How to Train Your Dragon - Lost in Adaptation

[@Dominic-Noble]

I had some audio issues while recording this (which is ironic considering I boasted about improving that) because I was working from my parent's house in England with my backup mic. Hope you still enjoy.

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

We always do Dom! You're content is always top notch!

[@grutarg2938]

I watched it on mute with captions so it was fine for me ;)

[@MinimalistTheatre333]

Would you ever be interested in reviewing the book that I wrote?

[@freddieban-murray9848]

don't want to pile on as its a great video but the twins are Ruffnut and Tuffnut not net

[@pandemonium8420]

Love the video. Slightly disappointed you referred to the writing style as lemony snicket and didn't bring up Tolkien doing the same "translating" an ancient story for lotr. Or I suppose Plato for Atlantis.

[@megans.1504]

In defense of book Toothless, his dragon species has a very long lifespan, so he's essentially a 3-year-old kid for the entire book series. And, while I have no personal experience on the subject, I imagine it is difficult to train a 3-year-old to do anything.

[@Visplight]

Or he just didn't see why he had to do what some random kidnapper wanted him to.

[@Groovylonglegs]

@@Visplightit was said that dragons were like cats And they are all selfish, toothless openly admits that dragons only do what humans want because “they’re bigger than us and give us food” Which comes around at the end of the first book where a dragon named the Green Death that was a seadragonus giganticus maximus which was hinted a before shows up, eats another of seadragonous and then prepares to eat everyone on the island The vikings try to shout at it to move but it literally doesn’t care because it’s a giant fuck you dragon as us only beaten by hiccup’s smarts and knowledge of dragons I just realised I basically repeated what Dominic noble said

[@ItsASleepySheepy]

The note of "These bosoms have killed before and they will kill again" on the illustration of Big Boobied Bertha sent me into an absolute gigglefit, clearly I am the perfect age demographic for these books

[@slishslash9202]

@LTNetjak Yes.

[@cloudyyybear]

​@LTNetjak gender literally has nothing to do with age demographic but okay

[@busdriverguy]

​@@cloudyyybear it was just a joke my guy

[@cloudyyybear]

@@busdriverguy Like how is the joke helped by implying the demograohic is only for guys? Even if it was meant as a harmless joke, sometimes jokes normalise stuff without meaning to.

[@busdriverguy]

@@cloudyyybear you're thinking too much about it, it's a joke. That's it.

[@trinaq]

I appreciated that they had Hiccup lose his leg after his fight with the dragon. It's realistic that he'd suffer through SOME emotional and physical trauma, plus, him and Toothless are basically the same now.

[@katherinealvarez9216]

Yeah, I remember when I first saw that scene and went "Oh. Wow, they did that."

[@danielgonzalez-pf5el]

I actually think it lessens the relationship between the two. It’s just too symbiotic.

[@connorradcliffe1769]

@@danielgonzalez-pf5el less symbiotic since Hiccup isn't as hindered as Tootherless, and more a charming connection between the two of them, making them true partners

[@robertgronewold3326]

Apparently that was an accidental parallel between the characters. They had just done it for the sake of the story, but then kids in test audiences made the connection, and they realized that they had inadvertently done something great with the story.

[@farresalt4381]

@@danielgonzalez-pf5el and what's wrong with that?.. Oh, wait. I guess you're one of the people who liked the third movie. Edit: No undertones, I just guess.

[@MrKlausbaudelaire]

Speaking of supportive dads, I think my absolute favourite moment in this movie was after Hiccup's father "disowed" him and after turning his back on him, had that POWERFUL moment of staggering like the weight of his actions just crashed down on him and he was like "what have I done...." but shouldered it and moved on because he believed it was the right thing to do.

[@calvinjohnson6242]

That’s in the book as well, I think.

[@becauseimafan]

Oh man, yeah that was a great moment to see! Like Dom said, this movie made me laugh, and cry, and feel things ❤

[@kaderloop785]

​@@calvinjohnson6242in the first book, Stoick banishes not only Hiccup, but all 20 boys that went through dragon training as they all failed. And Hiccup stands up to him, saying, what kind of father banishes his own son, to hell with your traditions and the gods! And Stoick was actually going to go back in his decision, and unbanish the 20 boys... But before he could the Green Death appeared on the shore of Berk, giving Hiccup a chance to redeem them all

[@d.rabbitwhite]

As a parent doing things unconventionally, I was actually pissed that once again, a kid has to prove himself before the parent "gets" the kid and the negative effect parent's actions have had. I was impressed by Miles' dad, Jefferson Davis, in the movie into the spiderverse. It was likely the first time I ever saw a parent realize and state how much they loved their kid -without kid proving his worth.

[@jneumy566]

Yeah, that little stagger is the only reason we don't hate Stoick after that scene

[@noakai]

At least both versions of this are good? So many of the "in name only" adaptations are just awful and in the end insulting, it's kind of nice to see one that was really very good, just different from the book. In this rare case, "very different" did not automatically mean "super bad." And I'm very happy that the author liked it too, that always makes me feel better when the original author doesn't hate it.

[@repulser93]

Kick-Ass and Logan are similar cases.

[@unfabgirl]

Haven't read the books yet, but everyone I've spoken to that has read the books and watched the movies has said that they're both amazing. One person even said that it was like the author and the movie creators were given the same ingredients and one made a cake and the other made cookies. Both are enjoyable, but can have pretty different tastes and textures, despite being made from the same ingredients. Hope that helps!

[@motherplayer]

Just like works like "Fantastic Mr. Fox" or "Cape Fear" or "Howl's Moving Castle" or even "The Shining". I too agree with the preference of accepting difference if there is still quality there. But that's just me.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

I think Dom said he preferred the film adaption of 'Bourne Identity' to the book when it was 'in name only' and the film of Forest Gump to the book despite that being borderline 'in name only',

[@Popcultureguy3000]

@@repulser93For Logan this was out of necessity thanks to the twofold problem of how Mark Miller’s comics are often untranslatable to films in their original edgelord forms (though admittedly his Old Man Logan story was one of his best stories that aged better than even his two Ultimates limited series) and because Marvel held the rights to almost *ALL* the original supporting characters since Logan had been tricked into killing his X-Men teammates/found family when Mysterio made him see them as all his worst villains attacking him.

[@spruce56]

The books are aimed quite young, but there's a poignant moment in the last one that redeems Snotlout somewhat - he's been an appalling bully the entire time, but confesses to Hiccup what his problem is. Snotlout grew up to be exactly what his culture told him to be - he did everything right. But he was born too late, and the culture shifted dramatically just as he was coming of age, largely driven by Hiccup, shifting the goalposts out of Snotlout's reach. Film Snotlout remains annoying throughout, which is a shame.

[@silvertrees6421]

Snotlouts development occurs in the Netflix series which a shame and a great disservice to his character, especially in the third movie. I despise the weird love thing with Hiccup’s mom. Edit: and personally, I find the third movie as a whole to be very out of character revolving around all characters and even the theme of “as long as we stick together we accomplish anything.”

[@Hellohiq10]

Snotlouts arc is one of the best and most impactful arc in the book

[@BasicallyBaconSandvichIV]

@@silvertrees6421 You're also forgetting the cbbc series which is basically the same story as the netflix series, just the part one.

[@BasicallyBaconSandvichIV]

@@Hellohiq10 Especially in the later books. When I read that I was like Wow, that's just, Wow.

[@TheOfficialKidOutlaw]

Doesn’t he sacrifice himself for hiccup in the book?

[@c0deface426]

So that head cannon is more correct than you think. In the books, Hiccup’s ancestor Hiccup the first was the first Viking to actually befriend/train a dragon.

[@becauseimafan]

Oh that's cool! 😁

[@Orah90]

That's actually fantastic

[@Mycocepurus-smithii]

Yeah hehe that like the most common and cannon way of looking at the movie adoption lol

[@currentcommentor8745]

That was my interpretation but I hadn't realised it I cannon. Which book do they say that?

[@juliegoggans8303]

​​​@@currentcommentor8745 I think the books start mentioning his ancestors in Book 6 when they go to the meat head library. The significance of Hiccup the first and Hiccup the 2nd are first really discovered in book nine when they meet Wodensfang. And then built on till the end of the series. I think its book nine that Hiccup the third learns of Hiccup the first and how he befriended dragons.

[@magnuspeacock5857]

In book 9 of the series we meet a dragon called the Wodensfang, who was the dragon companion of Hiccup the First. He tells the story of his youth which is almost beat-for-beat the tale of the first film. The main difference is that the gigantic sea dragon that Hiccup 1 faced, the Dragon Merciless, survived the encounter and was the same beast that Hiccup 3 killed in book 1. Also, Merciless only sent the raiding party that Wodensfang got injured in because he had heard a prophecy that he would be killed by a boy named Hiccup. That is what the recognition in book 1 was about. It should be noted that book 9 was published in 2011 which would technically make this an adaptation of of the movie, I think?

[@Envy_May]

wait, does "wodensfang" _mean_ "toothless", like, does "wodens" mean "without"

[@magnuspeacock5857]

@Envy May no, its another name for the god Odin

[@samueldimmock694]

@@magnuspeacock5857 Technically it's more complicated than that. I think that scholars consider Woden and Oden to be two different but very similar gods with a shared origin.

[@TheKat12364]

I mean, that is one of the coolest things I have ever heard. Making something book cannon after the fact. I am sure the movie made the books more popular too..

[@jacobwalsh7209]

@@Envy_May double entendre. Both means Odin and is also a reference to (SPOILER ALERT) Toothless and Wodensfang being the same species.

[@doubleflores8350]

How to train your dragon is one of the few instances in which being “in name only” adaptation actually saves it as the original book would fit more as a tv series then a movie series due to the amount of books she wrote.

[@roxtii]

True! Honestly if dreamworks are so desperate to not let go if httyd series, then a 2D series adaptation the books will be cool!

[@hxlium3948]

@@roxtiithere actually IS one! On Netflix. It’s by the same name and is severalll seasons long. It’s pretty giod

[@IamGrimalkin]

@@hxlium3948 It's not really an adaption of the books though, it appears in the movie universe. What they're looking for is one which has Toothless at the proper size and mannerisms, subtitles for dragon speech, Fishlegs actually acting like Fishlegs, Stormfly actually acting like Stormfly, Alvin actually acting like Alvin; and includes Camicazi, Windwalker, Bertha, Norbert, Madguts, Furious, Wodensfang etc.

[@Izelikestea]

I actually met cressida cowell at a publishing event once. She was such a kind lady, and fascinating to talk too, in a posh but sweetly eccentric sorta way. She even gave me a signed copy of her book, which I still have.

[@thejinxedcat3616]

I met her too she was nice and I got to ask my importantly mitigating question. Human spoken dragonese is pronounced how it is shown in translation, but the dragons just growl in specific ways.

[@thebaseandtriflingcreature174]

​@@thejinxedcat3616so it's like an accent?

[@thejinxedcat3616]

@@thebaseandtriflingcreature174 yes but a weird accent that make it sound like a poor replication of actual dragon growls.

[@IamGrimalkin]

@@thejinxedcat3616 In the books it does actually specify even human-produced Dragonese sounds pretty weird though; fully of clicking and popping noises (this is given from Fishleg's perspective to Hiccup talking Dragonese in the first book). Also, apparently "Pishyou" is actually pronounced something like a sneeze, as per I think the Heros Guide to Deadly Dragons. I assume the written version is Hiccup's closest approximation to the pronunciation in Norse Runes (which of course was transliterated to English by Cressida Cowell).

[@thejinxedcat3616]

@@IamGrimalkin for reference I met Cresssida. I asked her. she gave me the answer that I commented here. I'm sure the books have a few words with proper explanation but the general language is as I explained in the comment. I have seen these explanation but the majority isn't given in depth explanation so that's why I had asked the question.

[@3crowsinatrenchcoat]

I was reading this book as a kid in a School library and couldn't stop laughing when hiccup reads the in universe book how to train your dragon and it just says "yell at it"

[@galehunter2519]

“The louder, the better”

[@FreyrDev]

While some of the earlier books feel more written for children, the series definitely grows up with the readers and are probably some of my favourite books of all time. You end up with things like Hiccup saying _"Maybe all Kings should bear the Slavemark, to remind them that they should be slaves to their people, rather than the other way around."_ in book 7, which is honestly a great quote. The last few books are actually pretty dark in many ways. Some of the things you said about the movie feeling like a prequel could perhaps be about Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the _First_ in the books, given that he was the one who defeated the Seadragon Merciless to bring peace between dragons and humans, and became the first dragon rider.

[@KaminoKatie]

The backstory of Hiccup I was created because Cressida really loves Dreamworks' take on her book series in spite of the drastic changes made and she probably wanted to pay tribute to it in some form

[@code8825]

Fuck me I saw another comment mention slavery and I totally didn’t remember it at all until you mentioned the Slavemark, and now I just immediately can see that damn snakey-looking S in my mind. I was deadass like 8 years old when I was reading those books, crazy to think how that stuff stays in your memory like that.

[@evilemuempire9550]

OMG I forgot about the slavery thing were Hiccup gets branded with a squiggly S on his forehead (I think). Thinking about it now, that is pretty messed up for a kids book.

[@BasicallyBaconSandvichIV]

I should read the books again. And watch the movie. And the specials. And the cbbc show. And the Netflix show. And ~maybe~ even the second movie.

[@IamGrimalkin]

​@@evilemuempire9550 You probably stopped reading before you reached the dragon war. The Slavemark has a central importance past then. Read the end of the series, it's the best bit.

[@mallk238]

5:31 He didn't overhear hiccup, it was just a misdirect. It was a coincidence that at that exact moment the queen was calling for the dragons to go to the nest. We can see this because of how his pupils turn to slits; something that only happens when dragons are following commands of larger dragons.

[@zuzanabartekova4823]

No. Toothless had slits before Hiccup befriended him, too. They change depending on his mood, just like with cats. He heard them, that's showcased by his head tilting

[@JiReyAnimation]

​@@zuzanabartekova4823 except when dragons are being controlled by a queen or an alpha there's this audible vibrating sound which Toothless hears when Hiccup and Astrid are talking. This same sound is heard again when Toothless is being used to guide the ships to the dragon's nest.

[@mallk238]

@@zuzanabartekova4823 He had slits because he was a wild dragon who sees humans as a threat in the beginning, this is true; but, look at his body language in this scene. He doesn't ever look at hiccup, his eyes start darting around rapidly, and you start hearing the hum of the queen's call. Considering he is perfectly comfortable fighting with OTHER dragons, I don't think toothless is particularly upset at the idea that a human would kill a dragon. It's supposed to look like he's reacting to the conversation to the audience until you realize that something's WRONG and we reveal that the dragons have bigger problems than the humans. Astrid says it quietly because she doesn't want toothless to overhear because it adds to the misdirection to the audience.

[@peeblekitty5780]

@@mallk238 Yeah that. I think the pupils thing is just body language and not mind control (they're constricted and focused and looking around, not literal slits bugging out like in 2) but he was reacting to the flock/call to the nest, which put him on edge for obvious reasons. The timing is an audience misdirect.

[@callenschwierzke3928]

@@zuzanabartekova4823I saw that as him listening for the calls of the other dragons and the red death, like he did on the boat with stoic

[@bennettswinnerton2171]

The novel’s went on for 12 books in total, staying as fun little dragon adventures with world building until about book 8. After that the finale began with an insane amount of depth, dark themes that tackled slavery & rejection, as well as tied back to the history of the gigantic dragons (Slight spoiler: Toothless himself is a very young gigantic dragon that will grow over hundreds of years.) The whole series builds up to this amazing story of Hiccup going through trials to learn the hard way not just how to be a hero, but also a king.

[@galehunter2519]

That slavery thing carried into book 7 as well with Bearcub’s tribe and grandma. Book 6 was to me, the last silly adventure.

[@moon4236]

So Toothless being a special dragon was not something the movie made up after all?

[@daforkgaming3320]

I didn’t think about the slavery much, what really made it felt dark was that hiccup was being attacked by dragons and humans and it basically wasn’t safe to be out at all. It felt almost apocalyptic

[@annakamaralli9627]

Our whole family sat on the sofa together and sobbed as we read the end of the last book.

[@Day-eb9po]

​@@moon4236 Toothless was revealed to be a Seadragon (etc) in book 11, released three years after the movie. The idea may have existed before though.

[@beautifulgudrun8802]

Long time httyd book fan here, I definitely wouldn't describe the film franchise as being disrespectful to the books. Among the book fans it's almost a unanimous agreement that the movies are just as amazing - if not better than, depending on person preference - as the books, just in different ways, and I've never seen even a smidge of hate towards the movies for diverting from the books. They're each their own unique stories and that's okay. It's widely accepted that as much as we love the story of the books, it's not exactly one that would make a good movie. The series starts off very slow, and very childish, and ramps up to be very, very blatantly full of slavery, racism, ableism, power struggles, corruption, colonialism, refugees, cycles of violence, ect. Like, spoilers, but one of the book takes place with all the main characters imprisoned in a slave camp doing deadly manual labour alongside literal toddlers. Shit gets dark. A story like the books wouldn't work in a movie. Especially if they wanted to just adapt the first book. It's too simple, too silly, to work for a family film and, another almost unanimous decision by the fanbase, one that would not work in any form other than a 2d animated tv series. Honestly, as a book fan I only have a single complaint about the film and the film series as an adaptation (I have a few complaints of the films as they stand alone, but regardless) and that's how they handled Astrid. She's technically an original character, but it's glaringly obvious she was based on Camicazi, as you mentioned. the How To Train Your Dragon books are unique, in that they hold a core trio of 2 boys and a girl, with NO hints of romance between them. None. It's super refreshing to see purely platonic male/female friendships represented in media, and it does tick me off a little that they made the Cami replacement into a love interest character for Hiccup. Because as much as Astrid gets development later on, in the first film she servers pretty much just the purpose of being a love interest, which is so at odds with everything Cami was. But even that, I can sorta shrug off. Astrid's a great character and I love her, and she does eventually become distinct enough from Camicazi for it to not be as blatant as it was in httyd1. Something else I found funny is some of the little jokes and references and comments you made about the books that kinda accidentally ended up being true. Major spoilers for the book for anyone interested but: -You comment about the difference between Book Toothless being the most boring-ass, basic-ass dragon imaginable, and Movie Toothless being a hyper-rare, super-deadly killing machine. Well, you know those big fuck off sea dragons from the books? Yeah. It's revealed later in the series Toothless is one of those guys. And the fact he doesn't have teeth is because he's from a 100 year old prophecy. So turns out he is kinda an uber-rare, uber-awesome dragon. Just a baby one. -You joke about the movies possibly acting as a prequel to the books, with Movie Hiccup's actions befriending the dragons coming hundreds of years before Book Hiccup struggles to train one in a society accustomed to living with dragons. Interestingly, Hiccup in the books is Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the THIRD. And Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the FIRST lived in a world where dragons and vikings were in all-out war, and he found an injured dragon and felt compassion for the beast, deciding to heal it instead of kill it and eventually befriending and bonding with it, becoming "The first human to ride upon a dragons back." Sound familiar? I don't think It's ever been officially confirmed, but it's widely believed that the first film takes vague inspiration from Hiccup the 1st's story (some also theorise that httyd2 is similarly vaguely based on Hiccup the 2nd and httyd3 on Hiccup the 3rd) -You comment about the sea dragons having a weird relationship with time with the green death seemingly able to recognise Hiccup, saying he knows his murderers face without knowing why. This is certainly one interpretation, but it's actually a reference to a reveal that comes later in the series, that the Green Death was actually the main foe of Hiccup the 1st, acting as the leader of the army of dragons fighting the humans that Hiccup had to overcome. HOWEVER, it's revealed later in the series that among the Sea Dragons many, many powers, they also have the ability to see into the past and the future, so you're kinda right in that he probably did recognise Hiccup the 3rd a bit as his murderer. Sorry for the long comment lol. I love these books and these films, they've been incredibly important to my life and my development for as long as I can remember, and as someone who quite enjoys analysing book adaptations, the case of httyd has always interested me. Super unique example of an adaptation that doesn't stick by the books but is still amazing and beloved by not just general audiences, but book fans too! That's very rare to see in ANY adaptation, let alone one that strays so far from the source material!

[@gota7738]

I wouldn't unanimous. Personally I'm ambivalent but I've seen opinions ranging from love to hatred among book fans.

[@calvinjohnson6242]

@@gota7738 I’ve never seen hatred. Kinda surprised you’ve seen it.

[@magnuspeacock5857]

How to Steal a Dragon's Sword (the book that has HHH1's backstory) wasn't released until after the film, so I reckon Cowell probably took inspiration from the film rather than the other way round.

[@calvinjohnson6242]

@@magnuspeacock5857 I don’t know about that. Do you really think Cowell didn’t have the idea before the movie? She was already delving into Hiccup Two’s backstory in depth before the movies came out. It was already obvious to me that Hiccup One was going to be the first dragon rider, long before that was confirmed. It was the only thing that made sense.

[@magnuspeacock5857]

@Calvin Johnson I think that she probably had the outline planned long in advance. But with how similar the two stories are, and with the film being completely rewritten by DeBlois and Hamilton, I think she was likely inspired by the film version for the details. Or, maybe they worked together to vome up with it? They are too similar to be a coincidence, and everything I've seen about the production of the first film suggests that it was almost completely original for the movie.

[@martinmcneal2778]

I'm actually glad they made Toothless act like a stubborn house cat. Made for better comedy and his movements were an excellent touch for that

[@lenunDun2un]

Disagree, the comedy in the books was top notch.

[@vertraeumtemoewe]

Guess both versions have their Charme there :D

[@eiliscantsleep]

I always felt this is a very odd case of a adaptation losing every single plot beat, but keeping the central THEME intact. The books over arching theme of "becoming a hero the hard way"- not just working hard, but making hard decisions, being self sacrificing and moral, with Hiccup going from underdog to responsible, wise chief, is carried out pretty well by the films. This may be why its "in name only" but also beloved of fans of the orginals- it really does feel like a story from the same universe (and film hiccup being hiccup I, book hiccup being hiccup III was always my headcanonon for that reason!) Id actually recommended the series to anyone who likes a good kids fantasy. The later books are tonally more similar to the film with that "enjoyable to adults who dont take themselfs too seriously and need an easy book to relax with" feel.

[@IamGrimalkin]

They do kind of miss the whole underdog theme of the books though, once they get past the first movie. Hiccup in the books was an underdog pretty much right until the last minute. He only gains the respect of his tribe when they have lost respect themselves, and he then immediately physically handicapped and all of his things stolen so he's still the underdog.

[@isauldron4337]

@@eiliscantsleep the plot Beats of the first book and movie are very similar though

[@shrisiva4016]

​@@isauldron4337The characters are changed a lot though

[@MrsMars-kf5lb]

A small nitpick because these books are my actual lifeblood. Hiccup is most decidedly NOT a teenager during the first book. He's 10. He's fully a child. And that becomes more and more important as the series goes on.

[@KurganMacLeod]

22:25 Weird that you mention that the movie would work great as a prequel, because that kinda actually happened. In the ninth book of the series, Hiccup meets an extremely old dragon named Wodensfang, who explains that he used to be the close friend and riding dragon of Hiccup's ancestor, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the First, back when humans and dragons were at war with each other. He'd gotten trapped and unable to fly when the Green Death himself sent him to kill Hiccup because he knew he was destined to die by the hands of a boy named Hiccup, but Hiccup found him and nursed him back to health, and together they ended up bringing peace between the two species. This book, incidentally, came out in 2011, so everyone at the time kind of understood what the story was getting at there. Some other fun things that the movies, great as they are, missed out on by not straightforwardly adapting the books: * In the second book, Hiccup finds out that even though he's generally bad at most other Viking activities, he's actually really good at swordfighting, he just didn't realize because no-one bothered to figure out he was left-handed. Every other book in the series after this point contrives to have a really epic backdrop for a swordfight, from on top of a ship that's currently being attacked by a sea serpent, to on a burning bridge, to on the edge of an erupting volcano. * Incidentally, the only character perhaps better at swordfighting that Hiccup? Camicazi, who's not strictly better at technique, but is more willing to make fun of her opponents for losing to a twelve-year-old girl. She's also great because she has no doubts about herself and her friends, which is a great contrast to Hiccup and Fishleg's deprecation, but does occasionally turn into a near-suicidal refusal to recognize that three teenagers cannot, actually, take on an entire army by themselves. Also, whilst I love Hiccup and Astrid's relationship, especially in the later movies, it is refreshing that the sum total of any romantic tension in the books is 'Cami MIGHT have a crush on Hiccup, but they're literally teenagers in the middle of a civil war and a dragon rebellion, they have more important shit to deal with.' * All that bullshit Fishlegs spews in this book about Toothless being really threatening when he gets older? *He turns out to be 100% correct*, because Toothless is actually a baby Sea Dragon. Also, the aforementioned Wodensfang is an old Sea Dragon - apparently the Kaiju phase is a very small part of the Sea Dragon's life. * One of the series-spanning antagonists is a guy they (poorly) adapted into one of the TV shows, Alvin the Treacherous. He has most of the epic swordfights with Hiccup, and there's this running gag where every time he seemingly dies he ends up losing a body-part, starting with all the hair on his entire body and ending up with most of his limbs, his nose and finally to ensure he's really dead the 'good guys' *melt the flesh off his bones*. * Snotlout is a dick, Snotlout remains a dick, but the way his story ends put me in literal tears.

[@GeneralTaco155555a]

I grew out of the series before it ended, I'm almost disappointed to hear Alvin finally died. I only hope that Toothless poo-ed on him at least one last time

[@abbaddabba6100]

I couldn't believe they made me cry over SNOTLOUT.

[@KaminoKatie]

Cressida put that backstory about Hiccup I because she actually really loves Dreamworks' take on her book series in spite of all of the drastic changes made to it and she probably wanted to pay tribute to it in some form

[@lola9148]

i am so glad you made this comment!!!!

[@silverhawkscape2677]

Funny thing is that love in the middle of war isn't uncommon or unrealistic. It's just easier to date once it ends. If it does end.

[@rowsa_boat]

Can't undersell how good the soundtrack for this movie is and how much is does to make the film feel so special. Just really, really good.

[@yvonka63]

Somehow soundtracks are always soooo important. I feel like they can really lift a movie to another level and stay even more iconic than the movies themselves.

[@amberdragonfly3]

This video discusses why the soundtrack, specifically the opening, is one of the best composed you can find. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoa4e4R-bKx_o9U&feature=share9

[@Scouthedog1]

I actually loved the books growing up. And watch them before I saw the movie. I wanted you to cover how to train your Dragon for a long time on your show and I'm glad you finally get a channce to do it.

[@Dominic-Noble]

Hope it lived up to expectations

[@hemera8369]

Me too, my mother used to read all the books to my brother and me and they were also the subject when my brother and I started to learn to read on my own. We actually went into the Cinema for the first movie to see them brought to life. It was a bit disappointing, bc I love the books so much, to see everything completely changed but the movies are also so amazing and if you look at them as their separate things, then it's easy to love them both. I'm just sad that the success of the movies means Httyd will never get a book loyal adaptation... ​@@Dominic-Noble Will you by any chance read the other books in the series? Because the books do mature over time and especially the last half of the series gets surprisingly mature and interesting and even heavier with lore but still so enjoyable and I would definitely recommend them also for the overarching narrative that only kicks in a few books in. (It is also in general sometimes pretty philosophical.) Especially bc the third movie put in the "There were dragons when I was a boy" just for the nod to the ending of the book series. I really enjoyed the books, especially the later ones, as an adult too but then again I have heavy nostalgia for them.

[@Druklet]

Haven't finished the whole series, but I think the books are wonderful. For adults, or older readers, they are a bit repetitive with Stoic and other constantly dismissing Hiccup even though he's been right so many time, but CC's writing still make them so enjoyable. I'm a primary teacher and would love to use the book as the class text. I could go on a long description of all the activities I've already planned to do related to this book, but I'll pick a better time and place!

[@Druklet]

@@Dominic-Noble Exceeded, as always! ❤🐉

[@mmangaboi_5355]

I think it's important to note that while at first, it seems like book toothless is just a common dragon, in one of the later books it is revealed that he is actually the same species as the green death- fishlegs' "lie" that toothless is rare is actually fantastic foreshadowing for this. (i mean it was a lie at the time that he said it, but he accidentally ends up being right)

[@bitnewt]

I really like the illustrations in the books. I wish we could get away with more adult books with fun little pictures all over the place. It's amazing that a children's book with unlikeable characters and scatological humour can also be so effective to so many people.

[@YamiSpyroX]

I pretty much fell in love with Berserk and Devilman 'Manga' for the very reason why I liked How to Train Your Dragon growing up. Comparing the 3...I don't think it's an coincidence at all that a bunch of character designs, backgrounds, plots/themes wound-up matching up! (Cressida Cowell is an Confirmed Stephen King fan so thoroughly possible that she likes Go Nagai and Kentaro Miura.)

[@magnuspeacock5857]

You say unlikeable characters, but I can't think of any other books that would make me cry at *Spoilers* Spoilers Spoilers ... the death of a character called "Snot-Faced Snotlout".

[@sethd.8381]

The How to Train Your Dragon Books are one of my all-time favorite book series. I agree that the early books are quite childish in tone. However, the story gets much more serious later down the line. The world building in this series is truly magnificent. It's a series I would highly, highly recommend reading in its entirety. The first 7 books are almost entirely set-up for the rest of the story. The 8th book is where things are really set into motion and hits the fan (so-to-speak). I can't overstate how much this story has impacted my life. I love the Hiccup from the books so much more than his movie counterpart. Movie Hiccup is an unappreciated genius who can build tools and tame dragons and in the end earns the respect of his whole tribe. Hiccup story in the books are in his own words, "becoming a hero the hard way." Hiccup in the books is really a loser. He has to work hard throughout the entire series to earn the respect of the people around him, and when he does, it's so powerful. Do yourself a favor and give this series a chance. The books aren't too long. Yes, the early books are pretty simple by comparison to the later entries, but it oozes charm throughout. Check them out from your local library!

[@christansanchez8686]

I probably will🙂

[@christansanchez8686]

Also even if I love the books the movies will still hold a special place in my heart , and I will love both of them.

[@sethd.8381]

@@christansanchez8686 I'm not saying either are bad! The movies are amazing as well. There's just a part of me that would've preferred a more faithful adaptation, although it would probably take a TV series to do that.

[@storytellerforever4631]

This. This is exactly how I feel about them

[@rafaelmarkos4489]

SPOILERS The entire story of Furious lives rent free in my head. The way he reneged on his 'cross my heart and hope to die' promise gives me chills whenever I think of it - the whole idea of losing half his heart when Hiccup II died and therefore deciding that he only needs to keep half his word is profoundly affecting to me.

[@GothVampiress]

so glad you're finally doing this one. how to train your dragon was such a fundamental book series for me as a child that when the movie came out when i was in high school, i was so angry about the wild changes that i didn't even notice how good of a movie it is on its own merits. i think we all have a book like that which helps us separate adaptations for what they are, and this was mine.

[@kylepeters8690]

same. Every time I heard someone talk about how great the movie was, I just groaned and brought up the book. Sadly a common response I got was "there's a book?"

[@VivianaSilverback]

@@kylepeters8690 But the movie is good. It's completely different from the books, and doesn't shamelessly copy them. Isn't it better to be original than to deliberately copy?

[@louiseswanson8345]

I also had this reaction. I'm to the point where I can admit the movie is pretty good, but I still wish, they'd just called it something else, and had different names for the characters. Still can't like enjoy the movie though.

[@idrabohm3678]

I had this exact reaction to Ella Enchanted. The movie was fun in a very camp way, but there was something so special and clever about the book and I'm sad her story never made it to the screen.

[@somethingsomethingelse7706]

I loved the books to the point that 8 year old me got my sisters middle name is cressida because i pursuaded my parents to use it (they later realised why i thought of cressida when they saw all the books on my shelf). When i saw the film later that year i was so dissapointed that they changed so much i hated it.

[@VianTheGryphon]

I was a huge fan of the book quite a few years before it became a movie, and was excited when I did find out that there was going to be a movie based on it. I was more than a little disappointed that the movie was so different from the book, especially the fact the dragons were no longer able to talk, the Green Death's conversation with Hiccup was my favourite part of the book, that image of Hiccup being framed by the Green Death's eye was mindblowing to my kid brain. Now as an adult I can see how the books would probably not make a great film, or at least not one that can appeal to all ages, instead we have two very different but equally wonderful stories to enjoy, which in my opinion is the best possible outcome. But let me tell you, I had goosebumps at the end of the third film when they almost word for word use a passage from the books. "There were dragons when I was a boy..." always makes me tear up, whether I read it on paper or hear it in the film.

[@BluRayMan12]

The animated movie trilogy is one of of the high watermarks for modern theatrical western animation. We will never forget seeing the “Test Drive” Sequence theatrically in 3D for the first time. Genuinely electrifying stuff

[@akiriith]

Its so funny to see you speculate on this series bc it genuinely goes from annoying potty humor to existencialism and racism and slavery and grudges and love and redemption. I dont read it often but its one of the series I own that I treasure the most. It genuinely made me cry by the final book.

[@BazilTheBean]

I wholeheartedly agree. Books 11 and 12 genuinely made me weep.

[@akiriith]

@@BazilTheBean RIGHT. Book 11 is a given but that "I saved you this time" (or however the line goes in english, I sadly only have it in my language) freaking tore me apart OTL

[@hey.its.BrandishJaye]

03:38 Thank you, as a girl of proud Norse heritage, I appreciate that. For those that don't know, "viking" is a verb, not a noun. You aren't a Viking, you go viking.

[@Druklet]

Had no idea! What would the noun be? I remember being told that Norse raiders were what we would call 'pirates' today, which is what Cressida Cowell calls them in the second book.

[@oneinathousand2156]

I hear some say that Viking as a verb is a myth, but since I don’t know the language I don’t know which version is true.

[@Stargazer_Ley]

Viking is something you do, yes, but it can be a noun for the people who do that thing. Regardless the people of Berk don't really seem to be Vikings at all. Nordic or Norsemen would be more appropriate. Heck they could call them Northmen if they wanted or Nords even, or just make something up.

[@CanIswearinmyhandle]

@@oneinathousand2156 I'm swedish and i have never in my life heard someone use viking as a verb. We call them vikings regardless if they were out and about or at home. I think it might have been used in a different way in the olden days, but thats like if people started saying "the" was actually incorrect and the actual word is "ye". That's how it used to be but not anymore

[@agnetalykins7564]

@@CanIswearinmyhandle Actually, it's funny you should mention that because "the" never was "ye". It's simply that the word used to be spelt with the letter þorn (thorn), so þe. However, in cursive þorn looks a lot like the letter y. So it's usually thought that the substitution came about because of printing presses not having a letter for þorn, so the y was substituted. Later, þorn fell out of fashion and the rest is history.

[@zac73061]

I got into the books as a result of the films. I've read all of them (12 i think?) and they go to some pretty intense and dark places whilst still maintaining a goofy and humerous attitude. They're actually in a similar style to the Harry Potter series, especially in the way that Cressida managed to weave in tiny details that turn out to be game-changing plot twists 6 books later. Toothless for example, origionally seemed like a comically unremarkable Common or Garden dragon, but later on he's revealed to be one of the most important dragons in existence. The books aren't for everyone, especially if you're not into childish humour, but if you're into simple stories that secretly have a lot of depth, I definitely recommend the whole sereis.

[@hadesedits1501]

No cuz the books are very dark and adult like but it's just the comedic tone

[@claran3616]

I'm not into childish humor, so I didn't like them, but I also missed the seventh book, which I think was important.

[@Ugly_German_Truths]

12 makes sense as Dominic introduced the Author as having specialised in writing series of 12 books following a single storyline and naming scheme... ;) Kind of like others write trilogies or pentalogies... Cressida, Queen of the Dodecalog!

[@adityasundaram3602]

The films' Hiccup actually was more in line with the story of Hiccup the first in the book. to take directly from the wiki The Vikings and Dragons had been at war for a long time before Hiccup 1 was born. Hiccup was targeted by the leader of the dragon army, a great Sea Dragon named Merciless (later known as the Green Death), who had foreseen that one day he would be killed by a boy named Hiccup. The dragon he sent to kill Hiccup was Wodensfang, whom Hiccup befriended. Wodensfang had gotten caught in a tree and was severely injured, but instead of finishing him off Hiccup the First cut him loose and healed his wounds, cultivating a bond of trust between the two. Hiccup the First became the first human to ride on a dragon's back. So the prequel thought was almost entirely on point, if it wasn't for the third movie

[@KaminoKatie]

Book 9 where that backstory originated from is actually published not long after the first movie came out

[@Druklet]

Let's hear it for awesome dads! A week ago, one of my cats accidentally scratched my eyelid. Luckily my parents were visiting, so dad waited 5 hours with me in the waiting room. Finally left the hospital at 3am (all hospital staff were magnificent, big thank you to them!). He never complained and told me to stop being silly when I kept apologising. I love my dad so much! And my mom who made hot cocoa for us when we got back!

[@Druklet]

Glad to hear your dad defeated his medical issues!

[@gota7738]

In defence of Book Toothless, his initial staying out of the plan was more due to cowardness whilst the other Dragons where just planning on abandoning the Boys as soon as things turned south and did just that. That he did turn around is treated as exceptional and is built on Hiccup's kindness towards him through the book. There's a bit of a theme around overcoming a culture of cruelty that's applicable to Humans and Dragons throughout the series. I honestly have such a back and forth ambivalence with the films. They are good and I understand why they're loved, but while the film is more "dignified" with a more realism flavoured characterisation, I didn't think they carried through the more challenging themes of the books. Yes Stoick of the films has a more nuanced personality, but I missed Book Stoick pondering if actually the violent, fiery downfall of his society might be worth it for social equality. Themes that push back against supremism not only from an outside villain but from the PoV's own community. That claiming moderation while cutting down any advocation for acceptance of difference, social equality and social wealfare, will necessarily create growth for the fascistic extremism you claim to disapprove of. That people (& dragons) are worth more than the financial benefit and stability that comes from exploitating them. That people (& dragons) have inherent value and shouldn't have to prove themeselves useful or strong to be seen or treated as people. The books are more whimsical and the characters more cartoonish, but the world they live in borders on dystopian. It's not defending against corruption from the outside but uprooting the opressive ideology that everyone has been raised in. That scope really resonated with me and perhaps (maybe unfortunately) only grown more so, all while still being a very goofy little book series. I'm not claiming perfection but I do remember being young and feeling disappointed with the Wizard series for ignoring it's established social issues while the HTTYD series was making it the central conflict of it's ongoing story.

[@Jan-gh7qi]

100% agree. I also grew up with the books and you really nail it, how much they are about toxic behavours INSIDE of a social group, Not even stopping from the MC, who absolutely hates that brutish culture but still wants Tonne accepted in it. Ob the other hand: I think, it would have been hard to transform these books into a widely Likes movie. They are funny but they are so f*ing dark. Everyone is depressive, selfish, violent, the weather is always shitty...all of it is so dark, that it is played for laughs...In some way it is Grimmdark for Kids.

[@gota7738]

@@Jan-gh7qi From a financial point of view it would be more of a risk, but I do think movies are better for taking risks and being a little transgressive sometimes. Not impossible either since the series does reveal the scope of the issues with time whilst planting the ideas from the start. A closer adaptation of those themes wouldn't have to cover the whole story, just the ideas and I do think it could be a great movie. Hell while the characters do often have flaws that can be hard to reconcile with, a lot of them are still also kind and loving people alongside it all and a lot of them will step up and change when they're called to. Part of what stands out about the books depiction of that behaviour is that it's not inate or even stemming from cruelty, just so ingrained into their enviroment that not even the protagonist always thinks to question it. Also it is still a VERY whimsical, humorous series, even when things gets darker. While the world of the books is grim, I wouldn't describe them as cynical. They're all about how pushing to change things for the better is worth it. On a side not I think I'd still find the HTTYD films to be solid but generic even without the books colouring my view. That said I'll admit though I'm probably not with the majority on that part of my tastes so it is what it is.

[@SpaceNerd117]

The main thing I remember and am to this day impressed with is its depiction of (human) slavery and how it is unapologetically depicted as totally and universally awful and wrong, no matter the excuses or justifications.

[@chartypeplays2396]

Well said, I love this comment.

[@silverhawkscape2677]

​@@SpaceNerd117 And we have anime that has slavery but never outright says it is wrong. Calling it part of the world... really sucks.

[@matityaloran9157]

13:00, that was one of those subtle moments from early on establishing just why Hiccup’s going to be the hero rather than “Hiccup the Useless and his dragon Toothless”.

[@alepenagorbe9135]

The first two sea dragons who arrive on shore and fight until the Green Death kills the other are, I'm sure, an inspiration for the two alpha dragons fighting in the second movie. They are even visually similar.

[@IamGrimalkin]

? Visually similar? But we don't see anything of Green Death except his claws and teeth, and we don't see anything of Purple Death at all. That's kind of the point, it's quite effectively left to the imagination. In some ways I kind of wish she'd done the same thing with Furious, leaving things to the imagination works very well.

[@MiloW456]

I love the recognition for these books as they meant so much to me throughout my childhood. I have read them all and listened to David Tennant's readings of them, even having been to see Cressida Cowell speak twice

[@regitzeillum6713]

The books are great for early readers. We got my stepson to practice his reading by reading this book aloud to us. It worked so well, because he got gripped and laughed and laughed, and because we also laughed a lot together with him. Reading wasn’t a chore, it was fun!

[@lamecasuelas2]

As It should be!

[@dragonicdoom3772]

Small correction about the Green Death. SPOILERS AHEAD Much later in the series, we find out the real reason the Green Death recognised Hiccup and had that weird shiver that neither seemed to notice. Turns out the Green Death is actually called Merciless, and he lead the first Dragon Rebellion against the vikings about 1000 years ago. He was stopped by Hiccup's ancestor, Hiccup the First, who used the Dragon Jewel to broker peace with the dragons and make Merciless swear to leave the Archipelago forever lest he be killed by a boy named Hiccup. That's why the Green Death recognises Hiccup and shivers in fright, somewhere in the back of his mind he remembers Hiccup the First and his prophecy, which ended up coming true.

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

Dear lord, that intro melted my hearth Dom! Your dad sounds like a total badass! I also love mine to bits!❤❤❤❤! Now ought to another amazing episode!

[@magtudo7308]

Fun fact, in the books while Toothless appears to be a common garden dragon he is actually an infant Sea Dragonus Giganticus Maximus, which was the largest dragon in the series

[@brokengirlsrus]

That was such a sweet intro Dom! Im so glad to hear your dad is okay and that you have such a solid relationship. It's clear that he did a good job raising you, as you are such a kind and respectful gentleman.

[@catslino5037]

It was so wholesome! I am glad sir Dom the first is doing well

[@nandyk.2026]

I wholeheartedly recommend the entirety of the book series. if you thought the first book was strong for a kids' book, the series does an hp and matures with the readership, the third of it is some of the most intense kids/ya fantasy ive ever come across. the world building and lore of it rivals a lot of more popular franchises. I'd honestly love to see you cover them in a review format, actually.

[@sad_doggo2504]

I lost my set in a book loan gone bad (well, at least it was for his kid) but I just remember this series cracking me up for than any other kid's book I've read!

[@Lionfrog13]

As a kid I had a notebook I would write all my ideas on how they could incorporate the book lore into the movies and I kept getting upset they didn’t do more with my favorite stuff from the books.

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

I've always heard that it was a loose adaptation but I didn't expect it to be this loose. What's great about this trilogy is that it shows that Dreamworks can be actual competition to Pixar when they put the care and effort in (their output definitely varies in quality but when they're good they're stellar). Also, have you ever considered re-doing your Ender's Game video? I ask because the sequels got weird and I think it would be hilarious if you tore into them at some point.

[@lorrainelynton8789]

Laughed every time you were like "you've seen the movie, you know all that" bc this is the first time I've had even a synopsis of the movie plot, but I read the books as a kid

[@SkatKat]

There's no age difference between you and your dad! You both seem like the same identical lovely person. I am so happy for you both just being people who exist in this world!

[@Kameth]

One of my favourite moments is after it is revealed that Hiccup has lost his leg, he puts on a brave face, steps forward... and immediately stumbles to be caught by Toothless. The replacement leg isn't a magical instant fix. He's had a big change to his life, and it's going to be difficult - but not impossible to adjust. He may fall, but he'll get back up and keep going.

[@brianlewolfhunt]

I like how elements from the book seemed to go into the movie sequels as well. You can see the framework of the two giant dragons in the second movie, and the format of the dragons leaving at the end of the third movie.

[@shadowking9739]

I love how Hiccup and Stoick's relationship is depicted in the film, especially two scenes in particular: the one where they briefly and awkwardly bond and the other immediately following Toothless' capture. It's clear that Stoick greatly cares for his son but has trouble communicating this, even when he thinks that Hiccup is a potential uber dragonslayer like himself. I still get emotional when he disowns his son, the way that he slams the door shut (symbolizing him ending their relationship) and stumbles breathlessly before resuming his normal walk, showing the grief and heartbreak such an act has on him.

[@alessandrabeatriz56]

I LOVE THOSE BOOKS SOO MUCH!!!! thanks for making an episode on them. Those books really helped me through my childhood

[@aaronmartin6108]

As someone who read the book before seeing the movie, I have LONGED for you to do this one! When I saw this, I made an indescribable noise and whispered "It's finally happening." I figured this would get "in name only" status, but I do like both versions. Brilliant analysis as usual, and just thank you so much for covering this one.

[@mmmahh9056]

The animated trilogy was surprisingly good despite being completed different from the books. I love this Hiccup more than the one in the book

[@Dookieman1975]

When the fan fic movies are better than the books

[@AlysIThink101]

@@Dookieman1975 It is not exactly decided which is better (I personally prefer the books especially after finishing the series), Also a lot of the things mentioned in the video are drastically changed and made so much better after reading all of the books.

[@danielgonzalez-pf5el]

I’m going to assume you haven’t read pass book 2.

[@farresalt4381]

@@danielgonzalez-pf5el oh hi! XD Anyway, I'd guess TS haven't read the books at all. At least it sounds like that to me. Not saying they didn't, just sounds like this. But yeah, books are great, character are 'masing.

[@prcervi]

@@danielgonzalez-pf5el or they just didn't vibe with the books, they are pretty strongly a preteen-teen demographic series and can say as a person who did read the novels around that time in my life the humor can be a very big miss

[@krose6451]

Depression has been kicking my butt. Over the last month Ive smiled and found moments of joy but laughters alluded me. And yet, I laughed several times through this video. It felt so nice and Im so greatful.

[@Rmlohner]

This is another situation like Stardust where the movie is significantly different, to the point that you can argue it completely goes against the book's ideas, but both are so good in their own right that I can't complain at all. Though man, was it gutsy of the filmmakers to include a scene where the new Toothless effortlessly kicks Book Toothless' ass.

[@jetho9859]

Terrible Terrors and Common or Gardens are different.

[@jetho9859]

Toothless is actually a young Seadragonous Giganticus Maximus though.

[@liamannegarner8083]

Fun fact: The tiny dragon whom Toothless inflates by blowing fire at, while he's inhaling, that was the model for Toothless in the first stages of the film, when they tried adapting the book straight.

[@ryodark]

Awwww the dedication to your father was so sweet it brought tears to my eyes. Wishing him great health and happiness ❤

[@KarelPKerezman]

My favorite thing about the first sequel? They don't reset the Hiccup & Astrid relationship and make them re-get-together. "Wait, movies can just... NOT break up the romantic couple from the first movie to manufacture drama? REALLY?" More of THAT please, movie machinery.

[@snowange.l]

I absolutely lived for these books as a kid. I found out about them from the end credits of the first movie, fell in love with them, and continued to read and be hyped for them even though the last few came out while i was in high school

[@TheStoryMakerLyzaL]

1) I also had that headcanon about film Hiccup being the ancestor of book hiccup. It makes me feel good, knowing others came to the same conclusion. 2) This was the film that convinced younger me that a film can be good, even if it’s doesn’t follow the plot perfectly (or at all)… I think they made the right choice making it wholly different and in name (including characters) only.

[@lucasstokes503]

I love the books, the way they keep subtly get more adult and not just maintain their good quality but get better is brilliant.

[@samaradragonhart5719]

I'm happy to see someone talking about this, because I love both stories, but they are so different that I can't really think of them as an adaptation

[@Weretoons]

I've always wanted to see a Lost in Adaptation episode of HTTYD, so I was super happy to finally see it. I would like to point out a fun fact that one of the dragon species in the movie, the Terrible Terror, is based off of the book version of Toothless, with its design being seen in test footage and concept art back when it seemed like the movie was going to be more book accurate. There's even an episode in the series where Hiccup teaches the viking teens how to train a Terrible Terror as sort of an homage to the book.

[@YamiSpyroX]

Sad fact. As an die-hard lover of the books the scene were the Terrible Terror curls beside Hiccup (except maybe the TV episode were Snotlout is dealing with his dragon being sick nearly dying.) is the only part were I actually cry during the films. Yes he was a Silly little Talking Dragon; But he was Hiccup's silly little Talking Dragon! How could Dean comment his version is 'more than that' if his dragon-king isn't even 1% of Cressida's Dragon King?

[@madderlake8285]

The HTTYD books have totally filled the Harry Potter sized hole in my heart. They have ACTUALLY great female characters, themes like "slavery is bad, actually", and fat characters who are not vilified.

[@fellinuxvi3541]

I hadn't even thought of that but yeah! You're right.

[@humanperson2480]

Damn, it really does have everything Harry Potter left out. Maybe I’ll try picking up the books again xd

[@floturner8324]

YES, I cant believe they chose a cliche love interest over the absolutely incredible camikaze. I will never forgive them for that

[@madderlake8285]

@@floturner8324 Camikaze is such a fantastic character, I was so upset about Astrid

[@pandaandthegecko5480]

They are indeed, the superior books, read ‘em

[@theforgottenscribe]

"Including a TV show" Uh, there's a total of like 3 TV shows, actually. They just happen to be 2 that are vaguely taking place after one another (Riders of Berk, Defenders of Berk) with the 3rd more of a spin off if I remember, right. There may be a 4th TV show now since the trilogy is complete.

[@ToniBingi]

I always felt that in the movie, Toothless' name, while a reference to the retractable teeth, was more symbolic - i.e. "toothless" basically being synonimous with "harmless".

[@emd476]

A polite suggestion: I think you would really enjoy the true meaning of Smekday. It’s a great book and it’s just so weird to me what the kept and what they didn’t. The character design and attitudes of the Boov are pretty spot on and the plot’s basic premise and some of the humor remains, but I think they thought the big bad was too big and weird to tackle? Or maybe there wasn’t enough of a moral lesson to it? Also I’m pretty sure they took one of the human characters and just made him a Boov. Curious to know what you’d think.

[@KaiHung-wv3ul]

19:21 Actually, this is explained in the ninth book, when it's revealed that Hiccup I, who Hiccup III is named after, kinda defeated the Green Death and banished, which is why he recognizes his name.

[@Caernath]

I suspect that part of the reason movie producers make In Name Only adaptations is because they want to protect their job. If you greenlit an original movie which bombs at the box office, the shareholders will ask why you signed off on this story, what the foundation for it was. And since that can boil down to "I liked the story", that can have repercussions. If an adaptation or franchise movie bombs at the box office, the producer can show the shareholders various charts and graphs and polls about how many fans [insert brand name here] has. Cue instant job security

[@TheDawnofVanlife]

Not really, if you green lit something, adapt it terribly, (or simply slap it’s name on another similiarly thenef script) and it bombs or leaves fans angry enough to abandon future films in the franchise, your ‘in name only’ basically failed. HTTYD is a relatively obscure little kids book series so being a bit creative in the retelling is likely easier to get away with. The Percy Jackson films are a good case of going way off and it not working.

[@zakronthesheep]

19:25 i kind of hate to say it, but in the books the Green Death does NOT recognize Hiccup's name because it can see the future (although it can). There's some rhyming-history stuff with previous Hiccups that I don't want to spoil, because I highly recommend reading the series for yourself.

[@gota7738]

Spoilery below but Didn't he attempt to kill the first Hiccup because he saw into the future and saw his Death with Hiccup 3? So Dominic's correct but a couple of centuries off.

[@Irthex]

It's very easy to forgive adaption differences when the end result is excellent - and this movie is excellent. I'm happy that they decided to make a movie that really exploits the medium. Also, I'm completely fine with Leonidas being the chief.

[@EthanKironus8067]

I was a book-first kid, still have the first couple volumes lying around. Fell off with reading them properly after the everything-goes-to-hell-in-a-toothless-sized-basket events of I forget which book exactly (and not saying too much b/c spoilers), but picked them back up enough to find out what happened. And Cowell does not mess around. She made me cry for SNOTLOUT.

[@annana6098]

As the books go on, they talk more and more about the Legend of Hiccup the First, and how despite the way the vikings revere his legend, Hiccup the first was the exact same sort of person as Hiccup the third. I think they could have leaned really hard into Movie Hiccup being the First, being the reason why the Third's world is so close and familiar with dragons. However, they decided to co-op just a few too many things into the movies and television series to allow it to happen.

[@musingsofanautiefangirl8945]

I thought he was called toothless because he was so utterly harmless, in the same vein as being figuratively declawed

[@GoatAndDog]

I like the that ladder father is standing on that 3rd photo.

[@v0n12z]

i absolutely love the httyd books, they are timeless. the dark themes were something i really loved as a kid and now. cressida cowell's illustrations and use of language to create a vivid world is so amazing. to be honest i consider the books and movies to be two completely different works that are both masterpieces in their own rights

[@jackaylward-williams9064]

Given the dramatic shift in both tone and story structure that the book series went through after being adapted, I’ve got to wonder whether the later books would have told the story that they did if it hadn’t been for the film. On one hand, Cowell was clearly setting up the events of at least one of the future books with Hiccup getting The Slavemark and later learning about The King Of The Wilderwest, plus the reveal that the ruby heart stone is one of The Kings Lost Things clears up the plot hole from Book 5 concerning why Alvin The Treacherous went to so much trouble to steal it, but on the other, some parts of the earlier books either contradict the later ones, such as The Witch telling Hiccup that Grimbeard The Ghastly’s heir only needs to have The Endeavor and The Dragon Jewel to claim the throne of The Wilderwest, as well as simply referring to the latter as “the lucky amulet”, or provide set up that is never paid off, such as the ending to Book 7 implying that Norbert The Nutjob survived being struck by lightning, with the final book confirming that he was still alive only to brush it off as “a story for another day.”

[@YamiSpyroX]

I'm hoping that in her new original short story she address the fact that Norbert survived even more so the fact that he randomly turns good after 'last time seeing him' drenched in the blood of his men trying to chop Hiccup to bits. Also I'm not just confused by her never explaining what Wind- Walker (Why didn't they just name Toothless that in the films...) was going to evolve into let alone the off-hand reference to Snotlout having an sister in one of Cressida's HTTYD supplements. Still I adore the books. They don't get NEARLY enough Acclaim!

[@gota7738]

There's no indication to say that he changed in any way. He could be planning again for whatever story Cowell might want to return to, or he could even just have retired.

[@YamiSpyroX]

@@gota7738 I think he retired. Norbert may had just had seen enough blood-shed and decided his axe landed on the white-side for good. Still doesn't explain the dragon-mark or him coming back after the slaughter, electrocuted and plunged into the sea. Than again Alvin survived getting eaten by an fire-dragon + plunged into an volcano so...Kids book logic? HTTYD isn't just 'a' Kids book though! Far from it.

[@internetstranger8102]

I really hope you consider finishing the series - I know its written young and whimsical, but from the 9th book on I think this book tackles more mature and hard to discuss themes than any other book series Ive ever read. It all ties into the earlier books as well, but it really starts being explicit around then.

[@patergia5061]

As a fan of both the books and the movies, I think How to Train Your Dragon is one of the best adaptations of book to film that there is. While it's true that the plot and characters are almost entirely different, the movie takes a few key aspects of the book and magnifies them with a story epecially made for an animated movie. Those aspects being generational conflict and cool dragons! Your headcannon that the movie is a prequel to the books actually makes a lot of sense in the context of the book series. The cyclical nature of history is an important theme in the later books, and previous Hiccup's stories paralel with Hiccup the Third.

[@sparkflightdragon4009]

Honestly I would highly recommend the books to anyone. Like sure it is aimed at younger audiences, but if you don’t mind that, then these books have so much to offer. There’s this real sense of wonder and nostalgia, and the books are wonderfully written and absolutely hilarious. Also, they get genuinely dark, dangling spots of hope only to brutally crush them under foot, touching on dark subject matters (death, genocide, war, slavery, etc.) in a way that’s genuinely thoughtful without sacrificing the tone and characters and while keeping to the general age range of the previous books. Also, if you like wacky cool dragon lore like the singing seadragonus giganticus maximus? Get ready for: -Dragon that shoots bone spears out of its mouth - Dragon with eyes right below its claws that sticks its talons out of the sand to find prey to drag under - Dragon that can track you with its tooth - Honestly everything about the nanodragons tbh - Stormfly (can speak Norse but lies literally all the time, seemingly for kicks, a mood dragon and not a nadder) Honestly just every dragon species is so bizarre and fun and occasionally horrifying? Having a Seadragonus Giganticus Maximus as the main villain for book 1 was a pretty good choice, they’re super important and literally everything about them is cool, terrifying, weird, or some combination of the three. Tl:dr These books are funny, thoughtful, wonderful, and packed full of Weird Dragons and absolutely worth your time.

[@Sophieaparkes]

The How to Train Your Dragon book series was a massive part of my childhood and I still read them occasionally as an adult. I love the first movie but the books will always have a special place in my heart. My favourite parts (spoilers) are probably Fishlegs being semi-right about Toothless, who grows up to be a Seadragonus Giganticus Maximus (the same type that Hiccup and Toothless kill) and the number of innocuous plot points and law from the first books that don't become relevant until later. I'm quite glad the movie isn't faithful because I think the books are so wonderful that I doubt any adaptation could faithfully capture everything and the book/audiobooks are just such a delight to read. On your point of working as a prequel, the movie is somewhat similar to the in-world story of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock I, told by my favourite character, the Wodensfang in How to Steal a Dragon's Sword.

[@pinkajou656]

For a very long time I only had the final book in the series, which seems to be the longest and most epic, and sets itself up so well within the book that I was barely confused at all. A fantastic story, and I when I finally read the first one I was so surprised at how short, silly, and light-hearted it seemed in comparison.

[@hujan1744]

It was said before and i'll say it too, your dad just looks like an older you. So we are indeed seeing two handsome devils on our screens.

[@avianKneecaps]

I grew up on both the books and the film. I absolutely adore the films, but it does make me a little sad that we'll never have an *actual* adaptation of the books also! as a swede, much appreciation for not misusing the word 'viking'. this is why you're the best reviewer

[@chocobros1]

I almost never both read and watched the stories covered on this show and yet this year it's like all of them are stories I've experienced in both media

[@jackketchem6210]

Your dad is adorable, glad he's feeling better! You're his spitting image, that's really cute too ❤❤❤❤

[@guillermopena8412]

Huh. So, just like Hiccup in the movie, the film deviated from the path of its predecessors to follow its own path and it was all the better for it? Neat. Also, I didn't know that the second movie actually pays homage to the in-universe How to Train Your Dragon, as the villain of that movie actually can control dragons by yelling at them.

[@mrchips23711]

Dreamworks Animation sure does have a habit of adapting obscure children's books and changing everything about them.

[@FosukeLordOfError]

20:01 okay counter point David tennant is amazing at this. Each character has a unique voice and sounds like a radio play by professional voice actors.

[@gota7738]

I'm also pretty sure most of the illustration gags of letters, pages, and reports, and definitely the Dragon Guides are included as little asides. I remember my entire family laughing out loud when listening to the 1st audiobook and getting to the long build up and anticlimactic reveal of 'YELL AT IT'.

[@mrBuraiant]

David Tennant's voice for Alvin The Treacherous is phenomenal. A Scotsman doing the voice of a Mancunian putting on a fake French accent! The different voices for the different characters and tribes is an amazing creative feat, in my humble opinion. Ps. Snotlout's character arc broke my heart, Fishleg's journey! Toothless! IS small, green, very rude, has a stutter and is the best of all The Lost Things. We stan Camicazi! CC should have held out for JKR level control, instead of giving it away. I feel better now thanks.

[@L33tSkE3t]

I’m glad your father is doing well and is now in better health. I just turned 29 the other day and have suffered from some pretty severe chronic health issues myself like Chronic Lyme Disease, severe Immunodeficiency, intense chronic neuropathic pain and Hypothalamic, Pituitary, Adrenal Axis Dysfunction among other things my entire adult life. I hope some form of Universal Healthcare system like the NHS comes to the U.S. in some way so that no one else has to go broke for just wanting to have the basic human right that is healthcare…

[@TheOnlyTherazan]

Movie Toothless is a cat as seen by somebody who likes cats. Book Toothless is a cat as seen by somebody who despises cats.

[@AlysIThink101]

Ever since I originally found this series (Which I think was over a year ago if not earlier.) I have been wanting this video, And I am very happy with the result. Also just for anyone who is wondering it does seem like he either hasn't read the later books or is choosing to ignore them based on the fact that he says some things are are proven wrong in later books as well as a few other things.

[@anamelessyoutuber1462]

I'd like to see you do other family movies based on books like The Bad Guys and Diary of a Wimpy Kid someday.

[@mcpherson1222]

The bad guys was based on a book?

[@anamelessyoutuber1462]

@@mcpherson1222 Yes, and it's the reason why that movie had fart jokes.

[@donaldcass9678]

Wimpy kid would be fun

[@gota7738]

I'd love a look at The Bad Guys. Whilst the movie strays on the story, the author was really involved with the movie and so there are shots and scenes taken beat to beat or directly from the comic panels of the first 4 to 5 books. It's fascinating! Even the meteorite has roots in a later twist from the books, and the artbook shows they where even considering incorporating more of it. It makes me wonder if they'll continue with any sequels.

[@osmanyousif7849]

Shrek too.

[@ilovewillowrosenberg]

Honestly even though the books and movies are so incredibly different, both and really great imo

[@isaacdeschain7704]

So, I was a child when I first was read the books and have reread many times. The books series are really worth a read as they age with the readers in theme, character and style and in my opinion don't just get better as the series continues but build on each other to make the individual books better as both going back and forward. When as a child In first watch the movie I was very sad that it was so different. But, I have grown to love the movie and the sequels and in-between shows. In the end they both are excellent as stand alone worlds although very different. I have heavy emotional investment in both, you did them justice. Thank you.

[@catelynh1020]

I live in the midwest and we have two seasons, winter and construction. It's a hyperbole, which is why i accepted the decent weather throughout the movie even though they complain they only have bad weather. I never read the book (even though i was mildly aware of it post watching the second movie), but i love the movies and i felt that, whatever they started with, they made the movie with care and for a wide audience. Many adaptations make the work more child friendly for the big screen, like school for good and evil (may have the name slightly wrong) where the "good" girl actually literally kills someone and continues on trying to say that she's destined for the school for good. But this movie was made family friendly, where kids can watch it, but adults can enjoy it, too.

[@unctrlabyexcite]

As someone who read the books before the movie, I always felt that the spirit of the books was maintained in the movies ❤

[@catslino5037]

Really how come? The tone of the books seems more silly

[@cornnflaek6234]

@@catslino5037 The book series gets darker as it progresses. In my opinion the books tackled more serious issues than the films did, and in a more effective way.

[@sliceofham3737]

@@catslino5037 slavery, war. torture, death, genocide, and more. The books get really dark

[@catslino5037]

@@sliceofham3737 Jeez i get it. I just meant that the tone of the artwork reminded me a bit of Roald Dahl

[@JamieChambers]

I lost my Dad 15 years ago but still miss him everyday. Cheers to your Dad, Dom - hope he has many good years ahead of him.

[@ManuelDornbusch]

Ok, I hear you. The audiobook is missing the cute pictures. But it gains, in exchange, the David Tennant experience. What happened, I imagine somehow has happened like this "I am a Scotsman. How do I know, what a Viking is supposed to sound like? To the heck. I will make them all Scottish" And then Mr. Tennant has a blast of a good time. I am a sucker for the Scottish tongue, and if you are not to the point of giggling, while listening to how much pure bursting fun he has with reading it, you are dead inside. I sort this work of David Tennant next to Tim Curry reading "A series of unfortunate events". Insofar that I might for both not be in the exact intended age bracket, but their "they could read the telephone book to me" voice and the feelable effort they put into particularly this work, makes both series fun for all ages. Well at least for my age and person.

[@Shadowluigi-pj9nq]

Oh god, I hope your dad is ok. My mum recently went through cancer treatment and the NHS was honestly amazing with her. And yes, I live in Scotland so no power is a nightmare