Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia
Genre; Adventure, Action, Comedy-drama, Fantasy
Created by; Guillermo del Toro
Based on; Trollhunters by Guillermo del Toro and Daniel Kraus
Written by; Guillermo del Toro, Marc Guggenheim, Kevin Hageman, Dan Hageman, Aaron Waltke, Chad Quandt, A.C. Bradley
Voices of: Anton Yelchin, Kelsey Grammer, Charlie Saxton, Lexi Medrano, Jonathan Hyde, Fred Tatasciore, Cole Sand, Ron Perlman, Amy Landecker, Emile Hirsch
Dreamworks Studios
It was the word “Arcadia” that caught my eye. About 15 years ago there was an Amber Tamblyn show, Joan of Arcadia, which was about a teen girl’s personal relationship with a deity that was a weird mix of Jehovah and Loki. It was a fun show, and I wondered if this was a remake or something.
Nope. Anime. Nerdy high school boy discovers an amulet that makes him the unprepared hero doing battle on behalf of Earth and Good Fantasy Empire against Evil Fantasy Empire.
Well, there’s an original plotline. I doubt I’ve seen more than fifty variations on it in anime series in any given year. Personal oversaturation with the concept, combined with Sturgeon’s Law, suggested I not waste any time on this.
But then I spotted the name of the producer and lead writer: Guillermo del Toro. He’s one of the “Big Three” in cinematic fantasy, along with Peter Jackson and Alfonso Cuarón, and of the three, probably the richest and most inventive. He doesn’t do junk, either.
Curiosity piqued, I wikkied it. Three years, 52 episodes, and a sequel series already underway with a third series in the works. Critical reviews were positive, with one critic calling it the best childrens’ animation since Avatar.
High praise indeed. Similar plotline, but Avatar featured immensely powerful characterization in a rich and original world that made for a spellbinding and sophisticated saga that reached far beyond its target demographic of 8-12 year olds.
Could Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia match that?
After viewing the first season (26 episodes) I’m prepared to say that it does. It has the same winning mix of the goofy and the sublime, stark, genuine emotions in counterpoint to hijinx, deadly battles and moments of utter hilarity. The humor is both more frequent and more unforced than it was in Avatar.
Because it’s rated Y7, not a single drop of blood is spilled.
Human blood, that is. Other critters with green blood provide ongoing Rorschach tests. Characters die, and the battles are both violent and exquisitely choreographed.
Jim, the protagonist, is 15, as are his friends, and their behavior rings very true. This is a stumbling block for most anime writers, who often have the characters have endless arguments about boobs and getting nosebleeds. It’s enough to make you want to renounce sex altogether.
The art is often better than Avatar, which was rather cartoonish, and the animation very nearly the equal. The voice acting is superb. Pacing, plotting, and character development are footsure and confident.
The wit is marvelous. There are many call-outs, visual as well as plot-driven, and sly jokes abound. Gnomes are tiny creatures with cone caps and beards, of course, but they’ll eat anything, including humans. One of them is named Gnome Chomsky. A changing impersonating a six month old baby is an adult troll who leers at the baby’s sister (who has found him out) and smirks, “There’s a 9pm feeding I -don’t- want to miss!”
As with Avatar, some of the most interesting and lovingly crafted characters are the heavies: Strickler and Draal are both good examples. They fill plot niches similar to those of Iroh and Zuko.
It is a child’s cartoon, so if you are expecting something on the level of Game of Thrones or House of Cards, prepare to live with disappointment. But if you go in expecting “just” a child’s cartoon, you are in for a major treat.
Now on Netflix, along with season one of the sequel, 3Up: Tales of Arcadia.