The entire kids universe would be delighted to welcome back the hair-raising community of DreamWorks Trolls. Poppy, Branch, their exquisite friends from the Troll Village and the nearby grumpy Burgens town – all are ready for our human exploration into the troll life. Trolls: The Beat Goes On is a series on Netflix attracting a wide range of kids. Why? Because it is filled with irreverent characters, funny and life-teaching situations, – all resonating with the children’s inner world.
Having a first-hand look at a new season, meeting with Executive Producer, Voice talent, Composers and Executive Music Producers, has given me a magical behind-the-scenes look at how things are done at DreamWorks Studios. Speaking and meeting the unbelievably talented team for the Trolls series allows me to appreciate and honor the meticulous and very repetitive at times process of creating the animation masterpiece that would leave a positive emotion and feeling in the hearts of our children.
All Episodes Available on Netflix
Every step of creating the building blocks for this Trolls series involves people of passion and care. During my last trip to DreamWorks, we met and discussed in detail the making of the Season 2 of Trolls: The Beat Goes On with:
• Matt Beans, Executive Producer
• Frank Molieri, Supervising Producer
• Jim Mortensen, Supervising Director
Alana Da Fonseca, Executive Music Producer
• Alex Geringas, Composer
• Amanda Leighton, the Voice of Poppy
• Skylar Astin, the Voice of Branch
Please allow me to take you through some of the most remarkable and unforgettable moments of my trip to DreamWorks and the work sessions and interviews with the creative team of Trolls: The Beat Goes On.
What a Delight to Dance With Branch and Poppy!
DreamWorks Studios Is A Place Full of Surprises at Every Corner!
Speaking About Hilarious & Irreverent –
Mr. Cloud Guy!
Every Series has Its Favorites
When you meet Amanda Leighton, she makes the place so open for a freely flowing conversation! She is a super gem when it comes to approaching and speaking to celebrities. And the celebrity she is, her busy acting career moves her from movie set to a movie set almost on the daily basis.
Amanda is known for her role in the ABC Family series “Make It or Break It.” Other prominent television projects where Amanda stars are:
• CW’s “90210”
• Freeform’s “The Fosters”
• Freeform’s “Pretty Little Liars”
• ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy”
• Fox Network’s “House M.D.”
• Cartoon Network’s “The Powerpuff Girls” as “Blossom”
I had a chance to work in the voice-over studio where the magic of animation is brought to life with the talented voices of many actors and actresses. I tried my voice, too! Check out this clip with my voice lended to Branch. Yes, I chose to be branch in this clip, not Poppy! I LOVED doing this work!
I Am the Voice of Branch In this Clip
Visiting DreamWorks Studios, I had an opportunity to see the behind-the-scenes work. The voices behind Trolls characters are recorded in the studio.
Check out this clip with my voice-over for Branch.
Amanda Leighton Was So Cool To Spend Time with Us All
Having spent some time with Amanda Leighton, learned more about the kind of Poppy DreamWorks has landed! Creative, shy and composed, this young gifted actress gives her emotional powerhouse to the colorful character Poppy, a girl-troll in Trolls.
Leap Into the Glitteriest World of Trolls:
With Music & Dance!
Trolls have a huge sweet tooth, hence we are into baking desserts. Check out this amazingly easy to make, but so much fun to decorate TROLLS CUPCAKE Tutorial.
It is not that often that actors and actresses have a chance to work together in the voice recording studio. Usually, the sessions are recorded when they are available during their busy recording season. But we got lucky to meet and greet and talk to Amanda Leighton, the voice of Poppy, and Skylar Astin, the voice of Branch, on out day in the DreamWorks Studios.
Skylar Astin has been well-known for his role as Jesse in Universal’s “Pitch Perfect” and its sequel “Pitch Perfect 2.” You may know him even better for his work in Disney’s “Wreck-It” Ralph.”
On television, Skylar had the lead role in the sitcom “Ground Floor,” and has had memorable roles on HBO’s “Girls,” Fox’s “House M.D.”, “Glee” and many more.
On theatrical stage, Skylar Astin starred in Howard Ashman and Alan Menken’s “God Bless You Mr. Rosewater” in New York City Center.
These two talents are part of a bigger creative and executive troup who make this Trolls experience a remarkably kind and teaching, offering some insights into emotions and feelings from which children learn the best.
One of the most powerful tools in this Trolls series is music. And the voices of Amanda and Skylar have added the colorfulness to the overall experience of this animation.
Sitting down with Matt Beans, the Executive Producer for the entire TROLLS series, was an insightful and very educational moment during my trip to the DreamWorks Studios.
After graduating from Florida State University’s MFA film program, he moved to Los Angeles and landed his first writing job for the Emmy-winning Adult Swim hit, “Robot Chicken,” where he discovered his proclivity for animated, comedy television.
Since then, he’s ridden a lot of coattails, managing to stay employed on shows like Cartoon Network’s “Mad,” and Fox’s “Murder Police.”
He came to DreamWorks in 2014 to staff write for “Dawn of the Croods,” which ultimately led to him becoming the executive producer of “Trolls: The Beat Goes On!”