Director: Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders Starring: voices of Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill Running Time: 1 hour, 38 minutes Theatrical Release: March 26, 2010 Shop for How to Train Your Dragon Merchandise

Plot Summary

Meet Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, heir of the Viking chiefdom, but a boy with one very big problem: a hero he is not. “How to Train Your Dragon” is the riotous story of Hiccup’s quest to hunt down the fiercest dragon, bring it into submission, and – hopefully – pass his initiation. Instead, he ends up with the smallest, most ornery dragon – it’s even toothless! Thus begins the hijinx of the world’s most lovable, unlikely hero and a most reluctant “beast.” Packed with energetic drawings and plenty of action, this boisterous tale is just right for fantasy fans or anyone with a spirit of adventure. Based on the book by Cressida Cowell. (from MovieWeb.com)

Film Review

Ever since its debut, DreamWorks Animation has had to ride the coattails of Disney and Pixar, being compared to the successful animation studios with every project. As Pixar churns out favorite after favorite among critics and movie goers alike, DreamWorks’ productions – for the most part – have still managed to find their way into the hearts of many film fans. Still, certain projects like 2008′s Kung Fu Panda for example, have upped the ante a bit, while the studio will probably forever be associated with the hit-or-miss Shrek franchise as well. But this year, the oddly titled How To Train Your Dragon (but it’s based on a book) just may change everything for the animation studio.

One thing that DreamWorks has missed as a whole has been the grand, epic scale and feel that Pixar and Disney have been able to achieve. Up was saturated to overflowing with heart, and heart is something DreamWorks seems to only dabble in, while placing its focus on entertainment. And oftentimes, DreamWorks won’t shy away from crass humor or even toying with mild profanities, to the point of riding the line of being child-friendly at all. Enter How To Train Your Dragon. The story focuses on a teenage pseudo-viking who is trying to find his place among his people. Named Hiccup, the boy is an inventor of sorts who feels like he’s missing out on the viking heroism of fighting fearsome dragons, and while trying to prove his worth, he knocks one of the most legendary of dragons out of the sky — the Night Fury. He tracks down the dragon in hopes to slay it and prove he’s worthy of his viking kind, but realizes he doesn’t have the guts to do it. Hiccup soon befriends the Night Fury, naming him “Toothless,” and his view of the fierce beasts is forever changed. The story is filled with action, humor, and breathtaking visuals — something that the 3D elements actually beefs up a little bit (but isn’t entirely necessary). When we are treated to some sequences of soaring through the sky, it really adds to the magestic feel the filmmakers are trying to portray.

And it’s partly the visuals that give the picture a grandiose, epic feel (not the added 3D feature, that is). The big, “epic” visuals are a bit reminiscent of the recent phenomenon that was Avatar, but in a much more family-oriented fantastical way. There’s an element to How To Train Your Dragon that sort of harkens back to the 80′s fantasy features. A lot of the vikings are “larger than life” while the teenage characters ground the story enough for the audience. And those characters are teenage enough without alienating adults or even younger kids. Hiccup makes a great central underdog, while his peers are obnoxious enough to be foes but charming enough to become inevitable friends. Gerard Butler revisits the world of dragons (anyone remember him in Reign Of Fire with Christian Bale?), but this time as the quintessential viking. Some of the first scenes to really display the incredible animation detail involve his character Stoick alongside Gobber (voiced wonderfully by late night personality Craig Ferguson) conversing in a moonlit room. And to add to the impressiveness of the film’s animation, the DreamWorks team even matched Butler’s unique speech pattern perfectly, right down to matching the way his mouth moves when he speaks in real life! It’s elements like that – the attention to little details – that help strengthen an already impressive production.

There’s plenty of action to accompany the humor in How To Train Your Dragon as well. The dragons range from pretty intense and menacing to cute and lovable. The greatest amount of attention is put into the main dragon, Toothless, and it’s really difficult not to find your heart won over by this creature. The writers and animation team load him up with a wealth of personality, so it’s hard not to get wrapped up in the story and characters. There are some tense family elements between Hiccup and his father, but it’s nothing that gets too overwhelming. However, the film’s biggest issue may be the intensity of the dragons and some of the action sequences. A lot of the dragons can be pretty intimidating and monstrous – particularly for younger children. So I wouldn’t run out to this one thinking it’s fun for the whole family. The rating specifies “scary images” for a pretty good reason.

However, the “mild language” wasn’t necessarily as bad as it sounds. Astrid says “son of a…” and finished it with the name of some kind of creature, while Stoick comments at one point that “all hell will break loose.” Other than those two instances, it didn’t seem like any other language was used (otherwise their Scottish accents made it difficult to tell). Lastly, there is some violence – like dragons spitting fire at characters, carrying off livestock for food, and a behemoth of a creature attacking vikings. We also see dragons kept in captivity,

[[Visit blog to check out this spoiler]]

There is also lots of talk about killing dragons and Gobber shares a story about how he lost his hand and his foot to dragons (he has a peg leg and a hook for a hand). But out of all the violence, I was actually surprised there didn’t appear to be any focus on actually visually killing dragons or vikings. It’s mostly talked about in past tense or intent, but never seen. So I was surprised there weren’t random killings of characters left and right or significant dragon death sequences or anything – even shown off screen. There seemed to be a lot more lethal violence in Kung Fu Panda, like when Tai Lung escapes for example, and I was pleasantly surprised to see DreamWorks avoided included anything remotely like that here (which makes it a little more kid friendly and eases up the intensity of how menacing the dragons and vikings can be).

I was really impressed with what DreamWorks brought to the table with How To Train Your Dragon. It’s exciting, unique, and captivating from start to finish. The voice acting is solid and the animation is top notch. I’d love to see the studio crank out more productions of this quality. I even enjoyed it a lot more than last year’s Pixar effort, Up, and the impressive but ultimately overrated Avatar. If it weren’t for the fact Toy Story 3 is releasing in just a few short months, I’d jump to stating that this is likely to be the best animated movie of the year. But regardless, it’s seems pretty safe to say it’s a must-see!

Coinciding with the release of DreamWorks’ latest animated adventure, How to Train Your Dragon, is the cross-platform video game which continues the story that unfolds on the big screen. The gameplay centers around customizing your fleet of dragons and pitting them against other players in battle.

Below is a new teaser trailer showcasing in-game action.

You can pre-order your copy of the game now for the March 23 ship date.

Santa Monica, CA – February 19, 2010 – Activision has teamed up with DreamWorks Animation to bring you an all-new adventure game based on the upcoming How to Train Your Dragon movie. The game shares the name with the movie and allows players to create their very own dragons and train them for battle. The game ships next month for PS3, Xbox 360, Wii and DS.

Based on the upcoming film from DreamWorks Animation, the How to Train Your Dragon video game launches gamers into a third-person action-adventure as a Viking hero where they must embark upon an epic quest to become the ultimate dragon trainer. Gamers can play as characters “Hiccup” or Astrid” on the vast Island of Berk, which features expanded locales from the film including Vikings’ Village, Wild Zone, Training Zone and Fight Arena. In this truly larger-than-life adventure, players will train dragons, explore environments and battle in prestigious dragon tournaments as they battle for Viking victory. Plus, gamers can become the Dragon hero of their living room as they square-off with friends and family in endless head-to-head multi-player combat!

KEY GAMEPLAY FEATURES:

• Create Your Very Own Dragon – The “Create Your Dragon” feature allows players to customize six different types of dragons, providing virtually unending combinations of ways to modify your dragon’s appearance.
• Train your Dragon for Battle – “Level Up” your dragon’s speed, power, fire and other abilities through intense training to face the critical Viking challenge of becoming the ultimate dragon trainer. Then use your arsenal of trained dragons to battle friends in a variety of unique environments.
• Pick up Where the Movie Left Off – Players enjoy an all-new post-movie adventure as they jump into battle as their favorite characters. Explore the picturesque Island of Berk as Hiccup or Astrid in Adventure Mode or experience fierce battle action in Arena Mode as you fight for your crown as ultimate dragon warrior.
• Head-to-Head Multiplayer Mode – Arcade mode allows friends to select their dream team of four individually customized dragons or dragons chosen from the arcade roster, then jump in and battle against each other. In addition to Astrid and Hiccup, additional characters are playable in Multiplayer Mode including Tuffnut T., Ruffnut T., Fishlegs, and Snotlout.
• Mini-Games – Mini games include Ice Sculpting, Looping Race, Flying Sheppard, Memory Torch, and Puzzle Dragon. Excelling in Mini-Games earns players experience points toward leveling up your dragon, winning gold and other items to help care for dragons.

Additional screenshots can be seen here courtesy of Planet XBOX 360.

Source(s):
Activision Announces How to Train Your Dragon: The Game [Planet XBOX 360]

DreamWorks Animation has released a new featurette promoting their How to Train Your Dragon 3D adventure releasing next month. This latest clip has late-night talk show host, Craig Ferguson, narrating the training procedures for defeating/avoiding 6 different dragon species.

Lesson 1: Deadly Nadder – It is flighty, aggressive, and has a quick and explosive temper. It’s vanity is evident in the generous amounts of time it spends preening itself.

Lesson 2: Gronckle – It is relentless, stubborn, and direct like a compact berserker rhino, yet very loyal to it’s rider.

Lesson 3: Monstrous Nightmare – Violent, stubborn, and tenacious. In battle, it’s the first to arrive and the last to leave.

Lesson 4: Hideous Zippleback – This evasive, devious dragon can be a very slithery and tricky opponent. Its two heads can work in tandem, (when they want to), to outsmart and attack any foe.

Lesson 5: Night Fury -Reclusive, analytical, inventive and the most intelligent of the known dragon species.

Lesson 6: Terrible Terror – Inquisitive and curious animals, their only downfall is their territorial in-fighting.

Source(s):
New ‘Shutter Island,’ ‘Wonderland’ & ‘Train Your Dragon’ Featurettes [Screen Rant]
How to Train Your Dragon (Official Site)

Last week a partnership between DreamWorks Animation and NBC was announced that would bring several How to Train Your Dragon promos to air prior to, and during, the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Finally I am able to post a few of the original TV spots. (will add more as they become available).

The entire series is narrated by Emmy Award-nominated late-night talk show host, Craig Ferguson and directed by Tim Johnson, Executive Producer of How to Train Your Dragon. Featuring the characters from the feature film as they compete in humorous variations of the “Dragon/Viking” sports from the mythical Viking Games of 1010, the custom vignettes include competitions such as snowboarding, speed skating, bobsledding and ski jumping.

Image courtesy of newscom

BENTONVILLE, Ark., Feb. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (Nasdaq: DWA) and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) announce today the first of many elements to come from Walmart’s involvement with the studio on its
upcoming feature film, “How to Train Your Dragon,” which enters theaters on
March 26, 2010.

The first major announcement made today at the New York Toy Fair is the launch
of a new licensed toy line for DreamWorks Animation’s “How to Train Your
Dragon.” The toy line, created by Spin Master Ltd., will be available at Walmart
stores everywhere on March 1, 2010, and will feature a fun-filled collection of
action figures and dragons, Viking play sets, and role play toys based on the
new animated film.

“It was a year ago this month at Toy Fair when Walmart, DreamWorks Animation and
Spin Master first came together to discuss the possibility of creating an
exclusive line of toys around this film,” said Laura Phillips, vice president of
Toys, Walmart U.S. “We are excited to bring the family adventure to life through
play, and moms will be excited by the great quality and value that we are
offering.”

“We believe kids will identify with the adventure-filled world and the
interesting characters of ‘How to Train Your Dragon,’ which has now been
captured in this engaging new toy line-up from Spin Master and Walmart,” said
Kerry Phelan, head of Worldwide Consumer Products for DreamWorks Animation.
“Walmart’s commitment to encouraging kids to relive the movie and create their
own dragon and Viking adventures is unparalleled.”

The “How to Train Your Dragon”toys will range from $5 to $30 and will include:

– Viking and Dragon Character Packs
– Feature-Based Action Dragons
– Battle and Collapse Play sets
– Hiccup’s “Dragon Battling Sword”
– Viking Battle Pack Role Play Pieces
– Flying Dragon Toys
– Roaring Plush Dragons
– Dragon Eggs and “Active Volcano” Play sets

“Children love to role play their favorite characters and adventures, and we set
out to develop a toy line that captures the fun, fantasy and excitement of the
‘How To Train Your Dragon’ movie so imaginatively created by DreamWorks
Animation,” said Mark Sullivan, executive vice president, Spin Master Ltd. “By
engaging Walmart’s expert knowledge of consumer toy trends, we feel that we have
created a toy line that will complement the movie to the enjoyment of kids and
families alike.”

About “How to Train Your Dragon”

Set in the mythical world of burly Vikings and wild dragons, and based on the
book by Cressida Cowell, “How to Train Your Dragon” tells the story of Hiccup, a
Viking teenager who doesn’t exactly fit in with his tribe’s long-standing
tradition of heroic dragon slayers. Hiccup’s world is turned upside down when he
encounters a dragon that challenges him and his fellow Vikings to see the world
from an entirely different point of view.

In case you haven’t had a chance to see the FOX Business “American Icon” series spotlighting DreamWorks Animation, I have listed 3 short segments below featuring reporter Liz Claman giving us a peak into the work involved with producing the upcoming How to Train Your Dragon.

• Dreamworks CTO on Creating 3-D Animations – Dreamworks CTO Ed Leonard on using technology to help the artists create 3-D animations for movies.
• DreamWorks Producer on Animation Costs, 3-D – “How to Train Your Dragon” Producer Bonnie Arnold on the cost structure for 3-D animation.
• How to Create 3-D Characters – Simon Otto and Bruce Wilson of DreamWorks on animating characters in 3-D.

How to Train Your Dragon is a fantasy adventure starring Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler and Jonah Hill scheduled for a March, 2010 release.  Like most animated films these days, DreamWorks’ mythical tale will be getting the IMAX 3-D treatment.

Here is the first IMAX poster which features lead characters Hiccup and Astrid riding on Toothless the dragon (click to enlarge).

The creators of Shrek, Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda have released a glimpse into their springtime animated feature called How to Train Your Dragon (based on the book by the same title).  Jay Baruchel voices lead character Hiccup, a teenage viking growing up in a mythical world where youngsters are trained to fight dragons.  Hiccup is looked upon as a weak outcast by his fellow tribe members as well as Chief Stoick the Vast (Hiccup’s father).  The strained relationship between father and son becomes even more conflicted when Hiccup befriends an injured dragon named Toothless.

The 3D film is scheduled for release on March 26, 2010.

via ComingSoon.net

Source(s): How to Train Your Dragon Wikipedia Page