MOVIE NEWS – When asked why it was worth remaking a successful animated movie in live-action, director Dean DeBlois, who helmed both versions, explained that the second attempt allowed him to better emphasize certain themes that were more subdued the first time around.

By now, so much background information has surfaced about the new version of How to Train Your Dragon that it’s possible to give a more detailed explanation. That’s exactly what ScreenRant (SR) does, stating that the filmmakers made the right call: it was worth retelling the familiar story, but from a different angle.

So, what makes the new How to Train Your Dragon different — and perhaps even richer — than the original? Based on current information, the live-action version approaches the story with more realism, giving a stronger emphasis to drama than the animated film did. Hiccup, the dragon tamer, is no longer a goofy, overly comedic cartoon figure, but a conflicted teenager who, thrown into extraordinary adventures, begins to view the world differently from his peers. The dialogue is more mature, and the film doesn’t use bright, vivid colors like its predecessor — instead, its palette is more muted, sometimes even somber. According to SR, while the animated version cranked every element up to ten for maximum entertainment, this remake applies more subtlety: it shows that Vikings weren’t just funny warriors, and dragons weren’t just cartoon sidekicks — they were mythic beasts whose taming was truly an epic feat. SR also appreciates that the characters don’t crack jokes when in danger — they react with genuine fear, which may reduce the laughs but makes the experience far more immersive.

(How to Train Your Dragon – Release date: June 12, 2025)