How to Train Your Dragon is a 2010 American computer-animated action fantasy film loosely based on the 2003 book of the same name by British author Cressida Cowell, produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures. The film was directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois from a screenplay by Will Davies and DeBlois, and stars the voices of Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, T. J. Miller, and Kristen Wiig. The story takes place in a mythical Viking world where a young Viking teenager named Hiccup aspires to follow his tribe’s tradition of becoming a dragon slayer. After finally capturing his first dragon, and with his chance at last of gaining the tribe’s acceptance, he finds that he no longer wants to kill the dragon and instead befriends it.
The film was released on March 26, 2010, and grossed nearly $500 million worldwide on a $165 million budget. It received generally positive reviews from critics and audiences, becoming DreamWorks’ highest-grossing film at the domestic box office. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Score at the 83rd Academy Awards, but lost to Toy Story 3 and The Social Network respectively.
A sequel, How to Train Your Dragon 2, was released on June 13, 2014. Another sequel, How to Train Your Dragon 3: The Hidden World, was released on February 22, 2019.
How to Train Your Dragon (2010): Plot
The movie begins with a young Viking boy named Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel) who lives on the island of Berk. As part of his tribe’s tradition, he must kill a dragon in order to prove his worthiness as a warrior. However, when he finally encounters one, he instead uses his smarts to trap it. He then takes it back to his village, where he keeps it as a pet and names it Toothless.
While Hiccup is busy trying to train Toothless, the rest of the village is under constant attack from dragons. The chief of the tribe, Stoick the Vast (voiced by Gerard Butler), decides that they need to find out what’s attracting the dragons to Berk in the first place. Hiccup, who has been designing new ways to kill dragons, comes up with a plan to use Toothless to help them find the dragons’ nest.
The plan works, and they are able to destroy the dragons’ nest.
However, during the battle, Toothless is injured and Hiccup is captured by the dragon-riding Vikings of the island of Berk. He is brought before their leader, Gothi (voiced by Cate Blanchett), who decides that he must fight Toothless in order to prove himself worthy of being a Viking.
Hiccup is about to be killed when Toothless intervenes and saves him. The two then escape back to Berk. Hiccup is hailed as a hero and is accepted into the tribe. He then sets out to find a way to stop the dragons from attacking Berk once and for all.
With the help of Toothless, Hiccup discovers that the dragons are only attacking because they are afraid of something. He then comes up with a plan to use a fake dragon to scare them away. The plan works and the dragons are no longer a threat to Berk.
Hiccup and Toothless then return to their village where they live happily ever after.
How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)
In “How to Train Your Dragon 2”, the long-awaited sequel to the Academy Award-nominated original film, five years have passed since Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) and Toothless first changed the world of dragons and Vikings forever. Now, they spend their time exploring new lands and expanding the dragon utopia they created.
How to Train Your Dragon 2 picks up five years after the first movie left off. The Vikings of Berk and their dragons are now enjoying a life of peace and harmony. But when a new threat, an evil dragon hunter named Drago, arrives on the scene, it’s up to Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) and Toothless to stop him.
Drago is a ruthless dragon hunter who wants nothing more than to enslave all of the dragons in the world. When he arrives in Berk, he quickly sets his sights on Toothless, the most powerful dragon around. Hiccup and the other Vikings must put their differences aside and work together to stop Drago before it’s too late.
How to Train Your Dragon 2 is a thrilling, action-packed sequel that will leave you on the edge of your seat. The animation is gorgeous, and the story is heartwarming and exciting. If you’re a fan of the first movie, you’ll love this one just as much.
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019)
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019) is an American 3D computer-animated fantasy action film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Universal Pictures, based on the book series of the same name by Cressida Cowell. It is a sequel to How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014). The film was released on February 22, 2019.
In the third installment of the How to Train Your Dragon franchise, Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) and Toothless discover a hidden world of dragons. As they try to stop an evil dragon hunter from taking over the planet, they must also protect their own way of life.
The film stars the voice cast of Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, T.J. Miller, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Kristen Wiig, and F. Murray Abraham, with the addition of Cate Blanchett and Gerard Butler.
The film was directed by Dean DeBlois, who also wrote and co-produced the film, The Hidden World continues the story of Hiccup (Baruchel) and his dragon Toothless five years after the events of the previous installment. Now 20 years old, Hiccup has become the chief and ruler of Berk alongside Astrid (Ferrera). During one flight, both discover a hidden cave that houses hundreds of wild dragons. And once again meet their old enemy Drago Bludvist (Mintz-Plasse). Who now wants to capture every dragon for himself.
To protect them from Drago, Hiccup searches for the “Hidden World”.
A mythical paradise for dragons that his late father Stoick told him about long ago. If he can find it, perhaps he can finally keep his friends safe.
The film was first hinted at in 2010, following the release of How to Train Your Dragon. With the 20th Century Fox logo from that film having a dragonslayer riding on the back of Toothless. The sequel was officially announced in 2012. DeBlois had originally planned for the third film to be released in 2016. But due to creative differences with former DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg. Who wanted a more action-packed finale similar to that of How to Train Your Dragon 2. He pushed the release date back to 2017 and eventually 2019.
The new logo for the film was unveiled at the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con International, along with the first footage from the film. The trailer was released on June 7, 2018 and the film was released on February 22, 2019 in US.
Short Films
The franchise also contains five short films:
- Legend of the Boneknapper Dragon (2010),
- Book of Dragons (2010),
- Gift of the Night Fury (2011),
- Dawn of the Dragon Racers (2014) and
- How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming (2019).
Legend of the Boneknapper Dragon (2010)
“Legend of the Boneknapper Dragon” is a 2010 direct-to-video animated film based on the “How to Train Your Dragon” book series by Cressida Cowell. It was released in the United States on October 19, 2010.
The film follows Hiccup and his friends as they search for a fabled dragon that is said to have the ability to steal bones. Along the way, they must contend with danger and challenges, both from the dragon and from each other. Can they find the dragon before it’s too late?
The film features the voice talents of Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, T.J. Miller, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse. It was directed by Chris Sanders and DeBlois, and written by Will Davies.”Legend of the Boneknapper Dragon” received mixed reviews from critics. However, its visuals and voice acting were praised. The film grossed $12 million worldwide.
Book of Dragons (2010)
The Book of Dragons is a 2010 television film based on the 2003 book The DRAGON Chronicles by Cara D. Briggs. It was directed by Paul Matthews and stars Jay Baruchel, Jesse Eisenberg, and Jennifer Morrison. The film follows the story of Ord (Baruchel), a young dragon who attempts to stop an evil king from enslaving all dragons.
The Book of Dragons was released on December 5, 2010, in the United States. It received mixed reviews from critics and was a ratings success for its network, The Hub.
Ord, a young dragon, is the new recruit for The Dragon Academy. He is eager to learn everything about dragons and become a great dragon rider like his idol, Bowen (Eisenberg). However, when an evil king named Johnathan (Morrison) attacks the kingdom with an army of dragons. Ord must put aside his dreams and help save the dragons from enslavement.
The Book of Dragons is a heartwarming story about friendship, courage, and determination.
Jay Baruchel and Jesse Eisenberg give outstanding vocal performances as Ord and Bowen respectively. Jennifer Morrison also does a great job as the villainous Johnathan. The animation is colorful and vibrant, and the action scenes are exciting.
The film has a positive message about believing in yourself and working hard to achieve your goals. It is a great film for the whole family to enjoy.
The Book of Dragons is available on DVD and Blu-ray.
Gift of the Night Fury (2011)
The dragons of Berk are under attack by a mysterious force, and it’s up to Hiccup and Toothless to discover the source. When they finally find the culprit, they must put their differences aside to save their village.
“Gift of the Night Fury” is a 2011 computer-animated short film based on the “How to Train Your Dragon” franchise. It was directed by Tom Owens and written by Simon Otto.
The short focuses on Hiccup and Toothless as they work together to figure out who has been stealing dragons from Berk. Along the way, the two discover a new threat to their village.
“Gift of the Night Fury” was released on DVD and Blu-ray on November 15, 2011, in North America. It was also included as a bonus feature on the “How to Train Your Dragon 2” Blu-ray and DVD release. Critical response to the short was overwhelmingly positive. Critics praised the animation, story, and characters.
“Gift of the Night Fury” was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. It lost to Pixar’s “La Luna.”
Dawn of the Dragon Racers (2014)
With stunning visuals and thrilling action, Dawn of the Dragon Racers was an exciting new chapter in the How to Train Your Dragon saga that will leave you breathless. So buckle up and get ready for some high-flying fun!
Dragons are some of the most popular creatures in fantasy stories, and they have been a part of the How to Train Your Dragon franchise since the very beginning. In the third film in the series, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, we finally got to see what happened to all of the dragons that were captured by the evil dragon hunter Grimmel (F. Murray Abraham).
It turns out that they were taken to a hidden dragon sanctuary called the Island of Berk.
This is where Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) and Toothless first meet Valka (Cate Blanchett), Hiccup’s long-lost mother who has been living with dragons for 20 years.
Valka is hesitant to let Hiccup and Toothless enter the island, but she eventually relents. She takes them to meet the dragons that live there, including a massive dragon called the Bewilderbeast. This is the Alpha Dragon, and it is able to control all of the other dragons on the island.
The Bewilderbeast is a peaceful creature, but Grimmel has other plans for it. He wants to use its power to control all of the dragons in the world. And to create an army that will do his bidding.
Hiccup and Toothless must stop Grimmel before he can achieve his diabolical plan. Along the way, they will also discover new friends and allies, as well as a surprising secret about Toothless.
How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming (2019).
How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming is a 2019 American computer-animated short film directed by Tim Johnson and written by Simon Otto. It is a sequel to the 2010 film How to Train Your Dragon and the 2014 film How to Train Your Dragon 2, taking place between the latter two films. The short stars Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, F. Murray Abraham, Cate Blanchett, and Jonah Hill.
The plot follows Hiccup (Baruchel) as he returns home to Berk after spending several years away exploring new worlds with his dragon, Toothless. However, Berk has changed in his absence, and Hiccup must now find a way to fit in with the new status quo.
How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming was released on December 3, 2019, as part of the DreamWorks Shorts program. It received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its animation and humor.
Final Words
As mentioned earlier, How to Train Your Dragon is a highly successful film that has managed to entertain and engage viewers of all ages. It’s exciting, funny, and has some great messages about family, friendship, and working together. The animation is top-notch, and the voice acting is terrific. If you’re looking for a fun movie to watch with your family or friends, How to Train Your Dragon is definitely worth checking out. Thanks for reading!