Dive into the fascinating world of "How to Train Your Dragon" as we uncover surprising secrets behind the beloved animated film. From Toothless' unique design to unexpected creative choices, this countdown reveals the magic and hidden stories that brought this epic adventure to life.
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00:00Everything we know about you guys is wrong.
00:03Welcome to WatchMojo.
00:05And today we're counting down our picks for unique things about
00:08How to Train Your Dragon that you probably didn't know.
00:11I just happened to notice the book had nothing on Night Furies.
00:14Is there like another book or a sequel?
00:17Maybe a little Night Fury pamphlet?
00:20Number 10.
00:21Based on a book.
00:22Before Hiccup's story soared onto the big screen,
00:25it first came to life in Cressida Cowell's 2003 novel.
00:30The starting point for my books was imagining a real,
00:34a viking world in which dragons really were real.
00:38And then I get very inspired also by people I know.
00:42I suppose I shouldn't say who they are.
00:44While DreamWorks' adaptation and the book differ in many ways,
00:48they share core ideas, characters, and themes.
00:52Both are set in a fictional viking world and follow Hiccup's heroic journey.
00:56I brought breakfast.
00:57I hope, I hope you're hungry.
01:01Okay, that's disgusting.
01:03Uh, we've got some salmon, some nice Icelandic cod, and a whole smoked eel.
01:09Fans of both narrative media may have noticed that the book caters more to a younger audience,
01:14while the animated film takes a broader approach.
01:17This shift was intentional as directors Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders
01:22aimed to create an animation that resonated with a more mature audience.
01:26A decision that paid off.
01:27The film won hearts, launched a highly successful trilogy,
01:31and even received Cowell's enthusiastic approval.
01:34I absolutely love the film, so I am very happy that they're making three of them.
01:39Number nine, DreamWorks' first teen protagonist.
01:43DreamWorks has created plenty of fascinating characters,
01:46but Hiccup is widely regarded as its first teenage protagonist.
01:50Oh, come on, let me out, please.
01:52I need to make my mark.
01:53Oh, you've made plenty of marks, all in the wrong places.
01:57Others before him, like Shrek and Poe,
01:59were either adults or non-human characters with unclear ages.
02:03About 15 years old when the film started, Hiccup's unlike anyone in his Viking village.
02:08Despite being the son of the mighty Stoick, he's often ridiculed.
02:12You're thinking about this all wrong.
02:14It's not so much what you look like, it's what's inside that he can't stand.
02:20Thank you for summing that up.
02:21But that's precisely what makes this underdog story so endearing.
02:25We watch him grow from a terrified, awkward boy
02:28into someone who changed everything by daring to be different.
02:31Anyone who has looked into Hiccup's voice actor
02:34will notice striking similarities between Hiccup and Jay Baruchel.
02:38It's almost as if they're one in the same,
02:40though Hiccup's traits draw inspiration from others, too.
02:43Okay, so are we done?
02:45Because I've got some things I need to, uh, yep.
02:49See you tomorrow.
02:50Number 8. Toothless' Size Is Changed.
02:54To bring their ideas to life, Sanders and DeBlois had to do more than storyline changes.
02:59One of the biggest alterations they made is Toothless' size and design.
03:12In the book, the Burke's boys visit a dragon nest to find their dragons.
03:16After giving up his first, Hiccup ended up with Toothless,
03:20a green, iguana-sized dragon small enough to perch on his arm.
03:23For the film, the directors enlarged Toothless to make it more menacing,
03:28rideable, and rare.
03:31With their unique design, Toothless became a mix between a panther and salamander,
03:36and was also transformed into the Night Fury.
03:39Still, it retained those big, innocent eyes
03:42and a special bond with Hiccup that made their friendship so adorable.
03:50Number 7. Toothless Is A Combination Of Many Animals.
03:54The more you learn about Hiccup's loyal companion and the creativity behind its creation,
03:59the more impressive it becomes.
04:09To design a creature that felt rare yet relatable,
04:11the animators let their imagination run wild.
04:14Look closely and you'll notice that Toothless looks like a combination of a cat,
04:18giant salamander, and panther, far from the traditional-looking dragon.
04:22At times, he even behaves like a dog.
04:29That's because the animators drew inspiration from a variety of animals like horses,
04:33snakes, kangaroos, dogs, and even more unusual ones.
04:37How cool is that? It's no wonder Toothless is so unique and amazing,
04:42with that extra pet-like touch.
04:44Even more fascinating is the fact that the animators attended
04:47flight school to perfect its breathtaking flight sequences.
04:57Number 6. The Touch Scene And Other Mistakes.
05:00Before Hiccup and Toothless formed their unbreakable bond,
05:03there was some level of distrust between the two.
05:06One of the most memorable moments reflecting their gradual bonding is the touch scene,
05:10where Toothless hesitates as Hiccup tries to touch him.
05:15This was actually an animation error, but since it worked so well,
05:22the filmmakers decided to keep it.
05:24Another powerful moment that began as an error is the scene
05:26where Hiccup celebrates capturing Toothless.
05:29Oh, I did it! This fixes everything! Yes! I have brought down this mighty beast!
05:35As Hiccup approaches, the camera pans over Toothless's closed eyes,
05:40which instantly open, creating a chilling yet beautiful shot.
05:44Also, the heartwarming gift of the Night Fury scene,
05:47where Hiccup attaches a new tail for his buddy,
05:49came to life after an animator experimented with his own cat.
05:53No, no, no! Toothless, stop! Please wait! Toothless, please!
05:56Number 5. Terrible Terror Inspired By A Dog.
06:00Toothless would have been a tiny green-colored dragon if the directors
06:03hadn't decided to make him larger.
06:05While he was spared from looking like a terrible terror,
06:08we still get to see these feisty, pint-sized pranksters in the film.
06:12Meet the terrible terror!
06:16It's like the size of a-
06:19They're more of a nuisance and comic relief of the dragon world.
06:23Small but mighty, you don't want to mess with them.
06:25Their yappy sound is spot-on Chihuahua,
06:28which makes sense since that was the source of inspiration.
06:37The animal responsible for these troublemakers' sound is none other than a Chihuahua named
06:41Paco, discovered by the film's sound designer on YouTube.
06:44Allegedly, Paco was paid $100 for lending its voice to the film.
06:49Isn't that adorable?
06:56Number 4. The Hippo Cameo.
06:58It's not uncommon for franchises to drop cameos or references to other works,
07:03and DreamWorks did just that in How to Train Your Dragon.
07:06All right, I admit it. This is pretty cool. It's amazing.
07:13This easter egg occurs during a really dark scene,
07:15so not everyone will catch the cameo of the hippo Gloria.
07:19It happens during Astrid's excursion on Toothless,
07:22when he suddenly joins a flock of dragons headed to the dragon's nest.
07:26What's going on?
07:27I don't know.
07:28Among them, one deadly dragon bears what looks like a cow,
07:31but if you pause, you'll see it's actually a hippo.
07:34The animators confirmed in the film commentary
07:37that it's none other than poor Gloria from Madagascar.
07:40This subtle reference may raise questions whether
07:43HTTYD and Madagascar share the same universe,
07:47but it's likely just DreamWorks' way of keeping viewers intrigued.
07:50Astrid, we have to think this through carefully.
07:52Number 3. Directed and Written by Lilo & Stitch Directors.
07:57Before Sanders and DeBlois took the reins,
07:59How to Train Your Dragon was headed in a different direction,
08:02aiming for a more faithful adaptation.
08:05Nice of you to join the party.
08:06I thought you'd been carried off.
08:08Who, me?
08:09No, come on.
08:10This would have resulted in a version that appealed mostly to a younger audience,
08:14but when Sanders and DeBlois came on board,
08:16they changed the game,
08:17creating a film as heartwarming and rare as Lilo & Stitch.
08:21Hi.
08:24Hi.
08:27Wow.
08:28So if you've ever wondered why Toothless resembles Stitch,
08:31it's because the same creative minds worked on both films.
08:34The directors were part of Disney when Lilo & Stitch was released in 2002,
08:38but reportedly began working for DreamWorks in 2008.
08:42Now it makes sense why Toothless and Stitch share similar vibe and look,
08:46from their melon-shaped head and big eyes to their huge hearts.
08:51He's beautiful.
08:56Oh, incredible.
08:58Oh.
09:00He might very well be the last of his kind.
09:02Oh, and look, he's your age.
09:06Wow.
09:07No wonder you get along so well.
09:09Number two, Astrid is different in the book.
09:12One character that adds more depth to the story doesn't really exist in the book.
09:16Well, she does, but under a different name, and her story arc is different.
09:22Astrid.
09:24In the book, Hiccup has no clearly defined love interest.
09:27Instead, there's Kamikaze, one of Hiccup's friends,
09:30who's fierce and proud, much like Astrid.
09:33She also owns Stormfly, just like Astrid.
09:36However, the directors chose to enrich Astrid's character
09:39by giving her a stronger connection to Hiccup,
09:42which we must admit was a smart move.
09:44What are you gonna do about it?
09:48Probably something stupid.
09:50Good, but you've already done that.
09:53Then something crazy.
09:55That's more like it.
09:57Her development aligns better with the film's tone.
10:00It's truly amazing how she evolves from Hiccup's rival to his friend,
10:04and eventually falls in love with him.
10:05The film simply wouldn't be the same without their bond.
10:08See?
10:10I told you it was in here.
10:11Ha ha ha!
10:13You're still doing that one.
10:15That's hilarious.
10:17Come here, you.
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10:361. Hiccup the Dragon Slayer
10:39In this beloved animated film, dragons are initially seen as enemies,
10:43and the goal of the Vikings of Berk is to destroy them.
10:46The only problems are the pests.
10:49You see, most places have mice or mosquitoes.
10:54We have...
10:58dragons.
11:01Most people would leave.
11:02Not us.
11:03We're Vikings.
11:04We have stubbornness issues.
11:07Some tales, including Hiccup's mom's flashback,
11:10reveal a long-standing war between them.
11:12However, while many Vikings talk about wiping out these creatures,
11:16it's Hiccup who can't bring himself to harm one.
11:18I wouldn't kill him because he looked as frightened as I was.
11:23I looked at him and I saw myself.
11:26This happens at the end of the first film,
11:28where Hiccup faces off against the terrifying Red Death.
11:31Though it's Toothless's fire that ultimately defeats the bad dragon,
11:35it's Hiccup's bravery that spurs them into action, making the victory possible.
11:39Together, both Rider and Dragon deserve credit for being the true heroes of the film.
11:45He's alive.
11:46You brought him back alive.
11:56What do you think is the most heartwarming moment in the How to Train Your Dragon films?
12:01Let us know in the comments.
12:02What you're searching for isn't out there, Hiccup.
12:07It's in here.
12:10Maybe you just don't see it yet.
12:13Maybe.
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