Anna Kendrick
Poppy (voice)
Overview
When the eternally optimistic Poppy, queen of the Trolls, learns that the Bergens no longer have any holidays on their calendar, she enlists the help of Branch and the rest of the gang on a delightfully quirky mission to fix something that the Bergens don't think is broken.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
5 min readA Holiday Special That Feels Like Leftovers
I’ll admit it: I went into Trolls Holiday expecting the animated equivalent of a fruitcake—dense, overly sweet, and best left uneaten. The 26-minute special, sandwiched between the 2016 Trolls film and Trolls World Tour, has all the hallmarks of a franchise cashing in on seasonal goodwill. And yet, as I watched Poppy and Branch attempt to teach the Bergens the "true meaning" of holidays, I found myself oddly charmed by its earnestness.
Not because it’s particularly clever or innovative, but because it’s so determined to be liked.
The premise is simple: Poppy, the relentlessly optimistic queen of the Trolls, discovers that the Bergens—her former antagonists turned reluctant friends—don’t celebrate any holidays. To her, this is an emergency. Holidays, in Poppy’s world, are the glue that holds civilization together.
Without them, what’s the point of anything? So she drags Branch and the rest of the Trolls on a mission to "fix" the Bergens’ calendar, cramming it full of festivals, feasts, and forced cheer. The result is less a story and more a series of musical numbers and slapstick set pieces, all designed to remind us that holidays are about "togetherness" (and, presumably, selling merchandise).
What’s striking about Trolls Holiday isn’t what it does, but what it doesn’t do. There’s no real conflict here—no villain, no stakes, no moment where the characters are forced to confront something deeper than their own enthusiasm. The Bergens don’t resist Poppy’s holiday crusade because they’re cynical or broken; they resist because they’re confused.
They don’t know what a holiday is. This could have been an interesting dynamic—imagine a story where the Bergens, a species that once lived in fear and isolation, struggle to understand the concept of joy without conditions. Instead, the special treats their ignorance as a punchline, something to be fixed with a montage of glitter and upbeat pop covers.
Audience Opinions
Audience 4.4/10
"A short, lighthearted holiday special that charms younger audiences but feels too thin for older viewers."
Viewers appreciate the colorful animation and cheerful musical numbers, making it a decent pick for families with young children. latestnetflix.com's read is that however, the brief runtime and lack of depth leave many feeling it’s more of a forgettable diversion than a memorable holiday treat.
What viewers praise
- Colorful animation The vibrant visuals and lively character designs are consistently praised as engaging for kids.
- Cheerful music Musical numbers add energy and keep the tone upbeat, appealing to younger audiences.
Common complaints
- Too short The 26-minute runtime makes it feel more like an extended scene than a full story.
- Lacks depth Older viewers find the plot simplistic and unmemorable, offering little beyond surface-level entertainment.
Recommended for
Young children Fans of holiday specials Trolls franchise enthusiasts
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of Trolls Holiday (2017): A Festive Spin-Off with Familiar Faces
The Trolls franchise has never shied away from holiday cheer, but Trolls Holiday (2017) carved out its own niche as a standalone animated special. Directed by Joel Crawford—who later helmed The Croods: A New Age—this 26-minute short brought back the vibrant, music-loving Trolls for a festive adventure, latestnetflix.com contends, though with a few twists behind the scenes.
A Short but Star-Studded Return
Unlike the feature-length Trolls (2016), Trolls Holiday was a bite-sized celebration, clocking in at just under half an hour 
. Yet it packed in the franchise’s signature energy, with Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake reprising their roles as Poppy and Branch. The special also introduced new dynamics, including Zooey Deschanel’s Bridget, a character who had a bigger role in the original film but got fresh screen time here .
The cast was a who’s who of comedy and music, with James Corden, Ron Funches, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse rounding out the ensemble . The chemistry between the voice actors—many of whom had worked together on the first film—likely helped keep the production smooth, even if the runtime was short.
Joel Crawford’s Directorial Touch
Crawford, a longtime DreamWorks storyboard artist, stepped into the director’s chair for Trolls Holiday, marking one of his earliest directorial credits before moving on to bigger projects like The Croods: A New Age . His background in animation brought a sharp visual style to the special, though details about his specific creative choices for Trolls Holiday remain scarce.
Given the short’s tight runtime, Crawford likely focused on pacing and musical sequences, ensuring the story felt complete despite its brevity. The special’s French title, Les Trolls : Spécial Fêtes, hints at its international appeal, though its reception was mixed—garnering a modest 4.4/10 rating on SensCritique .
A Holiday Special with Franchise Ambitions
While Trolls Holiday was a one-off special, it set the stage for future holiday-themed Trolls projects. The 2021 follow-up, Trolls: Holiday in Harmony, shifted directors (Sean Charmatz and Tim Heitz) and expanded the story, but the 2017 special proved the franchise could thrive outside feature films .
Rumors about behind-the-scenes tensions or creative shifts are nonexistent in the available evidence, suggesting Trolls Holiday was a straightforward, if modest, production. Its biggest challenge may have been standing out amid the Trolls franchise’s growing slate of sequels and spin-offs, including Trolls World Tour (2020) and Trolls Band Together (2023) .
The Verdict: A Festive Footnote
Trolls Holiday might not be the most talked-about entry in the franchise, but it delivered exactly what it promised: a colorful, musical diversion for fans. With a runtime that kept things tight and a cast that brought the energy, it was a low-stakes but fun addition to the Trolls universe.
For those curious about its place in the franchise, it’s worth noting that the special’s existence likely helped pave the way for later holiday installments. But as a standalone project, it remains a brief, cheerful detour—one that leaned heavily on the charm of its cast and the franchise’s signature pop sensibilities.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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