Let’s dive into it.
‘How To Train Your Dragon’ is a beloved franchise that started as a series of books from Cressida Cowell, then a trilogy of animated films and several mini animated series on Netflix.
When the first How To Train Your Dragon film released in March of 2010, I was 9. I was the prime age and like many, I was mesmerised and I stand by it was one of the best soundtracks of any film ever. The flight sequence. BEAUTIFUL!
In the wake of many disappointing Disney live-action adaptations Dreamworks has finally joined the bandwagon and only 14 years after the release of the original film, we are getting a live action remake of the film. Here is your moment to go watch the trailer for ‘How To Train Your Dragon’ live action and gather your own opinion.
You’ve watched it?
Good.
I give every live action the benefit of the doubt, usually I do not think they are necessary, especially if the original holds up well. I am looking at you Aladdin and Lion King. But I like to watch before I make an opinion. The same can be applied for ‘How To Train Your Dragon’, no judgement at the announcement other than it making me feel really old at 23.
From the trailer and the clips of behind the scenes I have seen, this remake is being made with love. Love for the originals, the characters and the world. With the same director and writer as the originals, Dean DeBlois, I have faith that the world I love is in the hands of someone who is proven to be good at working with it. There are some returning key voice actors returning to play their characters in the live action, Gerald Butler returning as Stoick the Vast, with the costume, beard and makeup truly becomes Stoick. The cast looks really good, even though I am raising an eyebrows at the identical twins not being twins but they’ve apparently put in jokes throughout the film about the twins not being twins, so at least the film is aware. The trailer mainly shows Mason Thames as Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, the emotion and physicality looks to be there, bringing an animated character to life is hard but he looks to be doing a pretty good job. I do miss Hiccup’s nasally voice that Jay Baruchel gave Hiccup that the character is so synonymous with but Mason Thames voice fits this version of Hiccup. Repeating ‘I am a viking’ isn’t for comedy but for really trying to make himself believe that he could kill a dragon. It adds tension that in the animated film wasn’t there because we knew Hiccup wasn’t going to. The acting choice with these young teenage actors is already looking to pay off.
Let’s talk about the CGI. Toothless looks like Toothless. I was terrified of a Sonic the Hedgehog movie original version type problem. But that is Toothless, without a doubt. In the teaser trailer we get a very brief glimpse of the other dragons species but in all their various colours, Gronckles (Fishlegs’ dragon), Deadly Nadders (Astrid’s dragon), Hiddeous Zipplebacks (the twins) and the Monstrous Nightmares (Snotlout’s dragon) are all very clear to see even in the fast paced moments. I am hoping we get glimpses of even more species of dragons from the books in the live action but so far only the classic 5 including Toothless the Night Fury are clear to see in the trailer.
I would like a raise to be given to everyone who worked on locations, set design, props and costumes because OH BOY they put the work in. Every place and character looks pulled straight from the animation, down to every detail. The viking shields and boats to the sleeve on Hiccup’s clothes. The animation accurate detail is all there. I appreciate how much of the visual detail they have gone for in the props and set designs. The small knife Hiccup plans to kill Toothless with looks identical to the animation, they didn’t try to give him anything bigger or make it darker. The forests are bright greens and the small silver knife still looks tiny and like it would do very little damage to a dragon.
So far everything is very positive. It’s okay I am going to ruin it. What is this live action adaption adding? That’s all I keep thinking, from where I’m sat it is going to be so faithful to the original that almost shot for shot the trailer looks identical just not animated. Which usually would be a good thing but with the dedication they’ve given to getting the sets, costumes and casting spot on I don’t know why I wouldn’t just watch the animated original. It’s feels like a strange thing to feel unsure about when all the positives are that this remake is being made with a love for the original and the story. The trilogy of How to Train Your Dragon animated films only finished in 2019. That’s about 6 years ago. What I think I’m getting at is, it looks good, like really good but it feels a bit soon to be remaking the trilogy.
This is a pivotal scene. It’s part of Toothless trusting Hiccup moment. If they didn’t make it similar there would be uproar but I’ve watched the teaser trailer at least 25 times now and there are so many moments where it looks shot for shot identical. Which is great but, it’s been 14 years, 15 years by the time this releases in June 2025. That’s not long enough ago to be matching it shot for shot.
Overall, I think there are many reason to be excited about this remake. Not something that we can say very often. It being made with dedication and love to the original, but if you love the original, from this trailer, I can’t see anything that it’s adding. But it’s a 2 minute teaser trailer. I am teased. They’ve got my attention and I’m looking forward to seeing more about it. But right now I am struggling to see why this is being made already. I love How to Train Your Dragon and the franchise so I will probably be watching it, and visually it is STUNNING, as I said give the costume and set people all of the awards. Whether this becomes a must see like it’s predecessor is yet to be decided.
What do you think?
How soon is too soon to remake a film?
