If you look closely at the background of Andy’s room, past the high-tech space rangers and the vintage cowboy dolls, you’ll see her. She has a shocked expression. Her hair is a vertical explosion of neon pink. She’s the troll from Toy Story, and honestly, she’s one of the weirdest, most fascinating bits of world-building Pixar ever did.
She doesn’t have a name. At least, not one mentioned in the script. To the fans, she’s just "Troll." To the animators, she was a way to ground the movie in the actual reality of a 1990s kid’s bedroom. Remember those? The hard plastic bodies. The gem in the belly button that supposedly brought good luck but mostly just gathered dirt. The hair that felt like a synthetic cotton ball.
The troll from Toy Story isn’t a main character, yet she’s everywhere in the first film. She’s a silent witness to the chaos. When Woody is losing his mind over Buzz Lightyear, she’s there. When the toys are holding a staff meeting, she’s in the crowd. She represents the "every-toy"—the kind of plaything that everyone owned but no one really made the protagonist of their stories.
The Surprising History of the Troll from Toy Story
Why did Pixar choose a Troll? It wasn’t just a random aesthetic choice. Thomas Dam, a Danish woodcutter, created the first Good Luck Troll in 1959 because he couldn't afford a Christmas gift for his daughter. By the 1960s, they were a global phenomenon. They had a massive resurgence in the early 90s, right when Toy Story was in development.
Pixar wanted Andy’s room to feel lived-in. Authentic. They didn't just want toys they invented; they wanted toys that existed in the real world. That’s why we see Mr. Potato Head, Etch A Sketch, and Slinky Dog. The troll from Toy Story serves as that same tether to reality. She’s a licensed cameo that doesn't feel like an advertisement.
She’s a relic.
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Interestingly, the version we see in the films has that classic, wide-eyed stare. It’s a bit creepy if you think about it too long. While Woody and Buzz have complex facial rigs that allow for a wide range of emotions, the Troll is static. She is eternally surprised. Whether she’s being shaken during a move or watching a tea party, her expression never wavers.
Spotting the Troll: A Game of Background Details
If you’re looking for the troll from Toy Story, you have to keep your eyes peeled. She shows up early in the first movie during the iconic "staff meeting" scene. Look closely at the floor. She’s sitting right there near the edge of the rug, her pink hair standing tall among the more vocal toys.
She also makes a cameo in Toy Story 2. During the opening sequence—Andy’s play session—she’s often part of the "crowd" being rescued or endangered by Dr. Porkchop. There’s a specific moment where she’s seen in the toy box, and later, she’s part of the group watching Wheezy get taken away to the yard sale. It’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it kind of thing.
By Toy Story 3, things get a bit darker. The toys are being donated to Sunnyside Daycare. If you look at the box of toys being hauled away, you can catch a glimpse of several trolls. Yes, multiple. It seems Andy (or Molly) had a bit of a collection. They ended up in the "Caterpillar Room," which is basically a death sentence for toys. Getting smeared with glitter and paint by toddlers who don't know how to play gently is a rough retirement.
Why the Troll Never Talked
Ever wonder why she never got a line? It’s kind of a missed opportunity, right? You have Rex being neurotic and Hamm being sarcastic. A Troll doll with a quirky personality would have fit right in.
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The reality likely comes down to licensing and voice cast budgets. Pixar had to strike deals with various toy companies to use their likenesses. While Hasbro was happy to let Mr. Potato Head talk (and boy, does he), other brands were more protective or simply weren't written into the "inner circle" of the script. The troll from Toy Story remained a silent extra.
There's something poetic about her silence. She’s the observer. In a room full of egos and existential crises, she just exists. She doesn't care about being the favorite toy. She doesn't care about "falling with style." She just wants her hair brushed, probably.
The Evolution of the Troll Aesthetic
It’s worth noting how much the "Troll" look has changed since 1995. Today, when kids think of Trolls, they think of the DreamWorks franchise—Poppy, Branch, and high-energy musical numbers. Those Trolls are soft, rounded, and very "animation-friendly."
The troll from Toy Story is the "old school" version. She has the squat proportions and the slightly weathered plastic look of the original Dam dolls. She looks like something you’d find at the bottom of a bin in a thrift store. That’s exactly what makes her special. She represents a specific era of toy design where things were a little bit ugly, a little bit weird, and infinitely charming.
Fact-Checking the Troll Myths
You might see some "fun facts" floating around the internet claiming the Troll had a secret name or a deleted subplot. Most of that is nonsense. Here is what we actually know:
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- Multiple Trolls: There isn't just one. In various scenes across the first three films, different colored Trolls appear, including ones with orange and blue hair.
- Molly’s Toys: While they live in Andy’s room initially, many fans speculate the Trolls actually belonged to Andy’s sister, Molly. This makes sense, as Troll dolls were heavily marketed toward girls in the 90s.
- The Cameo in "Small Fry": If you watch the Toy Story Toons short called Small Fry, there is a support group for discarded fast-food toys. You’ll see various oddities there, but our classic Troll remains a background staple of the main "short" universe.
Collecting the Legend
If you’re a collector looking for the specific troll from Toy Story, you’re essentially looking for a vintage 1990s Russ or Dam troll. Disney did eventually release "official" Toy Story branded Trolls during the 25th-anniversary push, but they often look a bit too "clean."
For the authentic "Andy’s Room" vibe, you want the ones with the slightly matted hair. The ones that look like they've been through a move.
The legacy of these minor characters is what gives Pixar movies their soul. It’s not just about the heroes. It’s about the environment. It’s about the toys that don’t get the spotlight but make the world feel complete. The troll from Toy Story might not have saved the day, and she might not have had a catchy catchphrase, but she was there. She was part of the family.
How to Value Your Own Vintage Trolls
If you find a pink-haired troll in your attic and think you've struck gold, take a breath. Most mass-produced 90s trolls are worth about five bucks. However, certain variations—like those with specific outfits or "jewel" bellies in rare colors—can fetch more from niche collectors.
- Check the feet: Look for the "Dam" or "Russ" stamp.
- Hair quality: If the hair is falling out, the value drops.
- Size matters: The tiny pencil toppers are common; the 6-inch or 12-inch versions are rarer.
Ultimately, the troll from Toy Story reminds us that every toy has a story, even if they never get to tell it out loud. They are the silent companions of our childhood, the pink-haired sentinels of the toy box.
Next Steps for Toy Story Fans:
To truly appreciate the background work of Pixar, re-watch the original Toy Story and try to count every time a Troll appears on screen. You’ll find she’s in more scenes than you remember. After that, look into the history of the "Combat Carl" figure, which has a much more explosive (literally) history in the franchise than the quiet Troll ever did. Check your local vintage toy shops or online marketplaces for "1990s Pink Hair Trolls" if you want to add a piece of movie history to your shelf without the "Disney" markup.