DreamWorks’ How to Train Your Dragon has soared into the hearts of audiences worldwide, becoming a beloved animated franchise. From heartwarming characters to breathtaking animation and a compelling story, it’s no wonder fans are captivated by the Viking world of Berk and its dragon companions. If you’re looking to dive into this epic saga, you might be wondering about the correct How to Train Your Dragon movie order. But beyond just watching the films in the right sequence, have you ever considered the intricate storytelling that makes the first movie so special?
Beyond the simple question of how to train your dragon movie order, lies a deeper appreciation for the cinematic artistry at play. The original How to Train Your Dragon film isn’t just a fantastic adventure; it’s a masterclass in narrative structure, employing a technique known as chiasmus. This sophisticated structure enhances the film’s themes of unity, understanding, and the beautiful reversal of conflict.
In this guide, we’ll not only lay out the how to train your dragon movie order for your viewing pleasure but also explore the fascinating chiasmus structure within the first film, revealing another layer of brilliance to this animated classic.
Understanding the How to Train Your Dragon Movie Order
For those eager to embark on a journey through Berk, here’s the chronological release order of the How to Train Your Dragon franchise, ensuring you experience the story as it unfolded:
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How to Train Your Dragon (2010) – The movie that started it all, introducing us to Hiccup, Toothless, and the world of Viking-dragon conflict.
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Gift of the Night Fury (2011) – A short film set between the first and second movies, focusing on the Vikings’ winter holiday and the dragons’ mysterious departure.
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How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014) – The adventure continues as Hiccup and Toothless encounter new dragons, discover hidden worlds, and face a formidable threat to peace.
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How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019) – The final chapter in the trilogy, where Hiccup must make difficult choices to protect his dragon friends and ensure the future of both Vikings and dragons.
While there are also television series set in the How to Train Your Dragon universe, focusing on these four key releases provides the core narrative experience for fans wanting to follow Hiccup and Toothless’s main story arc. Now that you know the how to train your dragon movie order, let’s delve into what makes the first film so narratively compelling.
The Brilliant Chiasmus Structure of How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
How to Train Your Dragon utilizes a sophisticated story structure known as chiasmus. Imagine a mirror reflecting the first half of a story in reverse in the second half. This is essentially chiasmus – a narrative technique that creates a balanced and deeply thematic structure. Originating from ancient storytelling traditions, chiasmus provides a sense of completeness, with the narrative journey beginning and ending in a similar place, but with profound transformations occurring along the way.
In How to Train Your Dragon, this chiasmus structure beautifully reinforces the central themes of reconciliation and transformed perspectives. The initial conflict between Vikings and dragons gradually reverses into an alliance, mirroring the structural inversion of the story itself. This deliberate construction elevates the film from a simple adventure to a richly layered narrative experience.
Let’s break down the chiasmus in How to Train Your Dragon to fully appreciate its intricate design.
Chiasmus Breakdown: A Detailed Look at “How to Train Your Dragon”
The following breakdown illustrates the parallel events in How to Train Your Dragon, demonstrating its remarkable chiasmus structure. Each point in the first half of the movie (A-W) has a corresponding point in the second half (W-A) that mirrors or inverts it, creating a powerful narrative symmetry.
A. “This Is Berk”
Hiccup’s opening and closing monologues act as perfect bookends to the film, highlighting the dramatic shift in Berk’s relationship with dragons.
In the beginning, Berk is presented as a place with both good and bad, the primary “pests” being dragons. Hiccup narrates, “The only problems are the pests. You see, most places have mice or mosquitoes. We have… dragons.”
By the film’s end, this perspective is completely inverted. Berk’s difficulties are still acknowledged, but dragons are now seen as a positive, integral part of life. Hiccup concludes, “The only upsides are the pets. While other places have ponies or parrots, we have… dragons.” The shift from “pests” to “pets” encapsulates the film’s central transformation.
B. Dragons in Berk
The presence and perception of dragons in Berk undergo a complete reversal from the film’s beginning to its conclusion.
Initially, Berk is under constant attack by dragons. Vikings are in a perpetual state of war, and dragons are seen as purely destructive enemies. During the opening dragon raid, the atmosphere is chaotic and dangerous, with villagers yelling warnings like, “Night Fury! Get down!” out of fear. Hiccup is also seen as an unwelcome presence in this chaos, symbolizing his initial misfit status.
In stark contrast, the film concludes with dragons living harmoniously in Berk. They are no longer invaders but cohabitants, even playfully interacting with the Vikings. When Toothless appears at the end, the villagers’ cries of “Night Fury! Get down!” are now filled with joy and familiarity, reflecting acceptance and affection. Hiccup, once a misfit, is now celebrated, representing his integration and acceptance into the community, mirroring the dragons’ integration.
C. Toothless and Hiccup Maimed
Both Hiccup and Toothless experience a significant physical loss, creating a poignant parallel that deepens their bond.
Early in the film, Hiccup’s bola shot injures Toothless, resulting in the loss of half of his tail fin. This act, though unintentional, marks the beginning of their intertwined destinies. Immediately after this event, Hiccup himself is nearly killed by another dragon but is saved by Stoick, emphasizing his initial dependence on Viking strength and protection.
Later, in the climax, during the battle with the Red Death (referred to as Green Death in the original article, likely a minor error), Toothless shields Hiccup from a fiery blast, saving his life but resulting in Hiccup losing his left foot. This mirrors Toothless’s earlier injury, and just as Stoick saved Hiccup before, Toothless now saves Hiccup. These mirroring injuries symbolize their shared vulnerability and interdependence, solidifying their bond beyond friendship to a deep, mutual understanding.
D. Hiccup the Dragon Slayer
Stoick’s initial dismissal of Hiccup as a dragon slayer is directly contradicted by Hiccup’s ultimate act of bravery.
Initially, Stoick declares, “You’re many things, Hiccup, but a dragon slayer is not one of them.” This statement reflects the traditional Viking view of strength and dragon fighting, where Hiccup clearly doesn’t fit in.
However, Hiccup defies this expectation by ultimately defeating the Red Death. While he doesn’t slay dragons in the traditional Viking sense, his strategic thinking and bond with Toothless allow him to overcome the massive dragon, saving Berk. This act proves Stoick wrong and redefines what it means to be a “dragon slayer” – not through brute force, but through understanding and connection. It’s worth noting that Hiccup never truly becomes a dragon slayer in spirit; his victory is about protection and peace, not conquest.
E. “Occupational Hazard”
The phrase “occupational hazard” is used by Stoick and then echoed by Hiccup, but with contrasting contexts and meanings.
When Stoick rallies the Vikings for a dangerous mission to the dragons’ nest, he dismisses their fears by saying, “We’re Vikings. It’s an occupational hazard.” Here, it’s a tough, almost fatalistic acceptance of the dangers inherent in Viking life.
Later, when Stoick tries to dissuade Hiccup from facing the Red Death, Hiccup wryly uses the same phrase, “We’re Vikings. It’s an occupational hazard.” In Hiccup’s mouth, it becomes a statement of defiance and self-determination. He’s embracing the Viking spirit of bravery, but on his own terms, fighting for his beliefs and friends, not just out of traditional duty. The echoed phrase highlights Hiccup’s transformation and his redefined Viking identity.
F. Freeing Toothless
Both Hiccup and Stoick perform acts of freeing Toothless from bonds, but with different motivations and outcomes.
Initially, after capturing Toothless, Hiccup is unable to kill him and instead chooses to release him from the bolas. Toothless, upon being freed, reacts with aggression, screeching at Hiccup before escaping. This freedom is born out of Hiccup’s internal conflict and nascent understanding of dragons, but it’s met with fear and anger from Toothless.
Later, when Toothless is chained underwater by the Vikings, Stoick, having finally understood Hiccup’s bond with dragons, frees Toothless himself by breaking his chains. This time, Toothless’s reaction is one of gratitude and loyalty; he rescues Stoick and invites Hiccup to join him. The act of freeing Toothless transforms from an act of conflicted mercy to one of understanding and reconciliation, leading to a positive and unifying outcome.
(Points G through W follow a similar detailed analysis, mirroring and inverting events as described in the original article. For brevity, I will summarize the remaining points, maintaining the structure and insights while adhering to the requested length and focus.)
G. Sneaky Hiccup – Hiccup sneaking behind Stoick to avoid dragon training contrasts with Hiccup and friends sneaking behind the Red Death to initiate their attack. Initial sneakiness is avoidance, later sneakiness is strategic initiative.
H. “Welcome to Dragon Training” – The initial dragon training for combat becomes a new dragon training focused on understanding and partnership. Training shifts from aggression to alliance.
I. “So Why Didn’t You?” – Hiccup questions Toothless’s lack of aggression, while Astrid questions Hiccup’s choice not to kill Toothless. Both questions probe the changing nature of Viking-dragon interaction.
J. Toothless Imprisoned – Toothless trapped in a valley due to Hiccup’s actions mirrors Toothless trapped on a Viking ship due to Hiccup’s actions, escalating Hiccup’s responsibility and guilt.
K. Dragon Insights in the Mess Hall – Hiccup learns traditional Viking dragon knowledge from a book in the mess hall, contrasted with Stoick learning real dragon secrets from Hiccup in the same mess hall, inverting the source of knowledge.
L. “Take Us In” – Stoick blindly ordering ships into the fog to find the dragon nest contrasts with Stoick confidently directing Toothless to “take us home” to the dragon island, shifting from blind aggression to guided understanding.
M. Protecting Hiccup from Dragon Attacks – Astrid accidentally protecting Hiccup during training prefigures Astrid and Toothless deliberately protecting Hiccup from a dragon in the arena, moving from accidental defense to intentional protection.
N. Entering and Escaping the Valley – Hiccup entering the valley to help Toothless reverses to Toothless escaping the valley to help Hiccup, showing reciprocal care and growing bond.
O. Hiccup Tries to Connect with Dragons – Hiccup cautiously attempts to touch Toothless in the valley, dropping his blade, which mirrors Hiccup in the arena discarding weapons to connect with the Monstrous Nightmare, demonstrating consistent intent for peace.
P. The “Honor” of Killing Their First Dragon – Gobber describing the honor of dragon killing contrasts with Astrid questioning Hiccup about the impending dragon kill, highlighting the shift from glorifying dragon slaying to questioning its morality.
Q. Toothless’s Unexpected Rides – Toothless taking Hiccup on an unexpected joyful flight after getting a new tail fin contrasts with Toothless taking Hiccup and Astrid on an unexpected, urgent flight to the Red Death, shifting from playful discovery to serious mission.
R. Teamwork – Viking teens learning teamwork in training parallels Hiccup and Toothless using teamwork to convince Astrid, expanding teamwork to interspecies cooperation.
S. Going to Toothless’s Valley – Hiccup eagerly returning to the valley for training contrasts with Hiccup rushing back to the valley to protect Toothless, shifting focus from personal learning to protective action.
T. Killing Dragons with Kindness – Hiccup defeating a Gronckle with gentle methods in training mirrors Hiccup subduing a Gronckle with kindness in the arena test, showcasing the consistent effectiveness of his non-violent approach.
U. Hiccup Hides His Handiwork – Hiccup hiding Toothless and his dragon-friendly activities from Astrid and villagers contrasts with Hiccup hiding his dragon sketches from Stoick, shifting from general secrecy to paternal concealment.
V. “Everything We Know About You Is Wrong” – Stoick realizing his expectations of Hiccup were wrong after the failed dragon raid mirrors Hiccup realizing his understanding of dragons was wrong after his successful flight, both characters experiencing paradigm shifts.
W. The Test Flight – Hiccup’s initial clumsy test flight relying on a cheat sheet contrasts with his confident, instinct-driven flight through rocks without the cheat sheet, symbolizing his growth from dependence to intuition and mastery.
Conclusion: A Beautifully Structured Story
How to Train Your Dragon is more than just an animated adventure; it’s a testament to masterful storytelling. The use of chiasmus elevates the narrative, creating a rich tapestry of mirrored events and thematic reversals that resonate deeply with audiences. Understanding the how to train your dragon movie order is just the first step. Appreciating the intricate structure of the original film enhances the entire viewing experience.
From the opening depiction of conflict to the concluding harmony, the film’s journey is beautifully mirrored in its structure. Hiccup and Toothless’s relationship, the evolving perspectives of Vikings and dragons, and the overarching theme of understanding and acceptance are all amplified by this elegant narrative design.
So, as you embark on your How to Train Your Dragon movie marathon, remember to appreciate not only the heartwarming story and stunning animation but also the underlying structural brilliance that makes the first film a true cinematic gem. Whether you’re a long-time fan or a newcomer to Berk, understanding the how to train your dragon movie order and the chiasmus within the first film promises a richer and more rewarding viewing experience.
