What’s the secret sauce that makes certain movies stand out? It’s their screenplay. An incredible script is what turns a good movie into a phenomenon. In fact, some of the most popular films in history began with an idea or a piece of writing on a page. How to Train Your Dragon is one of those rare animated movies that isn’t just good but also has staying power. This article will take you through its script and show you how to write your own scripts like this in the future.
The Script for How to Train Your Dragon – Overall Summary
How to Train Your Dragon is a fantasy adventure about a boy named Hiccup who lives in a Viking village. When his fellow villagers discover that he can’t roar like them, he is shunned by the rest of the village and treated like an outcast. After he discovers a dragon and becomes friends with it, Hiccup tries to teach his villagers that dragons aren’t so bad. The dragon, named Toothless, and Hiccup become friends and start a school for dragons where they can learn to coexist with humans. A war between humans and dragons looms on the horizon, and Hiccup must try to stop it before it’s too late. The movie is enjoyable for all ages, with plenty of excitement and humor to go around. It’s based on a book series of the same name written by Cressida Cowell.
How to Train Your Dragon Summary – What’s in a Script?
When it comes to the difference between a screenplay and a novel, the most notable distinction is that a screenplay is written almost entirely in dialogue. For example, the opening paragraph of a screenplay for How to Train Your Dragon looks something like this: EXT. VIKING VILLAGE – DAY HICCUP (17) sits alone on the edge of a cliff. He’s skinny, nervous, a bit of a loner. He’s A beautiful view of the sea behind him. HICCUP And here’s how the screenplay would conclude: INT. VIKING VILLAGE – NIGHT HICCUP runs down the path towards us. The sky is on fire. The entire village is burning. HICCUP We hear the shouts of VIKINGS, the sounds of battle, the clanging of swords. A fight to the death. HICCUP VIKING SHOUTING HICCUP EXT. VIKING VILLAGE – NIGHT We see the silhouettes of VIKINGS fighting dragons. HICCUP’S PARENTS are among them. HICCUP
Screenplay for HTTYD: Characters
Hiccup – The protagonist of the story. Hiccup is a teenage Viking with a large gap in his teeth and a large nose. He speaks very softly but is incredibly smart. He’s a bit of an outcast in the village due to his inability to roar. He is also the son of the chief and his only heir. Overall, Hiccup is a kind and caring individual. With the help of his dragon, Toothless, he is able to decrease the hostility between humans and dragons. Toothless – Hiccup’s dragon and best friend. He is a very intelligent and caring dragon, who is also quite clumsy and silly. After he is captured, Toothless is given an electrical shock and forced to live in complete darkness. He begins to resent humans because of this and fears them. After Hiccup discovers him, they become friends and Toothless is able to regain his sight. Together, they train other dragons how to coexist with humans. Astrid – Hiccup’s girlfriend and closest human friend. She is very beautiful and athletic with a bit of an aggressive streak. After Hiccup and Astrid break up for a short time, Hiccup admits that he is in love with her.
Astrid and Hiccup are not only in love but also good friends and teammates. Astrid also becomes a dragon trainer after Hiccup. Gobber – Hiccup’s trainer. He is a large, muscular, bald man with a wooden leg. Gobber is the best blacksmith in the village, and the one who created Toothless’s mechanical legs. He trains Hiccup to fight dragons and is incredibly patient and kind with him. After Hiccup becomes the chief, he appoints Gobber as the new chieftain. Granpa – Hiccup’s grandpa. He is a very wise and kind man who teaches Hiccup how to use his words to solve problems. Because of this, Hiccup is able to solve many problems throughout the story. Granpa is also the keeper of the book of dragons, which he gives to Hiccup so that he can learn about the different species of dragons.
The Screenplay for How to Train Your Dragon: Dialogue
One of the most important parts of any screenplay is the dialogue. It is what breathes life into a script and makes the characters come alive. With that in mind, the dialogue for How to Train Your Dragon is sure to be amazing. The first example here is the conversation between Hiccup and Gobber, when they first meet and Hiccup begins training with Gobber. In this opening scene, Gobber is giving Hiccup very harsh criticism. GOBBER GOBBER HICCUP GOBBER
Additional Scenes and Script Notes for HTTYD
– The book does not mention who Hiccup’s father is. The movie does not mention it either, but he is heavily implied to be Stoic the Vast. This is because the movie shows Hiccup inheriting his father’s helmet.
– The movie also does not mention Toothless’s back story, but in the book, he relates that he was shot down by a soldier.
– The movie ends with Hiccup and Astrid kissing. The book ends with Hiccup and Astrid holding hands.
– Also, the movie has a few extra scenes that are not mentioned in the book. For example, during the scene when Hiccup and Astrid are flying on Toothless, we see them flying towards the setting sun.
– And in the scene when Hiccup and Stoic are fighting, we see that Hiccup is using his own sword and shield, implying that he stole them from his father.
– Lastly, the movie makes one change to the dragon sanctuary that isn’t made in the book. The book says that the sanctuary is open to all dragons, while the movie says that it is open to all dragon species. This may seem like a minor detail, but it has major implications for the plot.
Overall, the screenplay for How to Train Your Dragon is an example of how great screenplays should be written. The dialogue is funny and engaging, and the story is a classic coming-of-age tale that everyone can enjoy. This screenplay is an excellent resource for anyone looking to write their own screenplays in the future.
