Written by Trinity Ray. Graphic by Nick Latham.
Live-action adaptations are no surprise for fans anymore, and while a lot may be satisfied with the original, there is always a lingering curiosity that most cannot suppress. “How to Train Your Dragon” (2010) changed the lives of so many children, and since then, aspiring Vikings have had dreams of riding a dragon and finding their new, scaly best friend, so the 2025 live-action “How to Train Your Dragon” was highly anticipated and nerve-wracking for most fans.
If you are looking for a hot new story in this adaptation, you won’t find it. From aesthetics, to script, to marketing, Dean DeBlois (director for the 2010 and 2025 movies) kept this movie as true to the animation as possible. So for die-hard fans, who prefer to stay in the comfort of their beloved home on Berk, you won’t feel like you’ve been thrown onto a new island when you enter the theatres this time. However, there are certainly some changes to make note of. The new cast features new faces, voices, and personalities. Mason Thames (Hiccup, 2025) and Nico Parker (Astrid, 2025) have taken us back to their teenage adventures on the Isle of Berk, and despite not being “the original” Hiccup and Astrid, it is pretty hard to tell the difference.
There is one thing you should know about this live-action movie, compared to the animation, it has changed with the times. Yes, the story is still the same. Yes, the props are near replicas of the originals. Yes, Hiccup still loses his leg in the end. But for as many similarities as there are, the movie hit the hearts of longtime fans differently than the first time they watched it. Lines in the 2010 script that became inside jokes through the community came back in the live action. Scenes that were originally “filler” but were so well-loved by fans were emphasized in the adaptation.
I don’t want to give away any spoilers about the movie because there are only so many new moments you can have with a remake this good. If knowing that a full, sold-out theatre of SCAD students who screamed, cried, and reconsidered their opinions on the animation to live-action pipeline hasn’t convinced you, here are some more resources. The “How to Train Your Dragon” (2025) official movie website features behind the scenes images and exclusive content. After touring the nostalgic — old but updated — Isle of Berk, you may decide to find your way to the nearest theatre for a trip back to 2010 and a ride with Toothless, your favorite dragon.
Trinity is a Writing major with a minor in Chinese Language and Cultural Studies. She spends her time outside of District doing the same thing she does while being a copy editor — reading, writing, and editing. While journalism is her thing at District, her specialty is writing romance, fantasy, and stories about children. Aside from being an English nerd, Trinity enjoys being a nerd for video games, anime, and a collector of all things cute.
