Troll Girl
Written and Directed by Kay Carmichael
Studio Triggerfish Animation Studios
Produced by Dianne Makings
2018
Kay first explored Troll Girl as a graphic novel before expanding it into an animated short film.
The concept art had a lovely whimsical visual style, which beautifully contrasted with the deep emotional struggles of our heroine.
Troll Girl is scared, lonely, and bullied—feelings that are often softened or overlooked in children's media, but which are portrayed here with remarkable honesty. Her moments of anger, and the guilt that follows when she lashes out, feel authentic to the real experiences of many children.
The story follows a young troll, raised by a nun in a human village, as she overcomes both her own insecurities and the fears of those around her to save the mother who raised her.
Created entirely in Blender Grease Pencil, the film also represents a significant technical achievement, with the animation team mastering an entirely new toolset while maintaining a high standard of visual storytelling and performance.
