Gnomes and Trolls: The Secret Chamber (2008) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The story unfolds in a dense forest inhabited by gnomes, centered around a tree-house laboratory where Junior invents his gizmos. The adventure expands to include the gnome village and ultimately leads to a perilous troll cave where the stolen food rations are hidden. The setting contrasts cozy woodland life with underground danger.

• forest
• gnome village
• troll cave
• tree-house
• setting

Gnomes live in a tree-house laboratory setting within a dense forest, with Junior spending his time inventing gizmos and gadgets. The forest serves as their community home, while the underground troll cave represents the contrasting realm of threat and danger.

• gnomes
• forest
• tree-house
• woodland
• community

Junior is a teenage gnome who loves inventing gizmos in his tree-house laboratory. He serves as the story's young protagonist who must balance his passion for innovation with his family's expectations. His inventive skills become essential for protecting the forest community when trolls steal the food rations.

• Junior
• gnome
• inventor
• protagonist
• gadgets

Jalle is the head gnome of the forest and Junior's father. He wants Junior to follow in his footsteps and someday lead his own part of the woods, embodying tradition and family duty. His practical nature and protective stance toward gnome traditions create the central tension with his son's inventive ambitions.

• Jalle
• father
• head gnome
• tradition
• leadership

The trolls consist of Fassa, the patriarch who schemes to steal gnome food rations, and his two sons Face and Slim who carry out the theft. They reside in an underground cave that represents danger and conflict for the gnome community. Their plan drives the quest narrative.

• trolls
• Fassa
• Face
• Slim
• antagonists
• cave

Sneaky is Junior's best friend, a crow who starts as paranoid but evolves into a brave ally during the quest to recover the stolen food. He navigates dangerous paths with wry wit and growing courage, and his journey reveals how anxiety can transform into resourceful bravery.

• Sneaky
• crow
• friend
• bravery
• ally

The film explores how Junior's passion for inventing gizmos can serve a greater good. His creativity becomes a protective tool for the community when danger threatens the forest. The quest demonstrates that innovation and tradition can work together rather than being in conflict.

• invention
• creativity
• innovation
• gadgets
• problem-solving

Courage emerges as a central theme through Sneaky's transformation from a paranoid crow into a brave ally. The film shows that bravery often hides within those who seem fearful, and courage develops when friends unite against common threats.

• courage
• bravery
• fear
• Sneaky
• personal growth

Family and duty drive much of the drama through the tension between Jalle's wish for Junior to lead the forest and Junior's desire to pursue his inventing passion. Svea, Junior's mother, represents emotional support within gnome family life. The film frames family as the foundation that shapes choices and resilience.

• family
• duty
• Jalle
• Svea
• tradition
• parents

Svea is Junior's mother, voiced by Lill Lindfors. She embodies gnome family life and reveals dimensions of being a gnome wife, offering emotional support and adding depth to the forest community. Her presence highlights the family-centered themes of the story.

• Svea
• mother
• family
• support
• gnome

The movie has a whimsical, family-friendly tone with comedic fairy tale elements. The forest setting, gnome and troll characters, and focus on quirky inventions create an adventurous yet lighthearted atmosphere. It follows a straightforward hero's journey with a happy ending focused on personal growth.

• tone
• style
• whimsical
• family-friendly
• adventure
• comedy

The central conflict arises when trolls steal the gnomes' food rations on the eve of the first winter storm. This theft forces Junior to leave his tree-house laboratory and embark on a quest to retrieve the food, bringing the gnome and troll worlds into direct opposition.

• conflict
• food
• trolls
• quest
• stolen rations