It was directed by Rachel Talalay and stars Lori Petty as Rebecca Buck, aka the eponymous Tank Girl, who had originally appeared in the UK comic magazine...
, Whore
Whore (1991 film)
Whore is a 1991 film by British director and screenwriter Ken Russell, starring actress Theresa Russell. While not a financial success grossing only $1,008,404, the film did attract some positive notices, and generated an unrelated sequel.-Plot summary:...
, 54
54 (film)
54 is a 1998 drama film written and directed by Mark Christopher, starring Ryan Phillippe, Salma Hayek, and Neve Campbell...
, Over the Hedge
Over the Hedge (film)
Over the Hedge is a 2006 computer animated family action comedy film based on the characters from United Media comic strip of the same name. Directed by Tim Johnson and Karey Kirkpatrick, and produced by Bonnie Arnold, it was released in the United States on May 19, 2006.The film was produced by...
, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003 film)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a 2003 remake of the 1974 horror film of the same name. The 2003 film was directed by Marcus Nispel and produced by Michael Bay...
, Snow Day, and Toy Story 3
Toy Story 3
Toy Story 3 is a 2010 American 3D computer-animated comedy-adventure film, and the third installment in the Toy Story series. It was produced by Pixar and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It was directed by Lee Unkrich. The film was released worldwide from June through October in Disney Digital...
, as well as episodes in various television series, such as King of the Hill
King of the Hill
King of the Hill is an American animated dramedy series created by Mike Judge and Greg Daniels, that ran from January 12, 1997, to May 6, 2010, on Fox network. It centers on the Hills, a working-class Methodist family in the fictional small town of Arlen, Texas...
, Gomer Pyle, USMC, Living Single
Living Single
Living Single is an American television sitcom which aired for five seasons on the Fox network from August 29, 1993 to January 1, 1998. The show centered on the lives of six friends who share personal and professional experiences while living in a Brooklyn brownstone.Throughout its run, Living...
, The Nanny
The Nanny
Nanny may refer to:* Nanny, a child's caregiver* A grandmother * A Cajun word for godmother * A female goat* Nanny , a 1981–83 British drama series starring Wendy Craig* Nanny of the Maroons...
, The King of Queens
The King of Queens
The King of Queens is an American sitcom that originally ran on CBS from September 21, 1998, to May 14, 2007.This show was produced by Hanley Productions and CBS Productions , CBS Paramount Television ,and CBS Television Studios in association with Columbia TriStar Television , and Sony Pictures...
, Friends, Step by Step, 7th Heaven
7th Heaven
7th Heaven is an American family drama television series, created and produced by Brenda Hampton. The series premiered on August 26, 1996, on the WB, the first time that the network aired Monday night programming, and was originally broadcast from August 26, 1996 to May 13, 2007...
, The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
(episodes "Flaming Moe's
Flaming Moe's
"Flaming Moe's" is the tenth episode of The Simpsons third season. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on November 21, 1991. In the episode, Homer tells Moe Szyslak of a secret alcoholic cocktail that includes cough medicine and fire that he calls "Flaming Homer"...
", "Bart's Girlfriend
Bart's Girlfriend
"Bart's Girlfriend" is the seventh television episode of The Simpsons sixth season. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on November 6, 1994. The plot of the episode follows the secret romance of Bart and Jessica Lovejoy, Reverend Lovejoy's daughter...
" and "I Am Furious Yellow
I Am Furious Yellow
"I Am Furious " is the eighteenth episode of The Simpsons thirteenth season. It first aired in the United States on the Fox network on April 28, 2002. In the episode, Bart creates a comic book series based on his father Homer's anger problems, which turns into a popular Internet cartoon series...
"), Family Guy
Family Guy
Family Guy is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog Brian...
(Peter transforms into one in segment two of "Family Guy Viewer Mail #1") and The Office
The Office (US TV series)
The Office is an American comedy television series broadcast by NBC. An adaptation of the original BBC series of the same name, it depicts the everyday lives of office employees in the Scranton, Pennsylvania, branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company...
. As well, they are mentioned on Jimmy Fallon
Jimmy Fallon
James Thomas "Jimmy" Fallon, Jr. is an American actor, comedian, singer, musician and television host. He currently hosts Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, a late-night talk show that airs Monday through Friday on NBC...
's album, The Bathroom Wall
The Bathroom Wall
The Bathroom Wall is the first album by Jimmy Fallon. It was released on August 27, 2002. Most notable for the song "Idiot Boyfriend", which includes a music video and its own website, www.whattheshit.com...
. The troll dolls appear in The Annoying Orange episode Trollin. Trolls also appear in an early incarnation of The Problem Solverz (Problem Solvers) — "Problem Solvers Episode #1211: "Give Pizza A Chance"", suggested to be an obscure reference to the Pizza Pass level on popular 1990's puzzle logic game Logical Journey of the Zoombinis .