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How to Train Your Dragon (2010) | A Coming-of-Age Fantasy Beyond Stereotypes
If you were a young Viking raised with the expectation of becoming a dragon slayer, you might not expect to become the ultimate expert on training dragons. Yet this is precisely what’s written in the destiny of Hiccup, an uncool guy who will find his way to rule over his people.
On the other hand, if you were the most dangerous dragon, you might not expect to be the one who would destroy the prejudice about your species. Yet this is precisely what’s written in the destiny of Toothless, a feared creature who will become the first mythological pet.
How to Train Your Dragon, produced by DreamWorks Animation in 2010, is an animated fantasy film directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois. Based on the children’s book series of the same name by British author Cressida Cowell, it became the first entry in a highly successful franchise. The film spawned two sequels, a TV series, and video games, proving that dragons are a nearly inexhaustible trope in storytelling. But there’s more. Amid the widespread popularity of remakes, DeBlois wrote and directed a live-action remake released in cinemas in June 2025.
One might not expect an animated film about one of the most exploited creatures to add anything unique to the genre. Yet, How to Train Your Dragon does precisely that, surprising audiences with two somewhat clumsy protagonists and a new chapter in dragon history.
- Unconventional Techniques for Unconventional Vikings
- How to Shape a Historical Fantasy
- The Allure of the Beast
- As a New, Inclusive Myth
Unconventional Techniques for Unconventional Vikings
Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III (voiced by Jay Baruchel) is the insecure, thin teenage son of Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler), the chieftain of the Viking village of Berk. His people used to fight and kill dragons because they often attacked their homes and livestock. However, Hiccup is too weak to fight, so most consider him a terrible Viking. With the support of a special mechanical device, he hits one of the most dangerous and rare dragons, a Night Fury, but only injures it. Hiccup tries to finish the dragon off, but pity stops him. He spent enough time with the dragon to realize that it was not so dangerous, but rather intelligent and friendly. Since the beast has retractable teeth, Hiccup names him Toothless and spends much time studying the creature.
After his father enrolls him in dragon-fighting class, Hiccup proves to be able to stop dragons by communicating with them. Everyone is astonished, including Astrid (America Ferrera), the fascinating shield maiden he has a crush on. As she follows him, she discovers his secret, and Toothless leads them to find the dragons’ one. For this most unpredictable trio, it’s just the beginning of a rebellion against an already written destiny—a journey to learn from each other, the subtle art of changing their world through compassion.
How to Shape a Historical Fantasy
DreamWorks Animation began considering an adaptation of Cowell’s saga in 2004, but the producers deemed the story too juvenile. Years later, Sander and DeBlois (who had previously worked together on Lilo & Stitch) took over the direction of How to Train Your Dragon. They changed some original plot traits to make the story more engaging for various audiences. Moreover, by transforming their flaws into strengths, the characters reveal maturity and growth, which is lacking in the novel.
The two filmmakers wanted the CGI animation to resemble live-action films as closely as possible. To achieve this, they enlisted the help of cinematographer Roger Deakins, who often collaborated with the Coen brothers. In an interview with The New York Times, Deakins discussed how he aimed to recreate natural lighting. He placed shadows and empty spaces at the edges of environments to create a sense of reality. While working on Toothless, he took inspiration from panthers. He added big, expressive eyes because he wanted Toothless to look more like a mammal than other dragons, enhancing his expressivity and empathy towards him.
There’s such a temptation to see everything, especially in animation. And I think part of my influence was to go away from that and say you don’t always have to see everything. If the film has one element in it, it’s a lot of darkness.
Roger Deakins
John Powell composed a score that also links to a realistic Nordic context. He extensively uses drums and brass to echo the battle, interwoven with soft strings, typical of Celtic music. He also included tracks with Scottish bagpipes, Irish penny whistles that immediately evoke folk music, and sometimes an epic sound. Lastly, to give it a final Scandinavian touch, Jónsi, a member of Sigur Rós, performed a song for the end credits.
The Allure of the Beast
The Great North and its folk traditions have been charming people for a long time. How to Train Your Dragon attracts viewers thanks to its setting amid myths, sailing explorations, animated feasts, and wars. The film reflects the adventurous and festive spirit attributed to the Vikings, albeit in a family-friendly manner that hides the most violent aspects of their culture. There are also references to Norse gods and legends that encourage immersion in the historical context. Three years later, the allure of the Great North found its most significant expression in the TV show Vikings, which portrays the same elements in a more adult (and cruelly realistic) way. However, the most immediate link to folk traditions doesn’t lie in the setting, but rather in the co-protagonist: a dragon.
Dragons are among the most recurring beasts in folk stories, as well as in fantasy literature and cinema. They have undergone a profound transformation, evolving from the embodiment of terror to allies and symbols of power. In HBO’s Game of Thrones, Daenerys owes most of her power to the fact that she’s the “Mother of Dragons”. Black and terrific as Toothless (although much more terrible), Drogon is a fire-breathing monster and a loyal ally to his rider. Yet, while other stories chose how those beasts’ role in the narrative, How to Train Your Dragon shows the whole evolution. Toothless starts as a creature that only a great warrior could kill, but becomes Hiccup’s pet and gets his revenge on those who didn’t believe in him. His whole species finds redemption in a new life alongside the feared humans.
As a New, Inclusive Myth
At the 83rd Academy Awards, How to Train Your Dragon received nominations for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Score. Among the many awards won are 10 Annie Awards and the Most Creative 3D Film of the Year award at the 67th Venice International Film Festival. The live-action remake that premiered in June 2025 generated great expectations. However, as Brian Tellerico pointed out in his review for Roger Ebert, its main strength lies in its resemblance to the original animated feature. Modern technology has had unimaginable effects since 2010, yet the animated film still seems more realistic. Paradoxically, the 3D animation appears much more true to life and flawless than today’s special effects on real actors and locations. Consequently, the audience can easily focus on the plot and forget about the fictional aspect, as with ancient legends.
Like many myths, How to Train Your Dragon doesn’t create a new world. On the contrary, it uses famous contexts and topics, such as the allure of the Great North and the longing for adventure, to tell a story of rebirth. Hiccup and Toothless, despite being weak and injured, take on leading roles and challenge solid beliefs. It’s a tender fairy tale and an adventurous coming-of-age story about the rebirth of two marginalized characters. Again, there’s nothing new here; instead, it’s an old (and always current) theme: never judge something by its appearance without knowing it. And yet, like an old myth, people want to hear (or see) the story even though they already know how it ends.
If you were the protagonist of your adventure, you might not expect to become friends with the monster you should kill. Yet this is precisely what’s written in the destiny of the greatest heroes: they can find the most surprising happy ending from an unexpected situation.
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