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Trollstice! Our one day to be happy!
―King Gristle Sr.

King Gristle Sr. is the former King of the Bergens and the overarching antagonist of the DreamWorks film, Trolls. He is voiced by John Cleese.

Background[]

Personality[]

King Gristle Sr. has dual responsibilities: leading the fickle, easily distracted Bergens and raising his only son, Gristle Junior, whose primary mission in life is to get his first taste of a Troll.

Physical Appearance[]

King Gristle Sr. is an ugly, dark green bergen with some grey hair on his head and all over his body, a grey uni-brow, and grey soul patch on his chin. He wears a purple cape with fur on it, a red-violet jacket with pink cuffs on the sleeves, red violet trousers, yellow flip-flops, and a gold crown on his head.

When sleeping he wears brown checkered Pajamas with dark brown spots on them.

Role in the film[]

King Gristle is awoken on the day of Trollstice (the one day when Bergens can Feel happy by eating a troll) by his toddler son Prince Gristle, who is getting excited for his first taste of troll. However, the trolls, led by their leader King Peppy, escape Bergen Town. Angered, King Gristle blames Chef for this and banishes her from Bergen Town. That night, Prince Gristle asks his father what will make him happy now, to which the King picks him up and sadly says nothing will.

20 years later, an adult Prince Gristle is now leader of the Bergens, leaving it unknown what became of King Gristle Sr. afterward. Despite his absence, the former King is mentioned at times by his son.

Trivia[]

  • It is not mentioned in the film what became of King Gristle Sr. after the twenty-year skip. Though according to Prince Gristle's profile on the Trolls website, he was dethroned by his people after the trolls escaped and was replaced by his young son.
    • This was backed up by "The Art of the Trolls", which explained that Gristle Sr. had used Chef as an escape goat to put full blame of the Trolls escape onto her and to give the Bergens someone to focus on besides himself. This caused Chef to hate the royal family for their cowardice. Although this satisfied the anger of the Bergens, he could not maintain order for long and the Bergens put his son, an individual they could manipulate much easier, on the throne. He left Bergen Town soon after this to go into exile.
  • King Gristle Sr. is the second Dreamworks character to be voiced by John Cleese. The first was King Harold, who like Gristle Sr. was a king who spoke with an English accent but had a child who spoke with an American accent (Fiona).
  • He is the Greater-Scope Villain of the film. Because he wanted to feed the Trolls to the Bergens, including his son by attempting to make him happy. Making the Former King responsible for the events in the film.

Gallery[]

Screenshots[]

Miscellaneous[]

Navigation[]

v - e - d
Trolls Logo2
Media
Films: TrollsTrolls World TourTrolls Band Together

TV Specials: Trolls HolidayTrolls: Holiday in Harmony
Shorts: Tiny Diamond Goes Back To SchoolIt Takes Three
TV Series: Trolls: The Beat Goes On!Trolls: TrollsTopia

Characters
Pop Trolls: The Snack Pack (PoppyBranchDJ SukiGuy DiamondBiggieMr. DinklesCooperSmidgeSatin and ChenilleFuzzbertLegslyTiny Diamond) • John DorySpruceClayFloydVivaCreekKing PeppyGrandma RosiepuffMoxie DewdropAspen HeitzMandy SparkledustKarmaMaddyHarper

Rock Trolls: Queen BarbRiffKing ThrashCarolSid Fret
Funk Trolls: King QuincyQueen EssencePrince D
Techno Trolls: King TrollexTechno Beat Drop ButtonBliss Marina
Other Trolls: Delta DawnTrollzartPennywhistleHickoryDickoryChazTresilloThe K-Pop Gang
The Bergens: King Gristle Jr.BridgetChefChad and ToddKing Gristle Sr.MaxineBarnebisGrothBuzbyBernice
Others: Cloud GuyThe Party CrashersVelvetVeneerCrimp

Music
Trolls: Move Your Feet/D.A.N.C.E/It's a Sunshine DayThe Sound of SilenceGet Back Up AgainHelloI'm Coming Out/Mo' Money Mo' ProblemsThey Don't KnowTrue ColorsCan't Stop The Feeling!SeptemberWhat U Workin' With?

Trolls World Tour: The Other SideTrolls Wanna Have Good TimesDon't SlackIt’s All LoveJust SingOne More TimeAtomic Dog World Tour RemixRock N’ Roll RulesLeaving Lonesome FlatsBorn to DieTrolls 2 Many Hits MashupBarracudaCrazy TrainPerfect For MeRock You Like A Hurricane

See also
Books: TrollsTrolls Band Together

Objects: Cookin' With TrollsHug-time BraceletsTroll Tree
Cast: Anna Kendrick (Poppy) • Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Gristle Jr.) • Christine Baranski (Chef) • Anthony Ramos (King Trollex) • Anderson .Paak (Prince D) • Eric André (John Dory) • Daveed Diggs (Spruce) • Camila Cabello (Viva) • Andrew Rannells (Veneer) • David P. Smith (additional voices)
Crew: Chris SandersNick FletcherAriana Grande

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