How to Train Your Dragon 3 – What moviegoers can expect

DreamWorks’ How to Train your Dragon 2 received its share of critical and commercial acclaim, although it didn’t quite fulfil the high expectations raised by its predecessor despite being one of the top-grossing animated movies of the 2014 summer movie season.  

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What it certainly did was whet audience interest in the How to Train your Dragon franchise and I for one am definitely looking forward to How to Train your Dragon 3, whose release has been pushed back a year from summer 2016 to summer 2017.  That has disappointed a lot of fans, myself included, but at least it shows that DreamWorks is confident about the future of the franchise.

About How to Train your Dragon 3 (HTTYD 3)

According to reports, the third and apparently final part of the trilogy follows Hiccup as he takes on the mantle of village chief after his father’s passing. The voice talent includes A-listers Gerard Butler, America Ferrara, Jay Baruchel, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Craig Ferguson, Kristen Wiig and T.J. Miller.

Many moviegoers will be shocked to learn that there are no dragons in HTTYD 3 – hard to imagine as that is. Unsurprisingly, Hiccup battles feelings of helplessness and inadequacy after succeeding his father, the redoubtable Viking chief who has always set high standards for his only child. After a long time, Hiccup faces a life without dragons, including his own best friend and ally Toothless. The final part deals with powerful emotions and the bittersweet reality of a Viking world without dragons.

How to Train your Dragon – What Next?

But ardent fans of the HTTYD franchise needn’t remain heartbroken for long. I’ve heard rumors about a possible How to Train your Dragon 4 down the line but that remains a matter of speculation. Writer/director Dean DeBlois has not discounted the possibility of a fourth instalment in the blockbuster Vikings-dragons saga, which is likely to be (if it is ever made) a self-contained stand-alone movie that takes the action forward from where its predecessor left off. But I’d better not jump the gun at this point until we have something concrete from the makers of the film.

I’m not too happy about having to wait for another year and a half for How to Train Your Dragon 3. Thanks to the growing buzz around the movie, the second sequel sounds like a highly interesting departure from the story. 

Audience Response to How to Train your Dragon 2

Photo Courtesy – School of Dragons

One of the most anticipated movies this summer - How to Train your Dragon 2 - is finally out and making a big splash. Scoring more than 90% on the Rotten Tomatometer is one thing and wooing audiences quite another, as many a critically acclaimed flick has proved. But the response to the second installment of the planned dragons and Vikings trilogy has been pleasantly welcoming. In fact, the movie is on its way to becoming a runaway hit!

So what did How To Train Your Dragon 2 do to get it right the second time? Here’s what some viewers thought about the movie.

A lot of adults don’t really like syrupy children’s movies. DreamWorks non-fans were floored by the fact that a movie from the DWA stable could have such gripping action and all those dazzling 3-D pyrotechnics.

Unlike their normal fare, DreamWorks has managed to avoid its usual formulaic set pieces and come up with a mature romance that leaves most viewers (and adults) smiling through moist eyes. Stoick and Valka are a married couple reunited after 20 years and “For the Dancing and the Dreaming” is a moving ode to love and longing. Even the most jaded viewers couldn’t help but be touched by this renewal of lovers’ vows after a long parting.

While the movie is primarily aimed at audiences below 15, you don’t really have to be a child to enjoy it. A lot of teens loved it and so did most of the adults who watched it. HTTYD 2 certainly doesn’t talk down to its viewers!

Fans of the franchise loved the strong female characters – something animated movies aren’t really known for. Valka is a reclusive vigilante on a mission to protect dragons from evil humans; Astrid is an expert dragon rider and resourceful fighter and is Hiccup’s equal in every sense. Valka and Astrid might be the only significant female characters in the movie but they end up dominating the canvas.

Viewers are confronted by some pleasant and not-so-pleasant surprises (spoiler alert!) – Valka turns out to be none other than Hiccup’s long-lost mother; Gobber comes out of the closet and Toothless is tricked into killing Stoick.

Those looking for a movie with a heart, but put off by maudlin tearjerkers are sure to find HTTYD 2 pretty moving. The father-son relationship between Stoick and Hiccup is sensitively brought forth in all its nuances without giving way to clichés. Stoick is the alpha male whose pride as a Viking chief demands that his son prove his fighting credentials. Between him and the nerdy Hiccup exists a wide gulf that can only be bridged with love and tolerance and they do manage to bridge it in the end.

All in all, How to Train your Dragon packs a punch that leaves audiences reeling but gasping for more.

Female Characters in How to Train your Dragon 2

 

Photo Courtesy - School of Dragons

If you loved the heart-warming animation flick How to Train your Dragon (2010), you’re definitely looking forward to its sequel, the second installment of the planned Viking-dragon trilogy. According to reports, most of the characters from the original are set to reprise their memorable roles in the second movie, but you’ll also see a few new faces. Here’s a quick look at the important female characters you can expect to see in How to Train your Dragon 2, both old and new.

Astrid

Astrid Hofferson is a teenage girl and a top student at the Dragon Training Academy, which she attends along with Hiccup and other young Vikings. She’s tough, good looking and completely unimpressed by Hiccup’s secret shenanigans with Toothless. Soon, however, she becomes a fellow conspirator in Hiccup’s plan to bring peace between the Vikings and the dragons and secretly develops a crush on the nerdy son of the Viking chief. This spunky chick is a natural at dragon slaying and has plenty of physical strength and cunning required for the job. 

Surprisingly, Astrid does not appear in the book series, though she seems to be loosely based on Camicazi, an important female character in the books. When you see her next, she’ll be 20 years old, Hiccup’s longtime girlfriend and one of the main protagonists in How to Train your Dragon 2. There’s a definite reversal of roles when it comes to Astrid and Hiccup. Astrid is the active and aggressive fighter, while Hiccup is the sensitive thinker who feels things more strongly than others. Like her personality, Astrid’s appearance too has undergone a process of refinement in the sequel. Her hair seems to be sleeker and her outfit trendier, though her shoulder pads and trusty battle axe appear to be unchanged.

Valka

We finally get to meet Hiccup’s long lost mother in How to Train your Dragon 2, though she’s mentioned several times in the prequel. We first see Valka as she saves kidnapped dragons from the evil Eret and hides them in a secret Arctic cave. Her life is spent among dragons; she knows their ways and is privy to their secrets. Valka has a well-earned reputation for being crazy – she prefers the company of dragons to that of humans and has even learned to communicate with them in non-verbal ways. In the war between dragons and Vikings, Valka certainly knows whose side she’s on – her sympathies lie with the fire-breathing monsters and she finds it hard to trust humans. Hiccup admires her tremendously and looks up to her, although he doesn’t always understand her. Valka and her son share a love for dragons and both are expert dragon riders. 

Both Astrid and Valka are important characters in How to Train your Dragon 2, a crucial to the evolution of the plot.

How to Train Your Dragon – Where the Book and the Movie Diverge

Hiccup is an unpopular teenage nerd who finds it hard to fit in with the rest of the clan, the warlike Vikings whose world seems to revolve around nothing but dragons. Being the son of the clan chief makes it harder for the future hero to live up to his people’s expectations and, until the fateful encounter with Toothless, has a well-earned reputation for making a right royal mess of things. And that’s the point at which How to Train your Dragon the movie departs from the book it is based upon. 

Here’s a brief overview of the differences and similarities between the book and the movie.

How to Train Your Dragon – The Similarities

Everyone who’s read the book series and watched the movie says that the only connection is that the storylines of both have to do with Vikings and dragons and the complicated relationship between the two species. But there’s a slight exaggeration here. While the book and the movie are quite radically different, several important characters that appear in the book have been retained in the movie version, albeit in a slightly tweaked form. Characters such as Hiccup, Toothless, Stoick, Nadder and Gronckle appear inboth versions and remain fundamentally unchanged.Also, the end result of all the action in How to Train Your Dragon – book and movie – is quite similar. The Vikings and the dragons eventually learn to overcome their mutual distrust and co-exist in harmony.

How to Train Your Dragon – The Differences

Film adaptations of books often take great liberties with the text and that’s particularly true in this case. The relationship between the Vikings and the dragons is a case in point. The Vikings in the book treat the dragons as hard-working pets that go out and hunt for their owners. Their high intelligence makes them slightly uncooperative, difficult to control and unwilling to obey their masters without a struggle. How to Train Your Dragon the movie portrays the relationship between the two species as openly antagonistic – Viking youth are trained to repel dragon attacks and hunt down these fearsome fire-breathing creatures.

Besides, there are characters that appear for the first time in the movie – Astrid and Ruffnut for instance. The romantic angle is non-existent in the book, though Hiccup’s best friend is a sword fighter aptly named Camicazi. Some of the major characters have been eliminated in the movie – Hiccup’s mother Valhallarama and Snotlout’s sidekick Dogsbreath the Duhbrain. All in all, the movie is a radical departure from the book series.

How to Train Your Dragon –The Verdict on the Movie

Audiences voted with their feet for this one, making the movie a critical and commercial success, with a sequel How to Train your Dragon 2 in the pipeline. The movie was fantastic in terms of storyline and character development. Kids loved it because it’s a story about how the power of friendship can replace unjust old traditions with sensible and fair new ones – a sentiment most of us sympathize with.

The Buzz Surrounding the Latest How to Train Your Dragon Game – School of Dragons

There have been excited murmurs for a while, but now there’s endless talk among the How to Train Your Dragon fan base about the latest HTTYD game – School of Dragons! With the release of the teaser to the sequel, How to Train Your Dragon 2, and all the buzz that’s been surrounding the game, it is probably time to take a look at what all the talk is about and if it is worth all the attention.

School of Dragons–A Quick Summary

As the official website describes the game, “School of Dragons holds a world of creativity and exploration packed with endless quests and adventures that enables kids to raise, bond and train their dragons.” The description certainly sounds promising! What it also highlights are two important aspects of this How to Train Your Dragon game:

1. Endless fun as kids play with their favorite movie characters and raise and train dragons.
2. The game is a mix of education and fun.

School of Dragons – What it Really Offers

True to its description, the game does recreate, and impressively well at that, the Isle of Berk from the movie. For all the kids who loved the movie, it’s an absolute delight to play with the characters they saw and loved on screen. And, what’s more, kids can create their Viking avatars and get their very own dragon to raise and train!

In order to raise their dragons, players need to fish. Fishing is an important skill because this is what you need to feed your dragon. Vikings also learn to fly their dragons at the Flight School. Another exciting feature of this role-playing game is racing. Players get to compete with each other and race their dragons to get to the finish line first. That certainly sounds like an adrenalin rush the little Vikings are sure to love!

Along with all the best features from the movie, this How to Train Your Dragon game takes the gaming experience a notch higher with the educational content it offers kids. There are exciting science quests that players can go on to learn interesting science facts. The scientific method is certainly an integral part of the School of Dragons.

School of Dragons – The Verdict

While exploring the School of Dragons, it is hard not to get excited about raising your dragon and then racing with it. Since the game is aimed at kids aged 8 – 12, the educational content that has been woven into the game comes as a boon for parents. This How to Train Your Dragon game strives to arrive at the right balance of learning and fun, and succeeds! A look at various online forums speaks volumes about how well kids have taken to this game.

The buzz around School of Dragons has certainly been positive and fans of the hit DreamWorks animated movie have enjoyed this online How to Train Your Dragon game! There’s also talk of exciting new game features that the team is working on. From the looks of it, there’s much to look forward to. Happy playing!

How To Train Your Dragon 2 – What to Watch Out For

If you are a How to Train Your Dragon fan, this is certainly great news for you! The much-awaited sequel of the massive hit How to Train Your Dragon (HTTYD, has hit the screens and has received a stupendous response. After all, this film marks the return of the ever popular young Viking, Hiccup, and his partner-in-air – Toothless, the Night Fury Dragon. The 1 minute 56 seconds-long teaser has impressed fans and critics alike, and if, like everyone else, you are waiting impatiently for this film’s release, here’s a sneak peek at what this sequel has to offer.

How to Train Your Dragon 2 – The Story

DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon 2 takes a 5-year jump from where the first installment left off. With dragons and Vikings living together in peace and harmony in Berk, dragon racing as a sport has become a popular activity. But Hiccup and Toothless, the pair that won many hearts in the first movie, are busy flying and exploring new territories. 
In this sequel, Hiccup and Toothless discover an ice cave with hundreds of wild dragons and a mysterious Dragon Rider. The Viking-dragon pair finds itself at the center of all the action, with the power to change the future of dragons and men in their hands. Slated for release in June 2014, HTTYD 2 promises to be one of those films that the kids are definitely going to love!

The Cast and Crew – HTTYD 2 

Dean DeBlois wields the reigns in How to Train Your Dragon 2. Writer and director of the sequel, DeBlois also co-directed the first movie. The sequel also brings together all the main voices and characters of the first movie, with a few more interesting additions – Game of Thrones actor Kit Harrington, Djimon Hounsou of Blood Diamond fame, and Cate Blanchett. Little surprise, then, that even though the actual release of the film is still far away, the anticipation in the air is already palpable!

What You Can Expect From HTTYD 2

• A story with a true heart – This film is sure to tell a story that will strike a chord with kids and most likely, even adults. 
• Entertainment and laughs – No film for kids is complete without a dose of humor! Hiccup and the rest of the gang are sure to give us some memorable light moments and audible guffaws!
• Stunning visuals and graphics – As with any DreamWorks film, HTTYD 2 also promised to be a visual treat!
• Bonds and Relationships – A film like How to Train Your Dragon relies heavily on the relationships various characters share. Whether it is the inseparable pair of Hiccup and Toothless, or the bond that the young Viking shares with his father Stoick, a lot of importance is paid to these connections.

How to Train Your Dragon – A Quick Recap

Released in 2010, HTTYD is an American 3D computer animated fantasy film that garnered rave reviews and caught the fancies of kids and adults alike. Loosely based on the book by Cressida Cowell, the movie traces the story of how a young Viking, Hiccup, grows from being an inefficient dragon slayer to the person who unites Vikings and dragons in peace and saves them from the fearful Red Death. 

Latest Developments

A new online 3D game – School of Dragons (www.schoolofdragons.com) – brings to life the How to Train Your Dragon world, with all your favorite Vikings and dragons populating the virtual world! Players can enroll themselves and join the school to take on exciting Viking avatars, learn to fly their dragons, and even go on exciting scientific quests!

New MMO Dragon Game

School of Dragons-The Game

I was notified today by a close friend of mine regarding a new game Dreamworks and JumpStart has been working on. The game is called School of Dragons which is an exciting new Massively Multiplayer Online game for kids in the age group 8 to 12 years. As the name suggests, it is a dragon based game that introduces kids in grades 3 to 7 to a wide range of engaging scientific lessons and exercises. There are 4 different locations in School of Dragons, each promising a different adventure. So, get set to meet your latest best friend – your very own pet dragon – and head out on an adventure that is likely to change the way you view educational games for good!

Meet Your New Best Friend at School of Dragons 

At School of Dragons, a player or new student will begin his quest from Berk, one of the 4 major locations. As he lands up in Berk, he will make acquaintance with Gobber at the dock and then go on to meet Hiccup near the boat. It is Hiccup who will then direct him to School – the second and also the most important destination at School of Dragons. It is here that Hiccup will lead the new player towards the Hatchery. In the hatchery, the player will collect an egg and hatch it. Once the egg hatches and a baby dragon comes into being, it is the responsibility of the player to take care of his new friend and train it. Players can farm and fish to help feed their pet dragons. As the relationship between the dragon and the player develops at the School of Dragons, one will encounter a world full of science and adventure and of course, flying! Fasten your seat belts now!

School of Dragons – A Fun Way to Learn 

At School, students will be able to play exciting games as well as learn the scientific method. For the latter, students will move over to School of Dragons’ Scientific Method area where they will meet Alchemist and learn about the method and its usage. As their understanding of the scientific method matures, students will be able to solve a variety of different science problems using the method. Once students have mastered the Scientific Method at School of Dragons, they can head out to the Scientific Experiment Lab. The Lab at the School of Dragons is home to both theoretical and practical lessons, appropriate for children in grades 3 to 7. From heating and cooling experiments, learning about the states of matter, and quests on learning how rocks are formed, to theoretical lessons (found in the Field Guide section) on a range of different topics under physical science, life science, earth science and engineering, the lab is a great place for kids to learn and apply their learning to experiment. This is a great way of committing things learned to memory.

 

School of Dragons is as much a place for fun as it is a place for scientific knowledge. Players can have lots of fun just flying around with their dragon to other areas like Wilderness and Icy Cove or can participate in the 3 incredible games at the School, namely, Dragon Racing, Fireball Frenzy, and Flight School. While the Dragon Racing and Fireball Frenzy are both single and multiplayer games, Flight School is a game meant to be enjoyed by a single player. Mounting on your dragon and racing, shooting targets while atop your dragon, and collecting as many flags as possible in the given time while flying are some of the fun things to do at School of Dragons. What are you waiting for? Enroll yourself into the School of Dragons and start playing now! For anyone interested the URL is http://www.schoolofdragons.com