First, I want to say that this movie was aesthetically exquisite! The animation, character designs, backgrounds, love it love it all! (Donāt get me started on Bellroc, they are a masterpiece!) At the end of the day, I have nothing but love for this franchise.
But, yes, not the closure I was hoping forā¦
So hear me out⦠To help with those last 10 minutes⦠Keep everything as is, but give me 10 more minutes with this:
Toby under bridge, fade to black
Fade in, panning over an early summer day in Arcadia. Nothing is ruined, everything is as it should be. See the high school, no rubble, just the school as always. Empty halls, empty courtyard, pan to the football/soccer field. Itās graduation day!
Coach at the podium with an awkward intro for valedictorian Claire Nunez. She gives an amazing speech (not the hero speech we got that already and is was right where it needed to be). A speech about friendships and hardships and people coming together (you get the gist, sheās flipping poetic). As Claire is talking, pan over the crowd. We see Mr & Councilwoman Nunez with Enrique who is a bit bigger, obviously a toddler not a baby (Because yes all the changeling families were saved). We see Steve and Eli sitting next to each other. Maybe they do the Creep Slayerz sign, or itās CS on the top of their caps in tape. Either way, they are a team, not a bully & victim. We see Barbara and Nana, Mary and Darcy. We see Shannon & her girlfriend holding hands, giving each other a squeeze at some cute comment about āfinding out who you really are and who are your peopleā. We see Jim. Claire takes a moment, blushing & pushing the hair out of her face, as they share a sweet smile. Her speech comes to a close and all the kids stand, cheer, and fling their hats in that great cliche way.
Slight fade, slow pan down. Into Troll Market. Again everything in intact, the hearthstone is whole and glowing beautifully. Itās a party. Thereās a store bought banner. Printed on it is āCongrats Graduates!ā, with āgraduatesā crossed out and instead slightly sloppy handwriting reads āTrollhunters!!!ā
We pan around, Krel is DJing. Aja is dancing with Steve. Nana with Vex. Barbara with Walter. Nomura and Zadra are off the side with slightly judgy looks, shaking their heads, they do not understand dancing. Glub in her tub, Not!Enrique hanging off the side. The āwhateverā troll gets bumped into and we get one final āeh whateverā. Toby is with Darcy. Douxie hugs Archie as Archie apologizes for being late, he had to help his dad with something. We see Aaarrrrgh and Chompski and Draal and Vendel. Everyone is here, they all found each other again, and everyone is safe. Cut to Jim and Blinky walking into the scene. Jim stops looking over the scene. Blinky puts an arm around Jimās shoulder, gives a squeeze and then joins the festivities. Claire beckons Jim to join. Zoom into Jimās face as he smiles and gives a content sigh.
Thank you Tales of Arcadia!