Written by Katelynn Heilman. Photo courtesy of SCAD Savannah Film Festival.
At this year’s SCAD Savannah Film Festival, “Trolls Band Together,” screened at Lucas Theater, proved that animated movies are for everyone. From young children to parents and the older crowd, this movie is entertaining to anyone at any age. The animated film follows beloved main characters Branch and Poppy as they go on an emotional and action-packed journey to reunite with Branch’s family boy band. Along the way, the audience meets new lovable characters, experiences many emotions and explores the colorful world of the Trolls.
This film jumps directly into its plot, staying true to a consistently fast pace. There is no time for boredom or wandering minds during the entire duration of the movie. This intentional lack of filler content is vital to any successful movie targeted toward young audiences, a fact the production team was very aware of.
With that being said, “Trolls” is humourous in a way that all ages can appreciate. The comedic timing throughout the film is spot-on and at times joyfully unexpected. Additionally, the risqué nature of some of the comments made by the adorable and charming characters kept the audience fresh and wanting more laughs.
During the post-screening Q&A with director Walt Dohrn, the visionary mentioned that this movie was created over the course of four years from conception to its final cut. This fact is apparent when watching, displaying what it takes to create an intricately made animated film. Dohrn also mentioned that characters and other components of the film are taken from his own life experiences, making the sincerity of the movie incredibly authentic.
Children, college students and adults all sat together laughing out loud and clapping at the sheer brilliance animated on the screen before them. With an excellent message and entertaining story, I can genuinely say I’m thrilled that this movie will take part in raising a new generation of viewers.
