The Retrospective Series: 'How to Train Your Dragon 2'

With the final installment hitting our screens soon, I of course had to revisit the previous How to Train Your Dragon films. I may be in the minority here in that my mind always casts back to the sequel and not Hiccup's first outing. The first film was great and introduced a pair of love-able protagonists, however How to Train Your Dragon 2 is not just a better film but a lesson in how to produce a sequel.

For a film aimed towards younger audiences, writer and director Dean DeBlois treats the viewers with maturity and respect. He has publicly stated that his inspiration was The Empire Strikes Back, not in terms of plot twists but in emotional depth and world-building. It's fair to say DeBlois succeeded in those areas. The five year time jump was a great way to naturally show change in the characters and the world since the first film. Berk is now a paradise for dragons and relationships have evolved even more so since the ending of How to Train Your Dragon. Hiccup and Astrid are in a committed relationship, Stoick is so proud of his son now that he is training Hiccup to become chief of the village and the rest of the gang are facing hormonal changes. These developments that begun behind the scenes and are now happening on screen makes the world more organic and believable. They're also presented in a way that isn't too heavy handed, even though there are a couple of not-too-subtle lines that make sure the younger audiences understand.

Another mature aspect done right is the relationship between Stoick and Valka, who after 20 years have finally been reunited. Even with the short timeframe that arc is given within the film, it still has an emotional punch and is executed beautifully. DeBlois' writing and Cate Blanchett's performance portrays Valka's guilt and regret wonderfully whilst Stoick shows a vulnerable side we haven't seen yet, especially with Gerard Butler's delivery of a single powerful line. All of this is showcased in their first scene together. Valka goes through a range of emotions; blaming Stoick for not changing, apologising for leaving him to raise their son alone and finally pleading for a reaction. Stoick on the other hand only knows that he is in love with his wife and can't believe she is still alive. It is a simple but raw scene. Carrying over into their next scene where they prepare a meal is surprisingly effective too. As much as Stoick is delighted to have his love back, Valka still needs time. A lot can happen and change over 20 years and this fact is a lovely addition to their story. Yes, everyone rekindles after a splendid musical number but the arc is still there. Note too, how Hiccup reacts with shock and delight to his parents relationship and how his father actually has a vulnerable side. Stoick and Valka's relationship directly feeds into Hiccup's coming-of-age story.

All of this leads to the big second act plot point and game-changer for Hiccup, the death of his father. For a mainstream blockbuster aimed at children to tackle death, especially with a character as important as Stoick, it is commendably brave of the team for doing so. It works too, acting as a catalyst of change for several characters but also reminding the families in the audience the stakes at hand and how consequences are real in this vibrant world; much like our own. We grow more attached to our characters as there is the real threat of losing them.

All of these topics and themes explored in the film are all part of Hiccup's journey growing up. This film carries on the coming-of-age story from the first film but the characters have matured a little, much like its audience. No doubt the final film will have even more challenging issues for its young audience but it serves as a great lesson to learn alongside Hiccup.

Aside from the animation looking even more stunning than the previous film and the set-pieces bigger and better, How to Train Your Dragon 2 works because it expands from the story before—both in terms of character arcs and the themes explored that still tie to the coming-of-age journey of the entire trilogy. In these times where Disney has dwarfed Dreamwork's Animation with their own animated features, superheroes and Jedis, I can see why this series may go under-the-radar for most mainstream cinema-goers but those who hold Hiccup and Toothless close to their hearts have been rewarded with some engaging films that really do soar.