Character Concept History[]
Design
- Her design is mostly inspired by Punk Rock.
- Barb is likely based on the "Russ Rainbow Troll" series Troll doll which is also known as the "Punk Rock Troll", though this remains unconfirmed. This isn't the first time a specific Troll doll had inspired the creation of a Troll, as Cooper was based on a giraffe doll from an animal Troll line.
- Barb's hair, both in style and color, is also similar to a hairstyle once worn by Kelly Osbourne, the daughter of Ozzy Osbourne, who voices Barb's father, King Thrash.
- Barb's appearance is quite reminiscent to a bat. Some of her concept designs included more bat-like features, some with bat wings.
- In profile, the shape of her head remembers a member of the Gorillaz animated band, or Tank Girl, another Jamie Hewlett design. Compared to the average troll design, her nose is placed higher on her face, and her mouth is more forward.
- A Gorillaz song, Clint Eastwood, was featured in the first film.
- When designing her, the concept designers went for a rebellious young woman archetypical of her genre.
- They noted that they were surprised they got away with giving her fishnet stockings.
A lot of the cut content shows Barb was originally a lot more agressive and reckless then her final movie portrayal. For example, in the cut version of Crazy Train, she smashed into Riff's drumset, essentially destroying it. When the plot of the movie changed from her being jealous of Pop to her conquest of all genres, so did Barb change alongside it. In her Victory Concert, all Trolls were left in shackles and chains instead of just placed in the arena. Overall, Barb was toned down in the final version and was made a more mellowedly aggressive character. There has been no explanation why the overhaul of her character took place.
Other
Barb often makes a sneer to the right side of her face when she smiles. This ostensibly stems from the famous "Elvis Sneer," a famous facial trait of Elvis Presley, which has often been referenced in popular media related to Rock music. Rock artists in popular media sneer rather than smile to achieve an aesthetic of rebellion and toughness.
Concept Art[]
3D Story[]
Pre-Trolls World Tour[]
Barb is from the Rock Kingdom, also known as Volcano Rock City. Just before the events of Trolls World Tour, her father King Thrash retired due to his accelerating age, as well as deteriorating physical and mental conditions. Barb succeeded him to become the Queen of Rock, thus making her the current leader of the Rock Trolls.
She was given the red Rock string to look after and protect. However, not long into her reign she set out in Trolls World Tour to find and capture the other 5 Strings, after her father gave the idea to her.
Trolls World Tour[]
She attacked the Techno Trolls in Techno Reef and took the Techno String from them, abducting their entire tribe to Volcano Rock City. She also sent propaganda messages to the other Tribes telling them that she was holding a concert and that each had to bring their String to her.
After taking the Classical Trolls' String from Trollzart at Symphonyville and bringing all Trolls there to Volcano Rock city, Debbie returned from the Pop Trolls. She had been given a makeover by Queen Poppy, to the distress of Barb. Barb is perplexed as the response from Poppy states she wants to be friends with Barb, but she's unconvinced that's possible as friendship takes time. She then goes into a fit of rage after Poppy included a glitter bomb in the message, which proceeded to go off in Barb's face to Riff's horror. Barb is further angered when her father begins to sing the lyrics of the song also included in the message. She manages to bring him back, but the act of messing with her father is the final straw.
Barb called in bounty hunters Chaz, Tresillo and his Reggaeton Trolls, The K-Pop Gang and Yodellers, though the latter didn't show up. She offers to spare the music of and give a small territory to whomever brings her Poppy. Barb is confident that the Yodellers, despite not showing, will be the ones who find Poppy.
Offscreen, and after Poppy, Biggie and Branch left Lonesome Flats, Barb took the Country String from Delta Dawn and the Country Trolls. They too would be taken to Volcano Rock City like the other Trolls.
She then arrived at Vibe City to get the Funk String from King Quincy and Queen Essence of the Funk Trolls. Riff goes on ahead and cuts the power to the lights, leaving the Trolls in darkness. Unknown to Barb, as they attack Poppy, Branch and their new friend Hickory are just leaving, having been sent on their way by Cooper. All Funk Trolls are also gathered up and taken to Volcano Rock City.
At some point, she also attacked Pop Village, taking all Trolls except Guy Diamond, Tiny Diamond, Legsly, Satin & Chenille, who managed to hide in time. The rest of the Pop Trolls were taken to Volcano Rock City.
Barb finally catches Queen Poppy when the Yodellers reveal themselves and Dickory gets Hickory to start yodelling. This attracts Barb's attention, which leads not only to Poppy's capture, but her String taken from her. When Barb meets Poppy, she's not impressed by whom she meets, viewing her as a "Popsqueak" because she's 1 centimeter shorter than her, and realizing she never had anything to worry about the entire time. Through the time Poppy is captured, Barb mocks her, asking her if being her best friend is everything she wants to be.
Poppy is taken to Volcano Rock City, where she's put on display in a cage as the "worst" of the other Tribal leaders. When Barb shows up to the concert, she's joined onstage by Biggie and the Pop Trolls she missed, but their disguises fool her and Barb doesn't click that they aren't Rock Trolls. As Barb goes to play the Ultimate Power Chord on her new guitar, Branch appears in Sheila Balloon along with the K-Pop Gang and Tresillo. He drops a 400-page manual on Barb's head; even though this temporarily stops her, she continues. To protect Poppy, Branch throws himself in front of Barb, and thus becomes the first Rock zombie.
With Branch now a Rock zombie, she converts all other leaders to Rock zombies. When she returns to Poppy, she has escaped her cage but Barb has Branch use his hair to hold her in place while she's hit by the guitar. Poppy appears as though she is converted, and Barb hands Poppy the guitar to convert the remaining leaders' family members King Peppy, Cooper and Prince D to Rock zombies as an act of cruelty against them. However, Poppy reveals that she's not actually a zombie, and used gumdrops to avoid being converted fully. Poppy tells her that everything she's doing is wrong, to which point Riff chimes in by asking how anyone would know that they're cool if everyone was the same. Poppy puts Barb on the spot by telling her that a good queen should listen to her subjects, forcing Barb to have to ignore or consider what Riff just said.
To stop Barb, Poppy smashes the guitar, which frees all the Rock zombies, but also destroys the Strings and all music, turning all Trolls grey in the process. Barb is distraught by the loss of the Strings, and that rock music has been destroyed; she then scornfully puts the blame on Poppy and her tribe for ruining her plans and destroying all music. But soon after, the Funk Princes produce music, and the Trolls start to realize they don't need the Strings anymore. Barb turns to her father, who tells her just to let everyone be what they want to be, including herself. Soon, Barb is the last grey Troll as everyone has joined in with song, adding their own touch to it. Near the end of the song, Barb finally caves in and can't resist, joining in as Poppy hands her her old guitar. As she plays, her hair grows and becomes rainbow-colored, joined shortly by Poppy, whose hair also becomes rainbow-like.
When the song ends, Poppy asks Barb if she finally wants to be friends for real, to which Barb finally accepts. The Trolls went to Pop Village for a victory party, and celebrated being one united nation again.
Trolls: Holiday in Harmony[]
Barb along with Riff and Val Thundershock are Rock Trolls who participate in the holiday celebration in Pop Village. She also comments that Poppy must've been pressured for trying to please Branch. She bought a gift for Mr. Dinkles, but she had no idea who Mr. Dinkles is, until Poppy informs her that he is Biggie's pet, which she finds the fact awesome. It is later revealed during the gift swap that the gift she bought for Mr. Dinkles is a hat.
2D Story[]
Trolls: TrollsTopia[]
Barb sent Val Thundershock as ambassador of the Hard Rock Trolls. She continues her friendship with Poppy and is mentioned in several episodes.
Trolls Scrapbook Stories[]
Barb felt guilty about her actions in Trolls World Tour, and apparently went on a "Sorry about turning everyone into Hard Rock Zombies" tour to atone for them, taking Val with her.
According to the shorts, Barb regularly visits Poppy, bringing Debbie with her whenever she does.