We asked Hilda fans on X (formerly Twitter) for their burning Hilda and Twig related questions… and there were plenty of them! We rounded up some of the most popular topics and asked Hilda creator Luke Pearson for his thoughts! Read on for Luke’s answers and don’t forget to order your copy of Hilda and Twig: Hide from the Rain!
Luke’s answers are written in blue, and the original questions from fans are in italics.
Hi Luke! We’d love to hear about your personal favourites from the Hilda and Twig universe, including your favourite character, favourite panels to draw, and how this new series came to be:
“I’d love to know from Luke: among all the creatures in Hilda, which would you consider to be your most favourite (and which creature was conceptualized the earliest when making the series)? :0” –@furashuban
The Nisse might be my favourite. They’re certainly my favourite to draw. I think the earliest creature I designed was probably the troll from Hildafolk, which I believe predates Twig. I can remember having a pretty strong image in mind of trolls with creepy staring eyes and long, straight, skinny noses. Actually, I’m going to immediately correct myself and say it was the Wood Man. I think I might have drawn him before Hilda was even a thing.
“What did he like best about writing this new Hilda book?” – @cwalke00
I had a lot of fun being able to give a new dimension to Twig and playing with his dynamic with Hilda in a different way. I also enjoyed getting to strip everything back and essentially return to the original starting point of the series and characters.
“Most favourite panel Pearson drew.” – @ll0ydz5r0
My favourite panel overall is the one of Trundle kicking down the wall in The Mountain King. In this new book I’m quite fond of the panel where Twig initially finds the mysterious mound (which is also the first image I drew for the book).
We received a LOT of questions regarding Hilda’s age, as well as the time period and geographical setting Hilda exists in. Could you shed light on these? If you have chosen to be deliberately non-specific, we would love to hear how you think that adds to the experience of enjoying Hilda.
“Will we ever get to know Hilda’s last name, as well as her birthday? Additionally, in the animated series, there are numbers next to Hilda’s signatures. Do these numbers stand for years, which confirms that the whole show took place around 1987-1989 in Hilda’s timeline?” – @thathartleykat
I never came up with a last name for Hilda and at this point I think it’s too late. Coming up with something and pretending like it was always that way feels weird. During early production of the tv series I think some names were floated around, but everything sounded wrong or goofy to me so I nixed the idea. I justify it by telling myself that Tintin doesn’t have a surname. I realise it may be irritating to some though.
“This comic takes place in a specific time like the 80s or is it something to be interpreted freely?” – @rockman0shadow
It’s to be interpreted how you want. Andy (director of the show) may have had a more concrete idea regarding the series being set in the 80’s. I’ve had different thoughts at different times throughout the comic. I looked at 70’s/80’s reference for clothes and vehicles to start with, but at some point the aesthetic of Trolberg and its citizens just became something I felt out as I went along. It’s in a non-specific not too distant nostalgic past that is pre-mobile phones. That’s about the extent of it. (I’m fully prepared for someone to point out a drawing I did of someone using a mobile phone.)
“In what year does Hilda play and where does it play. In a Scandinavian region?” – @birb_was_taken
The way I imagine it is it takes place somewhere in Scandinavia in an alternate universe. As if it corresponds to the real world but we’re through one of the portals in the His Dark Materials universe. Or something equivalent to that.
We loved this question about the future of the characters in Hilda. While this question was about the Netflix series, we’re keen to know what you might imagine for them in general.
“If the series finale had a 10-year timeskip ending, what could you have put? Hilda and an adult Twig being a famous adventurer and publisher, Frida becomes a professional witch and runs the library, David becomes an entomologist, etc.” – @usernames056
These are all good thoughts. I have my own thoughts but I’m not going to elaborate as I’d love to actually explore something like that one day in the future.
A question about… Hilda’s fashion choices!
“I’ve always wondered what’s with Hilda’s hat? Was it a gift from a family member? Or was it just included purely as an artistic choice?” – @reyGGTV
In the words of Maz Kanata, a good story for another time.
Fans around the world are hoping to hear more about Hilda and Twig, straight from you, the creator. Can you tell us about any upcoming events?
“Do you plan on doing some more meet and greets outside of the UK like Canada or the US?” – @CaseyCaln
There is nothing planned as of this minute, but I’d love to! I’ll keep my eyes peeled for invites.
And now for a deep, philosophical question to finish on!
Ok in Hilda and the Midnight Giant, Jorgen was the last ancient Giant to protect the humans/ Earth from outer threats. Now that he left Earth with his Girlfriend Illus, is the humans/ planet Earth now doomed without a giant protector? – @renkencen
Yes, it definitely might be… We’ll just have to hope that Hilda hasn’t retired from her adventuring and meddling ways by the time any of those mysterious threats present themselves.
Thanks for answering our questions, Luke! We can’t wait for Hilda and Twig: Hide from the Rain, to be out in the world this November!
Hilda and Twig: Hide from the Rain
by Luke Pearson
Hilda and Twig would never let a bit of rain get in the way of an adventure, but it’s different when your forest exploration is interrupted by a BIG storm.
Sheltering in a mysterious mound in the earth, Twig quickly realises that trouble is afoot, and that his best blue-haired friend is in danger. Unfortunately, he’s never really thought of himself as the brave one, but it looks like he’s going to have to step up and save Hilda from a whole load of big, scaly trouble! Dive into this magical comic as we follow our lovable pair on a soggy adventure.