It’s been nine years since the world met the young Viking teenager named Hiccup and his adorable dragon Toothless, after the release of ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ back in 2010. Featuring the voices of Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, T. J. Miller, and Kristen Wiig, the film was loosely based on the 2003 book of the same name by British author Cressida Cowell.
It became a box-office hit, turning it into a franchise. It’s sequel, released in 2014, featured the returning cast along with new additions Cate Blanchett, Djimon Hounsou, and Kit Harington and takes place five years after the first film, featuring Hiccup and his friends as young adults.
And this year, the third and final installment of the beloved animated film series hits cinemas. LionhearTV gives 5 reasons why ‘How to Train Your Dragon 3’ is an epic must-watch.
1. The whole gang is back!
The whole cast of the hit franchise returns for this third and final installment of the beloved saga, led by Jay Baruchel (This Is the End, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice) as Hiccup, America Ferrera (Ugly Betty) as Astrid, F. Murray Abraham (The Grand Budapest Hotel, Isle of Dogs) as Grimmel, Cate Blanchett (The Lord of the Rings, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Hobbit, Thor: Ragnarok) as Valka, Gerard Butler (Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life, 300, Olympus Has Fallen) as Stoick the Vast, Craig Ferguson as Gobber the Belch, Jonah Hill as Snotlout Jorgenson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Kick-Ass, Pitch Perfect) as Fishlegs Ingerman, Kristen Wiig, and Justin Rupple as Ruffnut and Tuffnut Thorston, Kit Harington as Eret, and David Tennant as Spitelout, and Ivar the Witless.
2. Fantastic story and breathtaking visuals.
What began as an unlikely friendship between an adolescent Viking and a fearsome Night Fury dragon has become an epic trilogy spanning their lives. In this next chapter, Hiccup and Toothless will finally discover their true destinies: the village chief as ruler of Berk alongside Astrid, and the dragon as leader of his own kind. As both ascend, the darkest threat they’ve yet faced—as well as the appearance of a female Night Fury—will test the bonds of their relationship like never before.
The third and final installment of this beloved franchise also features more realistic and detailed animation like never before, giving these characters and their world a much vibrant look and realistic feel. Audiences will surely be enthralled with it’s elaborate flying sequences as we get to fly along with Hiccup, Toothless, and the rest of the gang. All of this thanks to the contribution of the the Oscar winning British genius and the film’s visual consultant, Roger Deakins.
3. The action-packed adventure.
For those who are looking for some excitement, you will surely enjoy this third installment of the hit animated film series. We get to follow Hiccup and his gang as they faced dragon hunters and rescue captured dragons in order to bring them back to Berk. The film even had a nod to the ‘Star Wars’ films in one sequence as Hiccup attacks a poacher during one of their rescues, clad in dragon-scale armor and a flaming sword that’s like their own version of a lightsaber. Director Dean DeBlois made sure that kids and their parents will surely be thrilled by this action-packed fantasy adventure filled with explosive fight sequences, swashbuckling set-pieces, and yes, more dragons!
4. Hiccup and Toothless along the years.
Unlike most animated film series, ‘How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World’ features one of the most unique character arcs as it follows a group of Viking misfits turn from awkward teens to mature adults along the years. It’s particularly focused on Hiccup and how meeting the friendly dragon Toothless changed his life, and the rest of their world. We got to see the two of them grow up together and overcome one obstacle over another. From that thin young boy, he is now a confident Viking leader for their community. And Toothless, who became his adorable pet turned loyal friend and ally, also gets a chance to grow up in this sequel as he meets a fellow Fury and possibly, the lifelong partner that he was looking for.
5. The heartfelt finale.
Of course, being the third and final film in the series, this one’s gonna get a bit emotional and heartbreaking. Here, we get to witness Hiccup and Toothless bid goodbye to one another as the time for them to go on their separate ways have finally come. It’s an ending that somehow is reminiscent of ‘Toy Story 3′ tearjerker finale, and is almost on a Pixar level at it’s best. It was the perfect conclusion to an epic saga almost a decade in the making.
So don’t miss Hiccup and Toothless’ last flight. Catch ‘How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World‘ now showing in cinemas nationwide!
