How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019)
Directed by Dean DeBlois
As Hiccup fulfills his dream of creating a peaceful dragon utopia, Toothless’ discovery of an untamed, elusive mate draws the Night Fury away. When danger mounts at home and Hiccup’s reign as village chief is tested, both dragon and rider must make impossible decisions to save their kind.
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8 films that influenced this film
What critics say influenced How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
Both the original and follow-up sequel earned Academy Award nominations for best animated feature – a feat only matched by Shrek and Kung Fu Panda since the category was created back in 2001.
Whether it’s talking donkeys in “Shrek” or dancing penguins in “Madagascar,” (smile and wave boys, smile and wave), the studio has always had a fire in its belly when it comes to characterization.
So, although “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” may be the third film in DreamWorks’ series, in many ways, it’s a first: After getting the greenlight to continue the saga, writer-director Dean DeBlois conceived installments two and three together, constructing a trilogy that enriches the original while also serving to entertain newcomers who know none of the backstory — and that’s key, considering that box office dipped nearly 20% between “How to Train Your Dragon” (DWA’s most successful non-“Shrek” feature) and its sequel, and the studio needs to regain some of that audience this time around.
In its early days, the studio directly copycatted Pixar, with movies like Antz and Shark Tale attempting to ride the coattails of A Bug’s Life and Finding Nemo .
When Dreamworks Animation first made its mark with Antz back in 1998, hopes were high that this would be the competition needed to take on the mighty Pixar.
Written and directed by franchise veteran Dean DeBlois, The Hidden World is aesthetically as beautiful as ever, with melancholy themes reminiscent of Toy Story 3 .
The gold standard has always been Toy Story 3, which (at the time) wrapped up Pixar’s marvellous franchise in spectacular fashion.
The Hidden World does eventually build to an emotional Hail Mary, its very own Toy Story 3 tearjerker of a trilogy conclusion.
(The effect reminded me of the cloaking device in 1987’s Predator .)
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Other hit films such as Kung Fu Panda and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse are stirring tales of heroism and maturity; recent Pixar classics such as Coco and Inside Out examined the bonds of the family unit through the eyes of kids on the verge of growing up.
Both the original and follow-up sequel earned Academy Award nominations for best animated feature – a feat only matched by Shrek and Kung Fu Panda since the category was created back in 2001.
Lovers of these mythological beings can choose from a wide selection of positive film portraits including The Neverending Story (1984), Mulan (1998), Dragonheart (1996), Spirited Away (2002) and Pete's Dragon (2016).
The movies give a fresh, computer animated spin to the gratifying, one-size-fits-all pleasures of, say, "Born Free," "Benji" and "The Black Stallion."
Lovers of these mythological beings can choose from a wide selection of positive film portraits including The Neverending Story (1984), Mulan (1998), Dragonheart (1996), Spirited Away (2002) and Pete's Dragon (2016).
Writer/director Dean DeBlois (How to Train Your Dragon films, Mulan) reintroduces the same fun characters but introduces a beautiful new one to make one dragon’s life more interesting.