Keeper of the Bell

The real name of this character is currently unknown

The **Keeper of the Bell** (real name unknown) is a minor character featured in the Hilda TV series and Hilda Tie-In Series. He is in charge of manning one of the many bell towers that are build into the wall around Trolberg. The character does not appear in the graphic novels.

## Appearance

The Bellkeeper is an adult man with black hair, small bluish streaks at the end of his hair, a mustache, and a beard. He is seen wearing a yellow overcoat over his Trolberg Safety Patrol uniform.

## Biography

### Animated series

The keeper has been manning the bell towers around Trolberg for several years. He is the last bellkeeper that is still on duty around the time of the series, and up until "Chapter 6: The Old Bells of Trolberg" he never had a reason to interact with the bells.

The keeper is first seen in "Chapter 1: The Troll Circle" when Erik Ahlberg, Gerda Gustav, and Hilda visit his bell tower during a safety inspection. They find him not at his station, as he was off for a walk. When questioned about trolls in the area, he admits that the night before he saw a troll near the wall, that took his sandwich after he accidentally dropped it. Erik is not happy to hear that a troll came this close to the wall, and the keeper didn't ring the bell. He reminds the man to ring the bell next time.

In "Chapter 6: The Old Bells of Trolberg", Erik Ahlberg tries to have all the belltowers automated by installing mechanical bellringers in each one of them, starting with the tower manned by the keeper. The Keeper, who knows that this will cost him his job, and that Ahlberg's plan will do more harm than good in the long run, secretly helps Hilda and her friends to sabotage the system by letting her into the main control room, where they overload the bells by putting them all on maximum volume. The plan succeeds and the mechanical bellringers are all destroyed. At the end of the episode, the Bellkeeper is back in his belltower, enjoying the returned peace and quietness.

He is last seen in "Chapter 8: The Fairy Isle", where he bumps into Anders during the Bird Parade.

### Novelization

The events from "Chapter 6: The Old Bells of Trolberg" are also adapted into the novel "Hilda and the Time Worm". Here, Hilda and the bellkeeper first meet after Hilda helps a startled Woff get back up from the ground, but the Woff accidentally drags Hilda along when he flies away. Hilda is forced to jump off the Woff's back, and is caught by the bellkeeper.

Like in the animated series, the Bellkeeper secretly helps Hilda sabotage the mechanical bellringers later in the story. He is not seen again after these events.

## Trivia

* According to director Andy Coyle, the Bellkeeper was intended to appear in the Mountain King movie. He would be the one training David's mother in the tower and seeing Hilda run to the gates. He also would be the one fleeing from the tower when the rock was being thrown at the tower, instead of David. He was cut from the film, because the animation team thought it was too much to bring the voice actor back for a few sentences and since his role in the previous season was too small. He was replaced by David.
* There was a popular theory among fans that the keeper of the bell is a relative of Hilda in some way, because of the blue streaks in his hair. Many thought as her uncle or father. With the release of "Hilda and the Faratok Tree", this theory has officially been proven false. The scene in Chapter 8: The Fairy Isle where Hilda's father Anders bumps into him was likely meant as a nod to this theory.

## Appearances

**Animated series**

* Chapter 1: The Troll Circle
* Chapter 6: The Old Bells of Trolberg
* Chapter 8: The Fairy Isle

**Novelization**

* Hilda and the Time Worm

## Gallery

In the novelizationEarly concept designs by Megan FergusonThe Bell Keeper appears in the seriesAs seen in Hilda's World: A guide to Trolberg, the wilderness, and beyondBumping into Anders.

## References

1. ↑ Making Hilda and the Mountain King, Full Interview with Director Andy Coyle and AD Megan Ferguson - YouTube

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