Dragons have a bad reputation!
In popular media they’re usually portrayed as grumpy fire breathing nuisances. Not the most admired of mythical beasts, barely a fantasy film goes by without one being hunted down or mauling innocent bystanders. From Harry Potter to the latest Hobbit film they can’t seemed to get a break. So when DreamWorks released, How to Train Your Dragon’finally it seemed that our scaly friends would receive some well deserved friendly treatment. The result is a brilliant family film that demonstrates that dragons have clearly been misunderstood.
The film is based on a series of books of the same name by English author Cressida Cowell. Although the setting and basic plot are the same the film has merged many of the characters and used its own plot. The books are all based on a particular teaching with this film being the opening story of gaining a dragons trust and learning how to fly.
With any CGI animation the comparison will always be to Pixar. As a company, they have pushed CGI to new heights and dominate the animation field every year with their release. DreamWorks have produced twice the amount of films as Pixar but are always seen as inferior in both style and story. With How to Train Your Dragon you have the best DreamWorks film since the original Shrek and one of the few that can rival Pixar for its brilliant animation.
The animators have taken real time and care to create, not just the wonderful and detailed characters, but the landscape of Berk. The animation contrasts the rustic Viking village with incredible aerial sequences when Toothless and Hiccup take to the skies. The sea looks real crashing onto the rocks and the clouds make you want your own dragon tour of the sky.
Equally as detailed are the many inhabitants of Berk. Each character demonstrates individual movement styles and facial expressions unique to them. The best of the animation is saved for its two leads, Hiccup and Toothless. In Toothless you have the cutest and most adorable dragon ever animated. Like an enthusiastic puppy, he demonstrates happiness, curiosity, mischief as well as fear and initial mistrust. It is a testament to good animation if you can tell what a character is thinking and feeling even if they can’t talk. Like Hiccup you fall in love with the misunderstood creature and want your own pet dragon.
Despite all the fun, the film does have a strong moral centre. Hiccup was raised to believe that dragons are the enemy. The Viking way of life is passed down and based on their eternal struggle to defeat dragon kind. In Toothless, Hiccup relises that books should never been judged by their covers. All creatures deserve a chance which Hiccup and Toothless give one other.
One strange quirk of the film is the wide variety of accents used. With voice actors that are a mixture of Scottish and American its a little all over the place. It doesn’t detract from the enjoyment of the film but just something for Dreamworks to consider in the future. Still Baruchel shines as Hiccup, infusing the young Viking with humour, awkwardness and eventual heroics.
A great animation for the whole family. The only DreamWorks film to rival Shrek in terms of story and the only one to rival Pixar for its animation. Be reminded why we all really love dragons and get ready for more Toothless cuteness with the release of How to Train Your Dragon 2. I only hope that DreamWorks have put more effort into this sequel than their previous efforts, (cough Shrek 2, 3 and 4 anyone).