How to Train Your Dragon (animation): Difference between revisions

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'''Hiccup:''' ''[[Running Gag|You just gestured]] to ''all'' of me.''<br />

'''Stoick:''' ''Deal?''<br />

{{tropelist}}

* [[Action Film Quiet Drama Scene]]: Hiccup and Astrid's conversation about why Hiccup didn't kill Toothless when he had the chance, allowing Hiccup to realize how strong he really is.

'''Astrid:''' ...First to {{spoiler|ride one}}, though. }}

* [[Action Girl]]: Astrid and Ruffnut.

* [[Brief Accent Imitation]]: Hiccup uses this early on, describing his father's discontent in his son.

* [[Bring My Brown Pants]]: Gobber briefly mentions the "extra pairs of underwear" during the quiet before the Green Death battle.

'''Gobber:''' -in my undies. Good thing I brought extras! }}

* [[Book Ends]]:

** Hiccup's narration:

'''End:''' This is Berk. It snows nine months out of the year and hails the other three. The food that grows here is tough and tasteless. The people that grow here are even more so. The only upside is the pets. You see, most people have ponies or parrots. We have... dragons. }}

** It begins with Hiccup opening his door, seeing dragons, and immediately slamming the door shut. {{spoiler|It closes with Hiccup slamming the door upon seeing dragons flying about outside. The difference is that by the end, the dragons have been integrated into the community of Berk.}}

* [[Calling the Old Man Out]]: When Hiccup tries to stop his father {{spoiler|from attempting to destroy the dragon's nest, which means the Green Death dragon would wipe them out.}}

* [[Cassandra Truth]]: No one believes Hiccup when he says he hit and downed a Night Fury. [[Crying Wolf|It seems like he may have said it before, though]].

* [[Catch Phrase]]:

'''Tuffnut:''' Oh, I'm hurt! I am very much hurt! }}

* [[The Cavalry]]: {{spoiler|Hiccup and his newly minted dragon rider corps.}}

* [[Incendiary Exponent]]: Monstrous Nightmares attack after ''setting themselves on fire''.

* [[Indy Ploy]]: Snotlout does this when {{spoiler|he jumps from the Green Death so the twins can catch him.}}

* [[Inferred Holocaust]]: Although not seen, it's heavily implied that the casualties for the Viking/Dragon war were really significant. It's very unlikely that everyone survived the battle with the Green Death.

* [[Ink Suit Actor]]: The producers tried to animate Hiccup as closely to Jay Baruchel as possible. Jonah Hill also bears some similarity to his character Snotlout. And while Stoick has [[Badass Beard|too much beard]] to look like [[Gerard Butler]], it's not too far off to see him playing the role in live action.

* [[Jerk Jock]]: Snotlout still. But he gets better!

* [[Jock Dad Nerd Son]]: Part of the driving force of the plot is that Hiccup doesn't live up to his father's expectations, {{spoiler|and still saves the day with skill and smarts as opposed to brute force.}}

* [[Large Ham]]: Tuffnut.

* [[Leitmotif]]: Several, actually. John Powell did the soundtrack, and seems to have taken the approach of writing several melody leitmotifs (a "flying/Hiccup and Toothless" theme, a "holy shit, dragons!" theme, a "romance/Hiccup and Astrid" theme, and a theme for the Green Death, though the soundtrack calls it Green), as well as assigning each major character a signature instrument which tends to pop up in their scenes (warpipes for the Vikings, violins for Astrid, brass instruments for the dragons, etc). Hilariously, one of Hiccup's most recurring instruments is a tinwhistle. Our hero, ladies and gentlemen.

* [[Lightning Bruiser]]: Night Furies, described in the film as "the unholy offspring of Lightning and Death itself", of the Hard-hitting Speedster variety...

* [[Logo Joke]]: During the [[DreamWorks]] [[Vanity Plate]] at the very beginning. If you look closely, you can see {{spoiler|Toothless flying past near the bottom of the screen}}. Since {{spoiler|Toothless is a Night Fury}}, it's ''very'' hard to see unless you know it's there.

* [[Made of Explodium]]: {{spoiler|When the Green Death dies, she/it goes up in a (relatively!) minor mushroom cloud.}}

* [[Multiple-Tailed Beast]]: The Zipplebacks.

* [[My God, What Have I Done?]]: Stoick, after {{spoiler|his [[I Have No Son]] moment}} right after he walks outside and the enormity of what he'd just done hits him. Another moment happens later, when he realizes that {{spoiler|Hiccup was right about the dragon nest, and he's led his people into a fight they can't win}}, and then ''again'' when {{spoiler|it appears Hiccup has died to save them.}}

"[[Meaningful Echo|I did this...]]" }}

* [[Names to Run Away From Really Fast]]:

* [[Now Let Me Carry You]]: Hiccup takes care of Toothless for a majority of the story, from bringing him food to helping him fly after losing part of his tail. By the end of the story, it's Toothless's turn to help Hiccup when {{spoiler|Hiccup loses his left foot and hasn't adjusted to walking with an artificial foot yet}}.

* [[Not So Different]]: Hiccup and Stoick, shown subtly throughout the entire movie, and highlighted in their [[Meaningful Echo|Meaningful Echoes]] (each quoting the other without having heard the line from them). Gobber is aware of this from listening to them complain about one another, and eventually [[Lampshade Hanging|points it out to Stoick]] near the end of the film.

* [[No, You Go First]]:

'''Hiccup:''' Oh man, I should have gone first. }}

* [[Number Two]]: Astrid's role in the climatic battle, directing the rest of Hiccup's flying corps in the fight against the Green Death while Hiccup tries to free Toothless.

** There's a minor one when Hiccup brings Toothless into the village. A sheep notices and goes wide-eyed.

** Stoick's face upon seeing the absolutely ''huge'' Green Death.

** The Green Death itself gets one a few minutes later.

* [[One Dialogue, Two Conversations]]: Stoick appears to have discovered Hiccup's friendship with Toothless and asks why his son has been keeping it a secret from him. Hiccup tries to apologize, Stoick says he's actually ''proud...'' and Hiccup then realizes that his dad is talking about Hiccup doing a good job in Dragon Training.

* [[Papa Wolf]]: Twice in one scene! Hiccup is in the arena with one of the biggest and most dangerous dragons--the Monstrous Nightmare. On hearing Hiccup tell the entire village that they don't have to kill dragons, Stoic the Vast erupts in fury and slams his hammer on one of the metal bars, denting it. Then {{spoiler|when the noise startles the dragon into attacking Hiccup, Toothless hears the boy's scream of fear from miles away, and although he can't fly at this point, claws and tears his way through the forest, breaks through the metal of the arena's cage, then attacks and successfully drives off a dragon ''three times his size''. Stoick also charges in to rescue Hiccup from the Monstrous Nightmare as well, pulling Astrid to safety but unable to rescue Hiccup before Toothless does.}}

* [[Parental Bonus]]: When the boys accidentally attack Ruffnut and Astrid during training:

'''Snotlout:''' Of course, there's nothing wrong with having a [[Hartman Hips|"dragon-esque"]] figure... }}

* [[Peek-a-Bangs]]: Astrid.

** Astrid saying, "That was for [''insert crime here'']. [[Slap Slap Kiss|And that's for everything else]]."

**

'''Hiccup:''' You just gestured to ''all of me!'' }}

**

* [[Savvy Guy, Energetic Girl]]: {{spoiler|Hiccup and Astrid.}}

* [[Say My Name Trailer]]: Some of the advertising spots were Say "Dragons" Trailers.

** There's also the scene when Ruffnut and Tuffnut step into the blind spot of the Nadderhead. Even down to the first couple of camera angles and character movements it's unmistakably a shout out to Riddick in Pitch Black.

* [[Show, Don't Tell]]: Excellent examples through out, such as when Hiccup must [[Don't Think, Feel|not think but feel.]]

* [[Shown Their Work]]:

** All the writing in the movie is in real Younger Futhark runes. The runes are used to spell out English text, though, and it almost never matches what the characters say it says.

** Toothless' flight physics are outstanding, and the "Test Drive" sequence is a great [[Shout-Out]] to the learning curve that real pilots go through (the basic maneuvers, Hiccup's "flying by the numbers", etc).

* [["Shut Up" Kiss]]: {{spoiler|Astrid to Hiccup.}}

* [[Slap Slap Kiss]]: {{spoiler|Astrid}} quite literally to Hiccup, twice.

* [[Sleeper Hit]]: Even though the film debuted at #1 in the box office, its premiere weekend take was judged a disappointment and people hastily wrote it off as a de facto failure. However, the film developed such ecstatic word of mouth that the film just kept going and going until it arguably regained #1 in week 4 and definitely in week 5; it's a box office performance path that almost ''never'' happens nowadays! So, the "disappointment" became the spring pop culture sensation in 2010, finishing a shade under half a billion dollars worldwide when all said and done.

* [[Stout Strength]]: All the adult Vikings are rather large in the midsection, especially Stoick the Vast. Of the children only Fishlegs is like this.

** Lampshaded by Hiccup early on.

'''Hiccup:''' Well, between you and me, the village could do with a little ''less'' feeding, don't you think? }}

* [[Stuff Blowing Up]]:

** Zipplebacks can create explosions when one head breathes gas and the other head generates sparks that ignite it.

* [[Suggestive Collision]]: Between Astrid and Hiccup in the training ring while fighting the Deadly Nadder.

* [[Super Speed]]: The defining characteristic of the Night Fury species it seems. It never actually fought the vikings head-on. Rather, it dive-bombed their village with fireballs and flew away just as quickly.

* [[Squick]]: [[In-Universe]], Hiccup's reaction upon discovering his helmet's origins. Also see [[Tastes Like Friendship]], below.

* [[Trailers Always Spoil]]: Everything about this film, from the trailers to the promotional artwork and even the ''title itself'' spoil the fact that they're going to be riding dragons. The film is essentially a [[How We Got Here]] plot for the viewer.

* [[Training From Hell]]: Dragon training.

'''Fishlegs:''' I'm really beginning to question your teaching methods! }}

* [[Triumphant Reprise]]: As with the [[Dark Reprise]] above, the main motif of the movie is reprised in the scene and track entitled [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKLJpH2g5_k "Battling the Green Death"] (around 4:50), and in the end song ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbbsCTafRNw&feature=related "Coming Back Around"]).

** Considering Hiccup's status as a complete snarker, it's not too much of a leap to assume he was exaggerating for dramatic purposes.

* [[Walking Disaster Area]]: Hiccup whenever he tries to join a battle.

* [["Well Done, Son" Guy]]: Stoick to Hiccup, at least at first. He never really quits wanting his father's respect, but as the story progresses he's able to put other priorities first.

* [[What Could Possibly Go Wrong?]]: Said word for word by Gobber when convincing Stoic to let Hiccup join dragon training instead of staying in the blacksmith shop. Subverted in that it works.

* [[Anticlimax]]: Gobber's treasure the Boneknapper has been chasing him for years for is {{spoiler|a bone he uses as a belt buckle.}}

** The Boneknapper looks utterly terrifying, [[Vocal Dissonance|but it can not roar]].

* [[Artificial Limbs]]: Gobber not only sports his normal hammer and such, but also a broom, eggbeater, and guitar.

* [[Art Shift]]: Gobber's flashback stories are told in 2D animation.

* [[Happiness in Slavery]]: {{spoiler|Toothless rejects and ''smashes'' Hiccup's gift of a new tailfin that lets him fly on his own.}}

* [[Lethal Chef]]: Astrid invents a revolting new holiday drink called "yaknog."

* [[Made of Explodium]]: {{spoiler|Hatching Gronckle eggs}} explode rather violently. The adult dragons offset this by pushing them into pools of water.

* [[Mind Control Eyes]]: All the dragons' eyes shrink as they leave for an inexplicable mass migration, reacting almost similarly to when they were controlled by the Red Death. Even Toothless gets them suddenly {{spoiler|even though he was only flying away to find Hiccup's helmet.}}

* [[Mundane Utility]]: Turns out Nadder spines are great for hanging Snoggletog decorations!

* [[Oh Crap]]: Astrid's reaction when {{spoiler|the dragon eggs start exploding.}}

* [[Ridiculously Cute Critter]]: {{spoiler|The baby dragons are ''adorable.''}}

* [[Say My Name]]: Three of the teens' dragons are named here: Fishlegs' Gronckle is Meatlug, Astrid's Nadder is Stormfly, and Snotlout's Monstrous Nightmare is Hookfang.