All the major changes in How to Train Your Dragon live-action remake

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Dean DeBlois, the director of “How to Train Your Dragon,” has shared some significant variations between the animated and real-life adaptations. These differences range from the storyline and background details, all the way to references of trolls and Hiccup’s mother.

Dean DeBlois has taken the director’s chair for both the animated movie “How to Train Your Dragon” and its upcoming live-action adaptation, which is set to be released globally within the next week.

Upon hearing about the latest update from Universal, DeBlois expressed, “Although I’m not a fan of this direction, if you’re insisting on moving forward, I want to take charge,” due to his conviction that he was the ideal candidate for the task at hand.

Despite some instances where this latest version closely mirrors the original scene by scene and line for line, there are numerous alterations that have been implemented, as discussed below by DeBlois. However, be aware that minor spoilers follow if you haven’t watched the original, but no significant plot twists are revealed.

How to Train Your Dragon animation vs live-action

Initially, DeBlois discussed how the innovative approach to filmmaking impacted his directorial perspective towards the content.

For me, the main difference lies in the extensive planning and preparation required, which results in a list of shots to complete on the day. However, it’s also essential to remain flexible and adapt to what unfolds during the performance, as animation provides us with the control to modify the voice recordings of actors by selecting our preferred sections and creating customized lines.

However, when working on live-action scenes, you initially design the setup, run through the blocking, discuss it with the actors, and then commence filming. This is when something extraordinary occurs, similar to the art of alchemy – a rhythm, a progression, and an interaction between the performers unfold.

If you’re agile and well-prepared, you can quickly adjust your strategy when unexpected magic arises, such as changing the shooting location, adjusting the camera angle, or repositioning the lights. This readiness for spontaneity is not typically required in animated productions.

Building mythology and giving Astrid a back-story

As a dedicated gamer, I sat down with Dean to discuss his thoughts on the recent remake of our favorite game. Naturally, my curiosity was piqued about whether this fresh take allowed him to rectify or refine any aspects that didn’t quite hit the mark for him in the original version.

As a fervent admirer, I can confirm that there were numerous elements at play. A multitude indeed! These diverse aspects can be categorized into three primary groups. One of these categories was my intention to weave in more mythology, sharing tales of how this extraordinary tribe united – offering insights into the broader world they inhabited.

As a gamer, if every civilization was plagued by dragons, I’d imagine the Vikings would assemble their top dragon-slayers into a single unit – like an elite squad determined to annihilate a crucial dragon’s lair. Yet, here we are, generations later, and they’re still searching for that elusive target. This only intensifies the stress on Stoick, pushing him to find it sooner rather than later. That’s one quest I’d be eager to embark upon.

Initially, certain characters seemed inadequately developed and underrepresented in the animated adaptation because of time limitations. Specifically, Astrid’s background, her aspirations, her contentious relationship with Hiccup, and her decision to join his side in the dragon-human struggle were areas we felt could be further explored.

The third aspect revolved around our approach if we chose live-action. We aimed to emphasize a camera operator struggling to keep pace with the subject, resulting in a more intense and dynamic viewing experience. This would allow us to expand and enrich the content, as our explorations of Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and Scotland influenced the creation of this world.

Losing trolls, plus a fresh approach to Hiccup’s mom

In animated films, trolls often serve as a source of inspiration for peculiar Viking names, and they’re also known as possible sock thieves.

In the live-action adaptation, that particular kind of humor isn’t included because director Deblois felt it wouldn’t fit appropriately within a serious scene involving Stoick and Gobber.

DuBlois stated, “I chose not to incorporate excessive playfulness into that particular scene. I felt it was more impactful to focus on the raw emotion of a father struggling as a single parent, which is the chief role Gerard Butler’s character and Nick Frost’s character share in this context. Introducing humor seemed inappropriate for this portrayal of a vulnerable relationship between them.

In the live-action adaptation, discussions about Hiccup’s mother, who is thought to be deceased, are handled differently. DeBlois clarifies this change because in the subsequent animated films Dragon 2 and 3, Valka develops as a character that becomes more significant as the trilogy progresses.

In creating the initial animated film, we hadn’t anticipated certain aspects. For instance, characters like Valka, and the impact of such references on Gerard’s character Stoick, especially in relation to what she might think of him, left a lasting impression. Similarly, Hiccup, having grown up without a mother, found solace in figures like Gobber and Stoick, and the concept of her presence and absence was significant to me.

The movie “How to Train Your Dragon” is set to premiere in UK cinemas on June 9, 2025, and US cinemas on June 13. For those craving more animated excitement, here’s a look back at why 2024 was a banner year for cartoons, as well as our list of top-rated animated films throughout history.

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2025-06-07 11:18