The following contains spoilers for How to Train Your Dragon, now playing in theatersHow to Train Your Dragon may be very similar to the original film of the same name, but the live-action remake does make some pretty specific changes to the narrative and characters. Based on the 2010 film of the same name, How to Train Your Dragon tells the same overarching story about Hiccup, an inventive Viking teen who yearns to be accepted by his tribe of dragon-hunting warriors.

However, Hiccup’s world is turned upside down when he befriends one instead of killing it, exposing him (and all of his village) to a surprising truth. The plot, world, and characters of How to Train Your Dragon are largely similar to the source material. However, there are some specific changes that have been made to certain characters and moments, fleshing them out in effective ways. Here are the biggest differences between the original animated How to Train Your Dragon and the live-action remake, including how it impacts the film’s ending and sequel set-up.

10

The Vikings Of Berk Are Far More Diverse

The New Film Justifies The Diverse Casting With Historical Precedent

One of the most distinctive changes to How to Train Your Dragon in the leap to live-action is the diversity of Berk, which underscores the more grounded aspects of the fantasy film. In the animated film, all of the citizens of Berk were depicted as being Caucasian. By contrast, there are people of several ethnicities among the Vikings of Berk in the live-action, with that diversity bleeding into the core supporting characters thanks to Astrid and Fishlegs being played by BIPOC actors. This added diversity is even addressed early in the film as part of the worldbuilding for Berk.

During a meeting with the various Vikings of his tribe ahead of another mission to find the dragon nest, Stoick directly references how Berk is composed of the best dragon hunters (and their descendants) from everywhere that Viking explorers reached in real life history. This includes representatives from Europe, Asia, Africa, and beyond. This little touch builds out the scope of the dragon threat in this universe, as well as quickly gives an in-universe justification for the production to represent a wider audience.

9

Astrid Dislikes Hiccup For A Specific Reason

Astrid And Hiccup’s Conflict Is Rooted In Privilege

In both versions of How to Train Your Dragon, Hiccup is depicted as an unpopular outsider within his tribe. His peers are typically shown mocking him from afar and to his face. While Astrid doesn’t pick on him as much, she’s aloof and frustrated by his sudden rise in popularity. In the original, though, that frustration is less fleshed out. One of the bigger (and better) changes for the live-action adaptation is the room afforded to Nico Parker’s version of Astrid, who clarifies her frustration with Hiccup stems from the privilege he unwittingly enjoys as the son of the chief.

Astrid has clear ambitions to lead the tribe one day, something Hiccup doesn’t deny would make a lot of sense. Astrid’s respect for Stoick makes her decision to stand by Hiccup in the dragon ring all the more important, as does her evolution into a field leader for the younger Vikings in the final battle of the film. Astrid’s problems with Hiccup are more well-thought-out in the new version of How to Train Your Dragon, giving her complaints a greater sense of personality and ensuring her problems with Hiccup feel justified.

8

Snoutlout’s Arc Is Fleshed Out

Snoutlout Is A More Sympathetic Character

Snoutlout is another one of the young Vikings in How to Train Your Dragon, serving as the most antagonistic of Hiccup’s peer group. The original Snoutlout is also arguably one of the elements of the original How to Train Your Dragon that has aged the worst, as the one-note bully character primarily exists to complicate things for Hiccup. The live-action version of the character is still a bully, but his more aggressive moments are toned down. Snoutlout actually gets one of the more distinct changes in the film, with his father Spitelout having a larger presence in the story.

Spitelout is played by Peter Serafinowicz, who previously starred in films like Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Guardians of the Galaxy, Sing, John Wick: Chapter 2 — and alongside his How to Train Your Dragon co-star Nick Frost in films like Shaun of the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ.

Relegated to background status in the original film, the largely silent Spitelout serves as a Viking captain and ally to Stoick. He also has little concern for his son, often ignoring Snoutlout’s attempts to impress him. In this way, the new film makes Snoutlout a more direct contrast to Hiccup, with both characters struggling to earn the respect and admiration of their fathers. In the end, both of them do so — it gives Snoutlout a happier ending and helps solidify the more sympathetic version of the character that appears in the film.

7

The Thorston Twins Are No Longer Identical

Ruffnut And Tuffnut Are A Bit Wackier

Two of the more memorable supporting characters in How to Train Your Dragon are the twins, Ruffnut and Tuffnut Thorston. In the original film, the pair were identical twins who were largely used as comic relief. The versions that appear in the live-action are not identical, although they seem to be under the impression. They are also established as being older than the other teens because they keep being held back during training.

The physical differences even extend to their hair color, with the pair having Bronwyn James’ red hair instead of the original character’s blonde locks. The differences between the pair may become more pronounced in potential sequels. In the original animated trilogy, Ruffnut ended up getting more dedicated screentime to her romance subplots, while Tuffnut shifted more into a fully supporting role.

6

Fishlegs Is More Friendly

Fishlegs Actually Tries To Save Hiccup In One Scene

In both versions of How to Train Your Dragon, Fishlegs is depicted as a nerdy and enthusiastic dragon expert who is quick to share his knowledge with anyone who is curious. While the character was always shown to be one of the less aggressive bullies towards Hiccup, he proves to be far friendlier in the live-action film. In the new version of the story, Fishlegs’ enthusiasm to share information about the dragons is geared towards everyone and is depicted in a far more earnest way than the info dumps of the original film.

Fishlegs also notably tries to get involved during Hiccup’s fateful “first kill.” When things go sideways and the dragon begins actively chasing Hiccup, Fishlegs actually leans through the chain fence in an attempt to help him escape. It’s a small moment that is thwarted by the dragon, but it’s also one that speaks to the greater sense of acceptance that the live-action film drops on Hiccup. It’s a small tweak, but one that speaks to the overall softening of the Berk bullies from the original animated film.

5

Gobber’s Missing Leg Is Different

Gobber’s False Leg Was Tweaked To Make The Character Easier For Nick Frost

Gobber is largely the same in both versions of How to Train Your Dragon, with the live-action Nick Frost version retaining the prickly edge but soft center that defined the original character. However, there’s a minor tweak to the physical build of the character, which reflects a real-life condition for Frost. As Frost explained to Screen Rant during an interview for the film, Gobber’s missing limbs were tweaked a little bit while on set.

In the original film, Gobber lost his right leg to a previous dragon attack (as well as his left arm). However, the live-action version of the character has his left leg missing. This is because Frost had a very bad knee and had even gotten it mended in surgery. To accommodate the actor, Dean DeBlois changed it so that Gobber’s left leg is missing, which made it easier for Frost to take part in the scenes.

4

The How To Train Your Dragon Remake Cut A Scene From The Original

A Cute Tease Of The Climax Was Cut From The New Film

While there are many aspects of the new How to Train Your Dragon that are sH๏τ-for-sH๏τ identical with the film that inspired it, there’s one notable moment from the original that didn’t make the cut for the live-action version. One of the best scenes in both versions if Hiccup and Toothless’ first successful flight, which takes them above Berk in a thrilling sequence. In the new version of How to Train Your Dragon, the successful flight is moved past as soon as it’s done.

It’s a small moment, but one that serves as an important clue towards the climax of the film

In the original version, Hiccup and Toothless take some time after the flight to rest on a small cliffside. There, they are greeted by a number of small baby dragons, which Hiccup and Toothless interact with. It’s a small moment, but one that serves as an important clue towards the climax of the film. Toothless blasts a small fireball into one of the baby dragons before it can breathe fire, stunning it. Hiccup notes that dragons aren’t as impervious to fire on the inside, which ultimately proves to be how Toothless can defeat the Read Death in the film’s climax.

3

Valka Is Mentioned More Often

Valka’s “Death” Could Be Teasing Her Appearance In The Sequel

One of the more subtle and effective changes in How to Train Your Dragon is the greater attention paid to Hiccup’s seemingly deceased mother, Valka. She doesn’t appear in either the live-action or the animated version of the story, but she’s only really mentioned when Stoick gifts a helmet made of her breastplate to Hiccup. In the live-action version, it’s more overt that Valka was killed during a dragon attack, with the lingering trauma of implied to be fueling Stoick’s hatred for the dragons.

Valka’s death being a prime motivator for Hiccup and Stoick is an interesting choice for the live-action film, especially with the benefit of the animated movies establishing that Valka is alive. One of the big reveals of How to Train Your Dragon 2 is the revelation that Valka survived and actually was taken in by dragons, leading her to become a defender for the species before reuniting with her family. With that in mind, those teases feel more like a deliberate set-up for Valka to appear in the sequel to How to Train Your Dragon, which has already been confirmed.

2

The Dragon’s Nest Is More Dangerous

Stoick’s Trip Into The Dragon Nest Is More Like A Horror Film

One of the natural tonal tweaks to How to Train Your Dragon is the way the new film embraces a slightly darker tone. Because of the shift away from a more colorful and broad animated palette, the new How to Train Your Dragon‘s blows land a bit harder, the world is a bit grittier, and the dragons are a bit scarier. This is never more clear than in the scene where Stoick leads the Vikings in search of the dragon nest.

In the original, the action is largely relegated to off-screen. In the new version, however, the Vikings encounter a mᴀssive dragon underneath the water and find themselves ambushed by the creatures. The scene is far more rooted in horror imagery than the rest of the film. adding a bit of tension to the sequence that was absent from the original.

1

How To Train Your Dragon’s Tone Is Different In Live-Action

How To Train Your Dragon Is A More Serious And Dramatic Story

The biggest difference between How to Train Your Dragon and the animated original is the tone — a slight tweak that impacts every other change made in the narrative. While the two versions are largely identical in terms of raw plot and overall character arc, the tone of the film is darker across the board. Hiccup and Stoick’s arguments are more combative, with the live-action film drawing more attention to the emotional pain Stoick is unwittingly putting his son through by jokingly belittling him to the other Vikings.

The tonal tweak of How to Train Your Dragon ensures that the film, while largely similar to the animated original, still feels like a unique piece instead of just a sH๏τ-for-sH๏τ remake.

The natural stakes that come with a real-life version of the story over an animated take on the material end up making all of the arguments land a bit harsher. It also makes the moments of grief (such as when Stoick believes Hiccup has died) more impactful. The tonal tweak of How to Train Your Dragon ensures that the film, while largely similar to the animated original, still feels like a unique piece instead of just a sH๏τ-for-sH๏τ remake.