Good luck trolls are a type of plastic doll that became immensely popular in the 1960s and saw a resurgence in the 1990s. They are known for their bright neon colored hair, big eyes, and large gemstone belly buttons. Good luck trolls were first created in 1959 by Danish fisherman and woodcutter Thomas Dam. Their popularity skyrocketed across the United States and much of the world throughout the 1960s and again in the 1990s when they made a comeback. Today, good luck trolls remain a favorite among toy collectors and people looking for a dose of nostalgia.
History of Good Luck Trolls
The original good luck troll was created in 1959 by Thomas Dam in Denmark. Dam carved the first troll doll out of his imagination and gave it bright neon hair and a large gemstone belly button. At the time, Dam was too poor to afford a Christmas tree for his young daughter, so he crafted the troll doll and told her it would bring them good luck and protect their family.
In the early 1960s, Dam’s design was brought to the United States by a Danish salesman named Jens Nygaard. Nygaard displayed the trolls at the New York Toy Fair in the hopes of finding an American manufacturer. The trolls caught the eye of the CEO of Dam Things, another Danish company, who began producing them in plastic under the name “Good Luck Trolls.”
The trolls became immensely popular, being sold across North America, Europe, and Japan throughout the 1960s. They were marketed with the idea that they could influence luck or events based on their direction – belly buttons pointed out brought good luck, while belly buttons pointed in kept bad luck away. By the mid-1960s, good luck trolls had become one of the biggest toy fads in America.
Decline and Resurgence
The initial good luck troll fad died down by the late 1960s, though they remained popular as collector’s items. In the 1990s, good luck trolls saw a sudden resurgence after being featured in the hit movie Toy Story. Danish company Dam Things re-released the classic trolls under the Dam Things brand, ushering in a new era of troll mania.
Throughout the 1990s, millions of good luck trolls were produced, with new designs and spinoff trolls including baby trolls and trolls with different hair colors and glittery “diamond” gemstones. This second coming of good luck trolls was just as popular as the first, demonstrating the timeless appeal of the cute, kitschy figurines.
Design and Characteristics
Good luck trolls have several distinctive design features that have made them iconic toys for over 60 years:
- Bright neon or pastel hair – The most recognizable feature of a good luck troll is its wild, bright-colored hair. Usually standing straight up, troll hair comes in vivid shades like hot pink, electric blue, neon green, purple, and orange.
- Large gemstone belly button – All good luck trolls have a large glass or plastic gemstone as their belly button. The original Dam troll had a real stone belly button, but plastic gems became standard. Belly gems come in clear, colored, or glitter varieties.
- Big smiling mouth – Good luck trolls have a wide mouth curved into a slight smile, displaying their teeth. Some designs over the years have included larger grins.
- Bulging eyes – Their wide oval eyes bulge out from their long pointed faces, giving trolls an eager, excited look.
- Big ears – Their ears stick straight out from the sides of their heads and are often as wide as their faces.
- Potbellies – In a permanent crouching pose, good luck trolls have large round potbellies and short legs.
- Hunched posture – Trolls are always in a hunched position with arms stretched forward to display their belly button gem.
- Pointy nose – These dolls have a distinct pointy nose pointing down from their foreheads.
Modern spinoff designs may alter some of these characteristics, but classics stay true to the memorable Danish design.
Types of Good Luck Trolls
While all good luck trolls share common traits, over the decades many varieties have been produced with unique looks and designs:
Classic
The original Danish design on which all others are based. Classic trolls have vinyl plastic bodies, tall neon mohawk-like hair, and glass gem navels. They came in a rainbow of bright hair colors.
Puffy
Also called “fuzzy hairs,” puffy trolls have soft, fuzzy fabric hair instead of stiff vinyl hair. Their bodies are also slightly softer vinyl.
Sparkle Hair
These trolls have glitter added to their vinyl hair to give them a shimmering, sparkly look. They remain stiff like classic trolls.
Jewel Hair
Jewel hair trolls feature molded plastic hair in jewel tones like ruby red, sapphire blue, and emerald green.
Glitter Belly
As the name suggests, these trolls have extra-sparkly gemstone belly buttons made from glitter plastic rather than plain glass or plastic.
Mini
A smaller version of regular trolls, mini trolls are only 1-2 inches tall. They come in classic designs as well as unique mini styles.
Designed to fit inside a pocket, these trolls are under 3 inches tall but with the classic big hair and bellies.
Baby
Baby trolls are extra small with cute “baby” features like pacifiers, bonnets, and diapers over their gemstones. They are typically around 1 inch tall.
Puffy Baby
The puffy, fuzzy-haired version of baby trolls. Softer and squishier than classic baby trolls.
Animal
Though most trolls are modeled after gnomes, some playful designs turn them into animal shapes like kittens, puppies, bunnies, bears, and more.
Troll Dolls
Also called “damdolls,” these are taller, more elegant trolls with human-esque vinyl bodies and wild colorful hair. Unlike classic squat trolls, these stand 4-6 inches tall.
Troll Friends
Troll friends include charming animal companions for trolls like cats, dogs, rabbits, bears, and cute woodland creatures. They are squatter with troll-like gem belly buttons.
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Classic | Original stiff-haired trolls with vinyl bodies and glass gems |
| Puffy | Fuzzy fabric hair and softer vinyl bodies |
| Sparkle Hair | Trolls with glittery vinyl hair |
| Jewel Hair | Molded plastic hair in jewel tones |
| Glitter Belly | Trolls with extra sparkly gemstones |
| Mini | Tiny trolls from 1-2 inches tall |
| Under 3 inches, designed for pockets | |
| Baby | Extra small with cute baby features |
| Puffy Baby | Fuzzy-haired baby trolls |
| Animal | Trolls shaped like kittens, puppies, etc |
| Troll Dolls | Taller trolls with human-like vinyl bodies |
| Troll Friends | Animal companions with gem navels |
Collectability and secondary market
Good luck trolls have an enthusiastic community of collectors, as many of the vintage designs and first edition trolls can be quite valuable. Some things that make a troll more sought-after and pricey on the secondary market include:
- Age – The older the troll, the more valuable, with early 1960s Dam brand trolls from Denmark being most prized
- First edition – First run production trolls are worth more than later editions
- Tag and markings – Intact hang tags, stamps, and markings boost value
- Hair color – Rare hair colors like blue or green often fetch higher prices
- Condition – Trolls in excellent condition with no damage or wear
- Standing pose – Most are crouching, but standing poses are rare
- Box – Original packaging significantly increases worth
- Size – Miniatures and oversized trolls outside the norm
- Limited editions – Special edition numbered trolls have higher value
For example, a rare 1960s Danish Dam troll in flawless condition with original tag and box could fetch over $1000 USD. More common trolls from the 1990s sell for under $20. One-of-a-kind variants and factory errors also attract collectors.
Most Valuable Vintage Trolls
Some of the most sought-after and expensive vintage troll designs include:
- Dam Things wood trolls – Earliest carved wood trolls made by Thomas Dam in 1959. $1000+.
- 1960s blue-haired trolls – First production blue hair is exceptionally rare. $500+.
- Japanese 1960s trolls – Different design details. $200-$300 range.
- Double-gem belly buttons – Factory flaw double belly gems. $300+.
- Middle finger pose – Rare posing with middle finger up. $200+.
- Puffy standing troll – Only standing pose with fuzzy hair. $300-$400.
- Fishnet hair trolls – Limited edition netted hair. $200-$300.
Good Luck Trolls in Popular Culture
Good luck trolls have made their mark on pop culture in TV shows, movies, music, and more since the 1960s:
Television
- The Monkees – Featured in various episodes in the 1960s.
- That ’70s Show – Red gifts Kitty a good luck troll in a 1999 episode.
- Unsolved Mysteries – 1997 episode on Thomas Dam, troll creator.
- Roseanne – Leon gives Roseanne a troll in a 1996 episode.
- Gilmore Girls – Rory decorates her dorm room with vintage trolls.
Movies
- Toy Story – Launches 1990s revival with a cameo.
- Austin Powers – Powers suggestively calls Felicity Shagwell his “little troll” in 1999.
- Elf – Buddy decorates Gimbels’ toy department with trolls in 2003.
- Inside Out – Troll dolls among imaginary boyfriend choices representing joy.
- Troll – 1986 fantasy horror film.
Music
- The Damned – Punk band named after troll creator.
- MC Serch – Rapper called himself “bad luck troll” in song “Back to the Grill.”
- Kesha – 2010s pop hit “Take It Off” references dancing “like a good luck troll.”
- Katy Perry – “Dark Horse” lyric “She’s a beast, I call her Karma, She eats your heart out, Like Jeffrey Dahmer” was revised to “She’ll eat your heart out, Like a good luck troll” for radio edit.
Good luck trolls remain a cute, kitschy symbol of the 1960s and 90s in modern pop culture.
Good Luck Trolls Today
After their immense popularity in the 1960s, 1990s, and early 2000s, good luck trolls saw declining interest over 2010s. However, classic troll fans remain loyal collectors.
In 2016, DreamWorks released an animated movie Trolls based loosely on the dolls. It focused on more modern, stylized troll designs but renewed some interest in the retro toys. There are plans for a Trolls sequel.
Today, vintage shops, thrift stores, flea markets, and online auction sites like eBay offer collectors a chance to buy old trolls from past decades. The original Dam Things brand relaunched in 2017 with reproductions of classic Danish troll designs that replicate the retro look and feel.
Though no longer the massive phenomenon they once were, good luck trolls remain an iconic symbol of 20th century toy fads andpop culture. With their eternally goofy grins and bright neon hair, trolls seem destined to keep spreading luck for many more decades.