timeless toys

Hair today, back tomorrow: Collectible Troll dolls return to the Toy Joy shelveson Troll Day

They're baaaaaaaaaack.

Wednesday marks the re-release of this decade's version of the collectible Troll dolls that have magically remained in the cultural zeitgeist since their invention in the 1950s.

Originally released in Denmark by a fisherman named Thomas Dam, the grinning hair disasters (that were once pointy eared and properly clothed) were given a new opportunity to torment parent's bank accounts with a new rounded-ear, butt-ass naked look by Russ in the 90s.

If you were cognizant of the world at that time, you'll recall seeing the Trolls literally everywhere, from unfunny novelty t-shirts to tiny pencil toppers to an ill-fated TV show called Trollz. Everywhere, their cute frozen smiles and welcoming open arms haunted us.

"Trolls left the market in the early 2000s after several legal disputes and mis-marketing by U.S. licensors," explains Toy Joy curator Lizzy Newsome, who is planning a full day of in-store celebration for Wednesday. "Because of this, some of the early 60s trolls can be quite valuable. I always recommend checking out eBay. You never know."

But the days of nostalgic collecting are about to get a swift kick to the dimpled rear. Newsome announced to Toy Joy regulars that it is time for another generation to share in the pseudo-pagan/mythical childhood fun of the Trolls. (Oh, and just think of the resurgence in bingo hall good fortune!)

Dark Horse Comics, the largest independent comic book publisher in the U.S., is releasing a new collectible series of Good Luck Troll Dolls this Wednesday that brings these dolls into the 21st century of collecting.

Unveiled first at San Diego Comic Con, the latest collection of the dolls contains 15 new color combinations. "Most customers remember the classic trolls from the 80s, which the Dark Horse release resembles. The main difference is the new trolls come in a variety of skin colors beyond the original peach," reports Newsome.

In fact, the chubby lil' bodies of the latest trolls range from purple to grey to yellow to blue, and their signature updos can be either orange, blue, white, pink, yellow or purple. To up the excitement, the Trolls are all packaged in "Mystery Boxes" so there's no way to predict what color combo you'll end up with.

Clothing, however, is still not an option for these tiny new exhibitionists. "Non-human characters seem to get away with [not wearing pants] a lot. Donald Duck doesn't wear pants, and neither does Kermit the Frog," says Newsome. "I personally like to just put bows in their hair."

If you're up for the nostalgia and the potential risk of hoarding Troll dolls in your basement, Toy Joy is throwing a party on "Troll Day," with giveaways all day long and free rainbow sprinkles on every item sold in the Toy Joy cafe. Troll hair styles are also highly encouraged.

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Troll Day kicks off at 10 a.m. on July 25. The shipment of Good Luck Troll Dolls will be on sale until supplies run out.

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SKIN IN THE GAME

Renowned Hill Country tattoo artist inks new sacred geometry app

Photo courtesy of Dillon Forte

Dillion Forte at his "tattoo ranch" in the Texas Hill Country.

In the world of tattooing, there may seem to be few better rat traps left to build, but Dillon Forte aims to change that. In October, the renowned Wimberley-based tattoo artist and entrepreneur introduced a new iPadOS app to bring ancient symbology into the digital age.

Forte has made a worldwide name for his black dot work (a contemporary take on stick-and-poke techniques) and ambitious undertakings like tattooing underwater and opening a “tattoo ranch.” His ink appears on Usher, Chris Hemsworth, and Kehlani.

Still, he is most recognized for his sacred geometry designs, using patterns to convey various meanings. His interest led him to create the Sacred Geometry Drawing App, a convenient way for novices and experts to develop and export their creations.

The app grew out of his own practice. Over the past decade, he has used tablets and freehand techniques to achieve his highly symmetrical artwork but grew to realize existing tools were not always easy to use.

“The app is an attempt and fulfillment of my desire to make sacred geometry accessible and bring the ability to create into the fingertips of as many people as possible,” Forte tells CultureMap via email, adding a tagline: “symmetry made simply.”

He says he wished the app was available when developing his signature style as a tattoo artist, but it was designed with a broad range of users in mind. He hopes that designers, educators, and artists will find a use for it.

A short intro to the app's capabilities is available on YouTube. It looks like a standard drawing app, starting with a blank canvas and some tools like pens, pencils, colors, and of course, straight line and dot makers.

A "symmetry index" anchors the functionality and expands it to something between 2D art and 3D modeling. In addition to generating shapes like repeating patterns and spirals, the app also creates 3D shapes with grids, so that the artist can map their design in real space or even create sculptures. There is also an index for explaining the spiritual meaning of some standard designs.

“Geometry often prompts an intimidating feeling when it comes to making art,” Forte continues. “The fundamentally complex and often academic nature of math-based art can induce a sense of fear in the potential user instead of creating a sense of awe. The purpose of the sacred geometry app is to cultivate the latter."

Creatives interested in constructing their own geometric masterpieces can download the app at the App Store for free, and in-app purchases are available.

technology apps tattoos arts