DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. has acquired the IP for the Troll franchise from the Dam Family and Dam Things of Denmark, with plans to introduce the brand to a new generation of fans around the world. DreamWorks has named American Girl veteran Shawn Dennis as head of brand development to cultivate this classic franchise.
The Troll doll phenomenon was born in 1959 when Danish fisherman and woodcutter Thomas Dam, too poor to afford a Christmas present for his young daughter Lajla, carved a doll for her based on the legendary Scandinavian troll. The Trolls experienced a resurgence in the 1990s, and in 2003, the Toy Industry of America named Trolls on its list of 100 of the Century’s Most Treasured Toys.
DreamWorks Animation is now the exclusive worldwide licensor of the merchandise rights for the classic Troll Dolls, with the sole exception of Scandanavia, the birthplace of the Trolls, where Dam Things will remain the licensor.
