King Gristle Sr. is the former King of the Bergens and the central antagonist of 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.
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 some grey stub of hair 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.
- 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).
- John Cleese recorded all his lines in one day.
