TrollHunters, created by Guillermo del Toro, is a wild ride. It’s about Jim Lake Jr., your average teen who suddenly becomes first human Trollhunter. He protects a hidden troll world under Arcadia from evil stuff. Jim and his pals face monsters, learn troll history and deal with teen drama. Critics love it. They rave about storytelling, animation and voice acting. It’s a hit for kids and adults. Because who doesn’t want to see trolls while dealing with homework?

Meet the characters from Trollhunters

Toby Domzalski

Okay, Toby is the big-hearted, slightly clumsy best friend who absolutely steals every scene, no contest. He’s loyal to a fault, eats snacks like it’s a competitive sport, and somehow simultaneously knows way too much about fantasy lore and way too little about basic social cues. He’s scared of like, a lot of things, but will throw himself in front of danger for his friends without even thinking — and then ask if anyone packed chips. Also, he has these weird tiny hobbies that pop up randomly (stamp collecting? alien sock puppets?), so like, he’s unpredictable in the best way.

Claire Nuñez

Claire is sharp, fierce, and honestly the kind of person you’d want on your side in a hallway fight or a late-night cram session. She uses magic (which she practically treats like a skateboard trick), is sarcastic in a way that’s somehow also warmly protective, and will absolutely kick butt while making a deadpan joke. She cares fiercely for the team but also has this adorable tendency to hoard tiny trinkets — rubber ducks? maybe — and then claim she never does. She can be stubborn and sweet in the same breath, which is maybe the whole point of Claire.

Jim Lake Jr.

Jim is the classic reluctant hero turned totally committed leader, teenage heart with a weirdly noble armor-wearing twist. He struggles, he doubts himself, and then he charges in because someone has to do it — very dramatic, very teenage, very endearing. He likes fixing things (bikes, relationships, ancient artifacts — all part of the same job?), loves cheesy pizza, and will brood for a solid five minutes before being inexplicably optimistic again. There’s a softness under the helmet that sneaks up on you, and honestly I can’t get over it.

Blinky

Blinky is the bookish, big-eyed mentor who reads too many manuals and somehow always knows exactly what moderately clumsy heroes need. He’s gentle, anxious in an adorably overprepared sort of way, and full of lore that spills out whenever someone asks the wrong question. He drinks tea with a precise slurp and collects bookmarks like trophies, except sometimes he forgets where he put them because of course he would. Wise, quirky, and a little neurotic, which is basically the recipe for the best magical guide.

AAARRRGGHH!!!

AAARRRGGHH!!! is the giant soft-hearted troll who’s basically a walking hug — and also possibly the best friend anyone could ask for during a dramatic showdown. He mostly communicates with enthusiasm and big gestures (and yes, his name is a full emotional statement), but don’t let that fool you — he’s surprisingly deep, likes poetry? gardening? and also smashing things when necessary. He cries at sunsets and also at the wrong time in comedies, which makes him pure chaotic warmth. Loyal, loud, and unexpectedly sentimental, he is the gentle giant trope but with weird little hobbies.

Mr. Strickler

Strickler is the unexpectedly creepy authority figure who treats monster-hunting like municipal planning and will categorize you with a clip and a glare. He’s cold, meticulous, and obsessed with control; everything is either a “threat” or “under study” in his voice. He has weird personal quirks — like an oddly curated set of snow globes or an insistence on immaculate linens — that make him equal parts efficient and off-putting. He runs a tight ship, and you can tell he secretly enjoys the bureaucracy of doom.

Barbara Lake

Barbara is the tough, warm, unexpectedly fierce mom energy who will feed you, fix your shirt, and then quietly take down an enemy if you look at her wrong. She’s practical, loving, and has this grounding presence that balances all the chaos, plus she tells the best awkward dad jokes sometimes (even though she’s not a dad, obviously). She might be into knitting and also into karate — or was that last week? — either way she multitasks like a legend. Protective, patient, and surprisingly wily, she keeps everything — and everyone — kind of together.

Otto Scaarbach

Otto is the elegantly sinister sort, like a blade in a velvet glove — he smiles while plotting and drinks tea with a menacing eyebrow raise. He’s formal, cunning, and has this aristocratic vibe that makes his betrayal feel almost punctual, like an RSVP to treachery. He collects odd little trinkets (porcelain frogs? cursed spoons?) and insists on polishing them to soundtrack of ominous chamber music. Charming in a very wrong way, and disturbingly meticulous about his evil.

Gunmar

Gunmar is the hulking warlord antagonist who gives you epic villain energy and also terrible interior decorating choices (spikes: everywhere). He’s terrifying and charismatic, like a storm in a suit of armor that occasionally cries into old war trophies because he’s melodramatic in private, apparently. He commands armies, has a very particular hatred for peace, and also hoards socks? (I can’t decide if that’s real or something I made up, but it fits, right?). Intimidating, grand, and oddly nostalgic, he’s the big bad you love to hate — with a soft spot you are absolutely not allowed to see.