Hug Fest

"Hug Fest" is the second segment of the 3rd episode of the sixth season of Trolls: The Beat Goes On!, and the 69th overall episode in the series. It premiered on April 9, 2019.
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Branch dreads going on the Big Squeeze ride at Hug Fest, while Biggie has trouble retrieving Mr. Dinkles from a prize booth.
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Poppy and Branch are on their way to the Hug Fest, and Poppy is hyping up the event. Branch questions how Hug Fest could be different from other events, but changes his mind when he sees that it is a theme park with rides, games and attractions. Branch states he is in, but his affection levels are low. The entrance fee is 25 hugs each to get in, which alarms him, but Poppy has a coupon - for 50 hugs.
Moments later, they are in the park and Branch is recovering from the hugging. Poppy points to a ride named "The Big Squeeze", which is a tall tower that takes two Trolls to the top before bungee-cording them down to the ground and pulling them back up. The ride scares Branch, who suggests to save the ride for later and they do other things first. He runs off with her.
At the same time, Guy Diamond and Biggie are discussing which ride to go on when Biggie notices Mr. Dinkles is gone. Biggie hears him, but it turns out to be Gemma Fur with a doll that looks like him. Gemma points to a games booth that Tug Duluth is manning, where dolls of Mr. Dinkles can be won; among the dolls is the real Mr. Dinkles. Biggie tries to convince Tug to give him his pet worm, but due to the fact he has been mistaken for a prize, Biggie must win him back. Tug activates a Ring Toss level and Gemma immediately wins a game and gets another doll. Biggie tries the same game with Guy hyping up his pitch, but the ring doesn't stay hooked. Next. he tries Hug-A-Troll. but Biggie is too slow to hug any of the three cut-out Trolls and Tug states Biggie is not improving.
Elsewhere, Branch and Poppy attend a concert of H.U.G.G., a retired group consisting of King Peppy, Mags Gumdrop, Dr. Moonbloom and Sky Toronto. As they watch, Branch gets tossed Peppy's medallion and wonders why they split up. Then Peppy does a split and hurts his back.
Back at Tug's game booth, Biggie now tries a shoot at a water gun game, but he still has no luck and Guy continues to hype up the event.
Branch is overloaded with Hug Fest gear and has spent all day avoiding the Big Squeeze. To delay it more, he goes to a food venue and asks for the thing that takes the longest to it. The cook hands him a massive ball of various things that makes him loose his appetite and upon hearing it Poppy pulls him towards the ride as he tries to change his mind.
There is one prize left in Tug's booth as Gemma Fur takes away the last Mr. Dinkles doll, leaving only Biggie's pet worm as the last prize. Biggie has to win this next game or all his efforts will be for nothing. Tug reveals the last game as a basketball shoot.
At the Big Squeeze, Branch tries to make out that he doesn't meet the height requirement. Then Poppy realizes Branch is scared of the ride. He tries to hide it but Poppy is not buying it. He finally confesses to being terrified of it and Poppy says it is okay as so is she. Though she has ridden it numerous times, being scared is part of the fun. She takes his hand and says she will go on it with him and then pulls him to the ride before he can change his mind.
At the basketball shoot, Biggie has Guy hype up the shot as he tosses it. Poppy and Branch, meanwhile, board the ride which sends them quickly to the top. Biggie takes his shot and it hits the ring. Branch and Poppy hang at the top and Branch gives a worried expression. Biggie and Guy get excited as the ball starts to fall into the hoop. Branch and Poppy are dropped from the top of the ride.
As both Biggie's ball and the pair drop, the ball is too big for the hoop that it gets stuck and Poppy asks Branch if he is still scared. He says "yes", but is enjoying himself. As he is pulled up his medallion from H.U.G.G. falls off and Biggie's ball as Biggie woes over losing. The ball falls through he hoop and thus Biggie wins back Mr. Dinkles. Guy concludes Biggie's story with a happy ending, while Branch admits the ride is less scary with Poppy, and thus the two ride The Big Squeeze again.
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;Trolls
*Amanda Leighton as Queen Poppy
*Skylar Astin as Branch
*David Fynn as Biggie
*Sean T. Krishnan as Guy Diamond
*David Kaye as King Peppy
*Alexa Kahn as Tug Duluth
*Gary Cole as Sky Toronto
*Kari Wahlgren as Mags Gumdrop and Bella Brightly
*Fryda Wolff as Dr. Moonbloom, Gemma Fur, Satin & Chenille and Gia Grooves
*Matt Lowe as Creek
*Rachel Bloom as Cybil
;Other
*David Fynn as Mr. Dinkles
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*"H.U.G.G.ed (H.U.G.G. Reunion Song)"
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This episode is available on the "Trolls: The Beat Goes On! - Complete Seasons 5-8" DVD.
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*The episode's title is a play on "hugfest", a slang term for an event when someone is overwhelmed with the joy and emotion to hug everyone around them.
*This episode is the inspiration behind the "Dump the Grump" toy. Nowhere does Branch get dumped in water, though. Satin's "Sweet Treats" stand also appears to be inspired by this episode, but the twins only appear briefly in the episode; the toys likely reference cut storylines.
*The story with Poppy and Branch is part of their relationship arc.
*A storyboard for the Big Squeeze sequence was put up online.http://yaronfarkashart.blogspot.com/p/trolls-3_26.html?m=1
*"The Big Squeeze" would be seen again in the Trolls: TrollsTopia episodes "Rhythm & the Blues", "My Dinner with Dante" (flashback only) and "Hair-aldine: The Musical".
*The titular Hug Fest event would later return in the Trolls: TrollsTopia episode "Val Serves Murray Duty" making the first time that an event re-appeared in the 2D animated series.
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Category:Episodes
Category:Trolls: The Beat Goes On! episodes
Category:TBGO Season 6 episodes
Category:Holiday Themed Episodes
Category:2D animation