Test flight gives me chills every time. It's so PERFECT. The fact that it switches theme songs based on if Toothless or Hiccup is in control and then it COMBINES THEM?! And the fact that the TV show plays a huge role in the movies is awesome as well
It is GOD-GIVEN miracle Test Flight exists! How can music capture the very essence of power, joy, and freedom all at once?! It makes flying feel like the greatest accomplishment, and the cornerstone of unity between man and beast!
Powell has actually said multiple times that the second film featured only old themes for the entire opening as we re-familiarised ourselves with our surroundings but the moment hiccup opens the map (which is the path to new worlds) is the moment when the first new theme appears
The most bingeworthy trilogy. I never actually watched it when it first released, and only watched the first and the second maybe last year (2018). I was immediately in-love with the movies, and I was like WHERE IS THE NEXT ONE, *NEXT YEAR* OMG... I honestly can't watch the second one, my heart hurts near the end. And no, I'm not a girl, I'm in the military believe it or not. It just hits that hard.
I find it interesting how there isn't really an antagonist to the first film. The dragons are set to be the bad guys, yet the entire point of the movie is that they're not what they seem. The Red Death only appears at the end as something to fight for an action scene. Stoick is the closest thing to an antagonist as his views are completely contrary to Hiccup's, and he could genuinely kill Toothless, yet he's Hiccup's dad - and not in a Darth Vader way - he's not evil. And even if you consider Stoick as the antagonist, he's away throughout most of Hiccup's development, and he's overcome by coming to an understanding instead of defeating him - Hiccup doesn't use the dragons against him to become the new chief, he makes his father proud by saving his life and showing his views were wrong.
I think you are conflating "antagonist" and "villain". villain: someone who could be described as evil, actively wants to cause harm eg Sauron from LOTR antagonist: Someone who is thematically opposed to the protagonist and is a part of/usually causes the conflict eg Tony/Steve in Captain America: Civil War (depending on who you agree with) Stoick is definitely _not_ a villain, but he very much is an antagonist, or at the very least is the representation of the antagonistic force (either the village as a whole, or simply tradition)
the main antagonist is the Berk society's misunderstanding of dragons and the world they think they know all about, it's what makes Hiccup an outcast and causes most of the conflict in the story Stoick, though, is definitely an antagonist, even if as the comment above says he isn't a villain
That in my opinion is one of the other reasons the 1st movie was so good, it wasn’t just another bad guy movie, it was more of a evolving story where although there was a big bad “red death” the true bad guy was a bit more veiled and indirect, from stoic, to the dragons, and some could even say Astrid. This made it feel much more alive and like a true real life even due to the learning curve of hiccup and the gray with good and bad. TL:DR learning curve and there being multiple antagonists but not A antagonist made this more real and better than other movies
Httyd: this is Berk... Httyd shorts: this is Berk... Httyd riders of Berk: this is berk... Httyd defenders of Berk: this is Berk... Httyd race to the edge: this is Berk... Httyd 2: this is Berk... Httyd 3: nope this is a ship
To be fair. Berk is the place they call home. The place the people of Berk live, so even with that introduction it still could apply. The intros tend to describe the people and what's happening currently for those people. It doesn't perfectly correlate, but then it also is stated as a new idea for what Berk is to the people.
I just noticed something: After they fall and Hiccup gets back on Toothless, they start gliding, and you can hear Toothless' theme (since he's doing most of the work). Then as they are nearing the rocks you can hear the first note of Hiccup's theme, twice. The theme is stumbling to start, the same way Hiccup is stumbling to act. Then he throws the cheatsheet away, and his theme starts full blast for the awesome overlap of them working together
I‘m a hobby pilot and the „Test Drive“ theme really catches that feeling when you perform your very first solo take off with no safety nets and you know it‘s this sink or swim moment. It’s why I love and always will love this movie
You’ve got it EXACTLY right!! Private pilot as well and that almost indescribable feeling of absolute liberating euphoria and situational awareness is what is shown with this music.
Me: *Actually sobbing after hearing test drive for the 50th time, but just now realizing that it's Toothless's and Hiccup's themes coming together* the motifs for this film are amazing and I can literally tell what's happening in this film just from the music.
Same, every time I hear Test Flight I break down into sobs and smiles. It’s absolutely astounding music, even without ever having seen the movie. And if you’ve never seen the movie, you’re missing out.
yeah, the animation in all 3 is amazing. especially the first one, with all those little subtle, realistic details that the others don't pay as much attention to. the only thing wrong with the third movie's visuals is that every character looks so... smooth and textureless?? it really kills it for me
@byron kelly in comparison to the other two movies? it was a massive downgrade imo. especially when it comes to Toothless. all his scars, markings, little details... gone
@byron kelly well what the characters look like is actually far from the reason i dislike the third movie but it's just what i think lol sorry for having a slightly more negative opinion than anyone else i guess
The fact that the opening essentially utilizes EVERY single musical theme from the film in one song/sequence without you realizing that this is what it's doing is so freaking good.
@@maijupiira9605 Yes but can you do the accents to also of the characters? (I too have watched this movie and its other more times than I can remember)
First Name Last Name I TRY to do the accents, but because I’m not Scottish in any way shape or form, I fail miserably 💀💀. So I rely mostly on the inflections and tone to evoke the character rather than impersonate
This movie came out when I was 10, and I immediately went and saved my pennies and bought the soundtrack CD and listened to it obsessively for ALL of my adolescent and teenage years 😂😂 What was fun was recently I discovered my best friend has never seen any of the HTTYD movies, so we watched all of them and she is now as in love as I was at 10
Fun Fact: the franchise was planned before they even started the first film, so the sequels were *NOT* just cash grabs. They wanted to create a full length story about a boy growing up and they couldn't do that in a single movie so that's what they managed to do. And they don't like being over dramatic either. It never said the dragons would be gone forever in the third movie, it said they'd go into hiding until it was time to come back. Hiccup going to visit is actually realistic because... why wouldn't he? They're basically brothers at this point. And the message was that they'll be able to *come back* after humans manage peace between themselves, so that doesn't mean dragons can't sneak out every once in a while. They had also created the shows as a way to add even more layers of Hiccup growing up; learning strategy and to think around his enemy as well as to form contracts of peace between other islands. The show is really a story of him learning how to be a chief while the sequel solidifies that. And giving the riders armor made from dragon skin was not just so they could sell more toys, it was a creative choice of the design team and it just happened to end up looking like action figures. Plus it actually would be a natural progression after they see Drago use a dragon skin cape to block the fire from Hookfang. Selling toys is something that every big company will try to do to get more coin but God knows DreamWorks NEEDS it so they get a pass. Also do you think maybe you can do a video on Rise of the Guardians music? I'd like to see what you think.
"*When you first listen to it*, it maybe doesn't have the same impact". Someone watching HTTYD for the first time isn't going to notice all the stuff mentioned in this video until they rewatch it (as all people should this movie is epic), so it's really not going to have a massive impact. It's not in-your-face like the iconic SW theme.
Lily Hults Same. Every time I hear the opening I can’t hold back from almost crying. These movies were my entire childhood, and knowing that after 3 they’re completely over and we won’t get any more of the best movies ever makes me extremely sad. Seeing hiccup grown up with his kids and seeing toothless again was the most amazing and depressing thing I’ve ever seen.
The music in all three films is just OUTSTANDING. Also OH MY GOD can we talk about that SOUND DESIGN in the entire scene "Test Drive"?! The clicks of the gears, the whooshing air, just ahh so good. Talk about an eargasm. This is why I love animation-while sound design in ANY film is hard to do and a LOT of work, in animation it's even MORE so a lot of hard work...Just imagining how many audio files they must've had to work with in all three films.....man. Animation in western film is extremely under appreciated and it's criminal.
I genuinely feel like the musical themes of this movie have been imprinted into the deepest recesses of my brain. I might not be able to recall them at any one moment, but the instant I hear the first few notes it’s like the music clicks into some primal part of me that knows exactly what each tune means without even knowing it. I could be 90 odd years old and losing my memory and I would still react viscerally to hearing any of these tunes.
@@johannaplockl463 Astrid was annoying in the first movie admit it. Always trying to exert power over others. If Astrid was a boy, many would criticise as aggresive and toxic the character was dealing with Hiccup punching and hitting them, trying to belittle him and envious of his success. Now because its a girl, things are overlooked. She got some character development later but if we were to base on how she treated Hiccup before, she was an asshole.
While the other two films might not be as strong as the first one, I find that they actually add a lot to the world and character building in a way that's been clearly thought out by people who genuinely cared about the franchise. There's two main narratives going on, the one about dragons and the one about Hiccup: The first film is about Hiccup deciding he doesn't want to kill the dragons and finding a better way, learning to co-exist with them. In the second film, he's already comfortable with Toothless but trying to learn absolutely everything he can about the world of dragons, he obsesses to the point of neglecting his duties. And the third has him learn to let go of the dragons and let them be free and mysterious again. Meanwhile there's the chief narrative where in the first film Hiccup is weak and not what people want him to be, he has to learn to forge his own path and make people proud of who he really is. In the second he has to learn to be chief and accept responsibility, and at the end he's thrust into it before he's ready and has to rise to the challenge and become ready. In the third, he's been the chief for a little while but has to learn to put the tribe first; he's been focusing on his goals and what he wants, and now he has to do what's best for everyone and become the leader he needs to be, yet he still does it in the way he thinks is best and pushes forward keeping the progress he made, ensuring they never go back to warring with the dragons again. And while the shows are clearly just a fun thing for kids to watch (I still enjoyed them as a young adult though), they do a very good job of filling in the blanks between the films and showing Hiccup's development on-screen. Each film starts with a new version of Hiccup, and while the main development happens in the movies, the shows give that transition that shows how Hiccup went from the end of one movie to the start of the next, and show the extent of his research of dragons and his growth into a leader.
Also the first movie wouldn’t feel complete if that’s makes sense like it’s just feels super nice to have a closed ending where the dragons are safe and hiccup is chief and finally knows who he truly happy yknow
i honestly really really love race to the edge and i love the massive amount of world building in it race to the edge effectively establishes so many new species of dragons, forces hiccup to really grow into being the leader we see in the second movie, expands a ton on the characters relationships with each other, shows growing affections between hiccup and astrid and establishes their relationship, and gives drago more of a backstory instead of his just kind of random showing up in the second movie. it also is just super fun and funny and overall my favorite thing ever
I personally love the shows because, yes, they expand on Hiccup, but they also expand on the group. Now, Astrid is pretty developed in the movies as far as a side character goes. I mean, she's the love interest, of course she'd be important. But Fishlegs, the twins, and Snotlout all develop in the shows. The twins become more than just comic relief characters. They're shown to be witty, loveable, and insanely loyal to not only one another but the whole group. Snotlout and Fishlegs are expanded beyond just the mean one and the smart one. Both are shown to be much more vulnerable and deep than they are in the movies. The movies make Hiccup, the shows make the group.
My family watched it together, the a second time with friends, and finicky a third time with our extended family when it came out in the theaters. I could still watch it 100 times back to back.
I grew up with this movie. It seems like DreamWorks once in a generation makes some crazy good movie that started a franchise and also leave a lasting impression to the people who grew up with it (as most people know the previous one is Shrek). I wonder what the next one will be.
I maintain that "Test Drive" is still one of my favourite (and possibly the best) scenes in animated film, if not film, in terms of blending stunning visuals, tension, comedy, themes, music, and pure exhilaration.
The best part is how at the start it says “This is berk. Etc etc... The only downside is the pests.. etc... dragons” etc you get the point but then at the end it says “This is berk.Etc etc.. The only upside is the *pets* etc.. dragons” Imo it has such an impact on the movie.
This is Berk. Its 12 days north or frezing and a few degrees south of hopeless. My village, in a word, sturdy. You think we would have mived out by now. No, we're vikings. We have stubbornness issues. The only problems are the pests. While some places have mice or mosquitoes we have Dragons. I know all the others but its nearly 10pm and i am 13, so i am not going to type them all inot a box i will probably never see again... But remember: This is Berk.
4:48 “Remember this tune” That tune is so ingrained in my being that if you unraveled my DNA and held a microscope up to it you’d find that it’s actually a music staff with that song on it. My grandchildren will find themselves humming that tune without ever even seeing the movie. I am never forgetting it.
What really does it for me is when Toothless' tail opens on the beat. I don't know, that just gives me chills in a good way, maybe I'm just basic but that was pretty cool.
I somewhat agree. To me, the top spot is a tie between Test Drive and Forbidden Friendship. Not sure I'd count Sticks & Stones since it's only appearance is during the credits, but I find that one really amazing also.
Tell me about it. I found a video recently of all the songs being played by an orchestra. Awards ceremony or something (I forget the title). I highly recommend it, gave me chills and a half
My husband chose the music to our wedding ceremony. I chose the music for our wedding dance. It was “Romantic flight” from how to train your dragon. Cause the first time I heard it I felt like; “this is what pure beautiful happiness sounds like.” Every time I hear it I tear up and I’m reminded of that magical feeling, dancing with the love of my life; free as if we were flying the skies on a dragon.
I was a band nerd in high school and loved the first movie so much. I remember all of us begging my band teacher to let us play a how to train you dragon medley. Finally, he let us play it and it was amazing. One of my friends, who was one of the biggest advocates for playing this medley, was a french horn player and she was so damn happy. It was really amazing to hear this beautiful instrument really have time to shine. Some of my best memories from the band involved that medley. I loved the soundtrack already and this video made me love it even more.
OMT... i have no friends but if i could make this happen again... I would. I can play the piano (and it took me about 4 years to learm how to spell it) and habe httyd music. I will teach it to my children and my grandchildren. It will be passed down in generations . I will make sure httyd satys alive!
Our marching show my senior year (2018) was based around the Wright Brothers and "Test Drive" was our closer 😭ugh it always gets me in the feels - just like the first few notes of "This is Berk" 😭❤️
I'M A FRENCH HORN PLAYER AND MY BAND DIRECTOR WOULDN'T LET ME. I'M SUEING. Not even joking I begged because the french horn in this is so FRIGGIN amazing. But honestly this piece is so good.
sideways: *points out hiccup’s theme in the intro* me: oh that’s test drive sideways: *points out that toothless’s theme is not in the intro* me: wait but...test drive was....... *realizing that that was hiccup’s theme* oh *realizing that test drive is a combination of hiccup and toothless* o-oh........ sideways: *points out hiccup’s theme in the intro* me: *openly crying now* y-yeah sideways: *points out the combination in test drive* me: *sobbing* YEAH YEP UH HUH i’m not usually the kind of person who pays attention to movie OSTs but i have listened to this soundtrack so many goddamn times, it is my favorite movie soundtrack ever and i was so goddamn hype watching this video, thank you for making it
I'm too musically stunted to pick up on most of the smaller details of themes and ideas, but listening to him go through and highlight those beats is fun, and every now and then I can hear what Sideways is putting down.
test drive is one of my fav httyd pieces because it uses that combination, switching between the two depending on who's most in control, then they both get into it and the combo appears excellently, iirc, someone made a video about it on tiktok as well
THIS. This was my exact reaction lol I was like "oh yeah, that's test drive... that's also test drive.... OH. OHHHHHH" I love this soundtrack so fucking much
The little meta thing that I just love is that because the dragon world tends to be represented by bagpipes, you can feasibly imagine that all of the dragons have heavy Scottish accents and that just makes me really happy
I don't remember if I already left this comment, but we also hear bagpipes when *Astrid* meets Toothless for the first time, strengthening the feeling of him being an outsider after the time we spent getting to know him alongside Hiccup, reminding us how much the vikings see Toothless as a danger that they don't know enough about to defend themselves from. I think that's also why the bagpipes aren't in the theme for the dragons. They know at least enough about them to know how to deal with them; they're not something completely unknown like a Night Fury.
@Josiah Simmons in the scene where she followed Hiccup to figure out how he was doing so well in training and ends up meeting Toothless for the first time, before Romantic Flight happens.
You mentioned everything I love about the intro except one thing - it all starts with a low brass chorale. I can't even name another movie that does that! No strings, no woodwinds, no percussion, not even any cinematic sweetener - just gently swelling low brass. I'm not sure if it's just because I'm a Tuba player but there is something so unique and charming about that.
I wouldn’t call the epilogue undermining the rest of the movie, toothless is still gone, but they’re not back together forever, they’re just visiting each other like old friends
That's what I feel. It reminds me of a few lines in the final book where an older Hiccup is lamenting the diminishing of dragon sightings, but can still see tiny ones if he looks carefully. It's a gentle reminder of why humans should try to be better: to reunite with dragons.
Unoriginal 156 I feel like the epilogue should've been post credits or they should've added a bunch of scenes showing the Berkians trying to move on after saying goodbye to the dragons
People can literally train dragons, but when I try to train a Komodo dragon, I’m “ViOlaTIng UN LawS” and “Am NoW a TERoRrisT aNd No loNgEr aLloWed In bRaZiL”
I was obsessed with this movie when I was a kid. I watched it on loop constantly (the DVD would actually automatically play the movie if you wait on the menu long enough), and when I wasn't watching it I was listening to the soundtrack. I always appreciated how the _entire_ soundtrack is embedded in the opening number
3:21 "And sure, I like -" *orchestral stab* "...I'm not gonna lie -" *orchestral stab* "...is pretty great. I play some -" *orchestral stab* "...when I'm grinding in classic WoW. Who doesn't like -" *orchestral stab* "...but -" *orchestral stab* "...doesn't have anything on How To Train Your Dragon." I lost it right there
I agree- definitely there is incredible intricacy and technicality behind the scores for these films, but my favourite piece to listen to is always "romantic flight"
you know the music's phenomenal when you literally start tearing up and flashing back to being an eight year old seeing the original movie for the first time while watching a video essay about it. fantastic breakdown man, liked, subscribed, probably gonna add half your videos to my watchlist
I kid you not, everytime I watch that first flight scene (the "test drive" theme) I get chills. Everytime! This movie is so so special to me because it came out when I was quite young and I've watched hundreds of times since and I've always been in awe of the music. I CANNOT believe that it didn't get an oscar.
I completely agree with you! I was 8 when this movie came out and in a tough spot with family problems galore. I grew up with this film, these characters and the music and to this day it is my absolute favourite film. Watching videos of people explaining why it is so great only makes me appreciate it so much more. I believe that to this day it is still a somewhat underrated film and I hope it won't be forgotten.
Listen here, Some say the 2nd is the weakest Some say the 3rd is the weakest Some say the 1st is the weakest (not often but possible) In conclusion *How to train your dragon is a perfect trilogy*
I’ve watched this movie perhaps a dozen play throughs. Every time that magnificent chord hits as Hiccup and Toothless fly between the rocks, I feel the same elation I felt on my first viewing. It makes you want to cheer, regardless of how many times you’ve seen it play out. I’d argue it stands as the best musical crescendo we’ve heard in our lifetimes.
Also fun fact: that “test drive” theme is originally in D major and then goes up to E, and comes back in “Coming back around” again in E major. But at the very end of the third film when Hiccup and Toothless reunite for the last time, we hear it for the final time in its highest version, F major :))
@@hyperstone9 I thought the books were................... Fine, I guess. They're pretty different but I remember thinking this was one of the few times I really preferred the movie
@@natekite7532 That's what I hear everyone say. I'd probably prefer the movies too if I actually watched them, I just never had a chance to go see them.
I find it so incredibly poetic that one of the most well known and familiar tracks are the ones where Toothless and Hiccup's motifs merge together, because in reality the most important part of this franchise is the bond that these two share, I just think it all works together really well
The 1st one really was the best in the franchise. They really made a good job making Berk feel alive and introducing us to their culture. Is impossible to forget sarcastic Hiccup and his clashing beliefs with Stoic, such powerful ending. Much wow.
The 1st one might be the best animated movie ever. Period. The other two are like 20th and 21st. It doesn't even approximate a competition which is the best.
i find it funny how, when i saw this movie back when it had first premiered, the music was what impacted me the most even though i obviously had no idea how music was supposed to work in a film, etc etc. now i’m finally understanding what it all meant as a part of the storytelling process and falling in love with this franchise all over again
I'm sorry, I just have to get this out of the way: The Hidden World was not saying that "Toothless was gone forever". It was saying that Toothless had to live his life without Hiccup anymore. Live with his own kind and not rely on Hiccup as much as the citizens of Berk have relied too much on their dragons. That's not gone forever. And yes, I know the prosthetic tail needs fixing every once in a while...but that's something the film acknowledges.
You're exactly right. Though as much as I enjoyed the film (Hidden World) as a whole, I did not really like that aspect of it, so I enjoyed the epilogue when Toothless came back. Also, did any one else find the Lightfury kind of annoying? Just asking. I don't know what it was, she just rubbed me the wrong way.
Dean the director of this film said in an interview that the mature way to end the film was to leave it at toothless going to the hidden world. Since this was a kids movie, he did have to cater towards young children. There were many sacrifices the directors made not only in this movie but as well as the other 2 either due to keeping it PG or no time to add some scenes in the movie.
I'm just mad about the classic "HI HERE'S THE ONLY GIRL OPTION OF YOUR RACE, FALL IN LOVE INSTANTLY THX" trope. Also the fact that her noises all sounded like moans. And she looked like a creepy cave fish because they made her all ~~smooth~~ and ~~feminine~~. So uncomfortable. (Did I still cry at the end because I cry at ALL of the dragon movies? Yes.)
@@briddishlove I can totally see where you're coming from. I mean, some would argue that the light fury is another species of similar genetics to the night fury, which would allow hybridization. That argument is valid given that in the hidden world, if you look closely, you can actually see other light furies, including babies. Despite that, I still think they designed the light fury to be girly compared to the night fury, and they exaggerated on that aspect, and I don't like it a lot. This is specifically weird if you compare to Kung Fu Panda, in which characters aren't really designed to look feminine by human standards. Look at Tigress, she doesn't have over the top feminine features, she's still a tiger
You did not just make a video about the film that frickin got me into film music, into composing, kept me playing the violin years after i stopped playing, that I based my first duet arrangement off of, that had music that I played when I did my only ever good piano performances in assemblies. This films means so much to me and yes it is incredibly underrated as is it's soundtrack and john powell himself. Gosh frickin darn it it's time to go sideways on this movie
I see you, John Powell. Hiding behind your not-so-cleverly named alias "Jonny P" Okayyyy. Yeah, sure Jonny P, the person who definitley isn't John Powell.
Okay they didn't want to call the second one "How to Train Your Dragon 2" they were originally going to call it "How to Train Your Dragon: Secret of The Ice Caves" but they felt like that was too long so they changed it and that's why the 3rd movie doesn't have a 3 on it
I feel like since the last one is titled The Hidden World, they could have shortened it to The Ice Caves. Both titles would be talking about a place away from Berk since The Hidden World is referenced as more of a place name. Hidden doesn't have an effect on World, unlike Secret would have an effect on The Ice Caves if the first portion was kept in
Even ignoring the music at the start, the first couple of lines, I was SO INVESTED!! Adding on to that, the first look I got into Toothless' eyes, I was breathless. I will forever be glad that I saw this for the first time at the cinema.
This movie has been my life for 10 years. I loved it at 9 and I love it at 19. This movie curated my obsession with dragons and the music just hits differently. this is by far my favorite movie so far and I doubt anything anytime soon is gonna change that.
A HTTYD video essay in the Year of Our Lord 2019? I'm going to cry; this movie is underrated to a mind-boggling degree. Fantastic video. This has been one of my favorite movies for almost ten years, and you still managed to teach me new things about the score. Kudos to you!
Loretta Bes I just feel like this movie often gets thrown into the bin of non-Disney movies that tend to get forgotten in broader culture, which is unfair considering both what a phenomenal movie it is and how it changed the industry of animated films. Either way, “overlooked” vs. “underrated to a mind-boggling degree” is a simple semantic difference based on how highly you view the film.
Our family loves HTTYD! My 13 y/o daughter has spent 1 year in 7th grade concert band. It created such a love and appreciation for music, that she rewatched these movies w/ a focus for the music. She then took an internet deep dive and found this video. She was so ecstatic to find your video she knew that me & Dad would appreciate your knowledge! So we are nerding out over here. Thank you for sharing! We will approach movies so differently now!
There are two band arrangements of the music that I have played in middle school for this movie. The movie has an amazing soundtrack. I also love band nerding out with music everywhere, not just in films. I try to pay attention to the individual instruments, the tempo, etc.
I’m going to have to disagree with you regarding your opinions of the sequels. While the third installment may not have been as strong as the first two, the theme that echoes throughout the entire franchise is so mature and heart-wrenching that it almost makes you forget how mediocre the final film was. The themes of friendship, maturation, and letting go are all so present in each film and the epilogue of the Hidden World just brings everything full circle. The simple idea that there were dragons long before our modern times came around is so thought provoking no matter how unrealistic it may seem. No matter how hard Hiccup tried, and no matter how much he hoped the world would change, it didn’t. He never got his dream. He learned that it was okay to let it go if it meant the safety of his village and his best friend who he grew to love so dearly. The finale is so well executed. Those last five minutes really make the franchise for me. There is so much heart and thought put into the story, and to see how underrated it is is disheartening. Not to mention the outstanding soundtrack. The fact that the themes in the story and the themes in the music are consistent throughout the entire trilogy leaves me awestruck. This is a story about a boy who makes a friend and grows up with him until it’s time to let go. It’s such a simple narrative, but it’s execution takes these movies to a whole new level.
I agree with most of this. I actually liked the third more than the second lol. The villain is great, I can't have that movie as the weakest in my opinion. All three are great. The second is my least favorite, but not by much. The third feels the most mature to me
What the fuck? Just because it's "the third film", doesn't mean that it's bad by default. It's the second best in the franchise and a fantastic ending to the greatest animated trilogy of all time!!!
2nd movie still has the best scene, when Stoic sees his wife still alive, the world just melts away , there's no anger or resentment just the pure joy of seeing her again
9:19 When you started describing Toothless' Theme, and how it represents Toothless as an alien or outsider, it reminded me of a line from the book, where Hiccup is thinking about Toothless "However, you only had to look into his big, innocent, heavily lashed eyes to realize that he was totally without morals. The eyes were ancient, the eyes of a killer. You might as well ask a crocodile or shark to be your friend." That scene where Toothless tackles Hiccup, and the music swells as you see his eyes reminded me of that passage. You get the feeling that at this point, Toothless is still the enemy. Movie Toothless and Book Toothless are wildly different characters, and I don't know if the similarity was intentional, but I think it's cool how the scenes seem to reflect each other
That's the thing I've always LOVED about the HTTYD franchise. Not only are the movies absolute masterpieces, and will forever remain my favourite for all time, but the books themselves are genius. They are so intricate and well thought out that even the first thing Hiccup in the books DOES (getting Toothless) is a MAJOR plot point in the last book, which is, btw, 12 books down the line. There are 12 books in this damn series and every little thing in EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM if so vital for the ending, it makes me weep for joy. Then you look at the movies, and sure, a lot of things are different, but you can also see where they took inspiration from the books. Especially in Hidden World, it felt like a homage to the books by how much of it feels inspired by them. The movies and books may be different universes in their differences, but holy crap they are both so beautiful and perfect, they do what so few other franchises can: They are nearly completely different from each other, yet are incredible in their own right, and one medium doesn't take away from the other. I love HTTYD, and I will never stop loving it.
@@sketchysim5351 The original book series that the films were inspired by is 12 books long. The story and characters are different but, man, it hits hard. I still stay up at night thinking of the epilogues sometimes.
4:56 “Wait! Wait a second, what’s that behind your ear?” “Is that a... yeS IT IS! It’s a pin” “Let’s do this, let’s take the pin and put it in this conversation” “BOOP” “And we will not take it down, no ma’am, until this matter is resolved”
What about Kung Fu Panda, it's always being underrated, also has the best opening scenes even it's 12-13 years. Also very detailed scenes, has a very precise action scenes, heartwarming lessons and soundtracks like Oogway Ascends. All in all Dreamworks has just pure awesomeness in making these kinds of movies.
All these people, they always talk about httyd, but absolutely everyone are missing the huge oppurtunity, i.e. kungfu panda trilogy. The greatest example of the use of music in opening is kungfu panda 2. 1.It's starts of with a narration where we are first shown gongmen (i dont know the correct spelling) city, and naturally it's theme. 2. Then we get the panda village theme 3. Then we get to lord shen's theme (which is fucking awesome by the way) and has many small different motifs. 4. Then we get to inner piece theme (which also the same motif used in kungfu panda 3 as the dragon warrior theme) 5. Then we get to the furious five theme (which is already established in the first movie i think, but with po now in it, its way more fuller and dramatic) 6. Then we get to the wolves theme (along with a great musical action theme) 7. And then finally we get to the theme mister ping theme (which is also established in the first movie i think) And from there on, the themes are utilised in the normal way. Aside from these motifs there are also a bunch of great incidental scores like 'more cannons'. Kungfu panda trilogy and httyd trilogy has the best soundtracks of any animated movie, and is up there with live action movies like potc.
I can enjoy the visuals, the dynamic fight scenes, and the score but whenever I watch that movie it feels like every good thing gets ruined by the protagonist. I can’t stand him at all- he’s annoying and I can’t root for him.
I'm planning to get married to sound of Romantic Flight. I cry everytime I hear it. And nobody has to know it's music from my favorite animated kids movie :D only the best ones will know
As someone who walked down the aisle to the same piece, go for it! It was incredible to experience. Although I can't listen to that piece or watch that scene now without tearing up because of that moment. But it was perfect. I can even recall the moment in the music my husband turned around to see me for the first time in my dress.
I always tell people that How to train your Dragon has the best opening music ever. Now I can send them your video. Seriously, everything you say in this video could come right from my heart. Yout are so damn right! Thank your for your amazing videos.
3:19 "Now, I know what you're thinking: 'Hey, what about Star Wars?' And sure, I like: BWAA!! I'm not gonna lie. BWAA! is pretty great. I play some BWAA! when I'm grinding in Classic WoW. Who doesn't like BWAA! But BWAA! doesn't have anything on How to Train Your Dragon." My favorite part of the video. It had me laughing so much!
I’ve never studied or know anything about music theory. But the EMOTIONS this movie’s music brings out in me is just freaking amazing. The opening just makes me smile. If there is any song I have to say is my favorite it’s Forbidden Friendship. That original BAM and then the growing tension as trust grows and then the mellowing out when the first touch happens is just soooo freaking satisfying! That theme lives in my head rent free and I will forever love it.
Can I just say a teenager who grew up with HTTYD, the TV shows and specials, especially Race to the Edge, build on the HTTYD franchise beautifully. Spoilers for Race to the Edge (RTTE): Hiccup and Astrid get betrothed roughly 6 months to a year and a half before HTTYD 2. You read that right, Hiccstrid (Hiccup and Astrid) are bethrothed (engaged) for the second and third HTTYD movies, and the year in between. Thanks to RTTE, I watched Hiccup and Astrid fall in love, going from best friends, to boyfriend and girlfriend, to betrothed, to married and having kids. I watched Hiccup and Toothless go through so much, I could almost feel my heart breaking when they said "Goodbye". 😫 It is a beautiful franchise, that I highly recommend finding and watching every part of it in chronological order.
Test drive is one of my favorite peices of ALLLL TIME!!!! I CANNOT explain how much I LOVE that peice. Its powerful , beautiful , wonderfully composed , emotional and all around amazing. 😁😁👍👍
I love this soundtrack so much and I’m so excited that at the beginning when you were picking a moment to show off how amazing the music, you picked the “Test Drive” soundtrack! When people talk about how good the score is, most people talk about the “Forbidden Friendship” or “Romantic Flight” tracks because they’re a lot easier to do piano covers of but “Test Flight” is absolutely an amazing piece of music and I’m so excited to see you give it a lot of love in this video!
it is thematically appropriate, their armor is made of dragon scales, they are dragon people, it makes sense that their design sensibilities would become draconian, which is what I saw happening
Test Drive HAS to be my all time favorite score in any movie. It just feels exhilarating and powerful. If you close your eyes and just listen to it it almost makes you feel like you’re flying. This series has some of the best film score EVER.
"You have to let him go. Psych. He's back" Isn't that what having friends or even kids is about? Helping each other out, but sometimes you have to let go for the other to be happy. And eventually they come back around.
Sidenote: I haven't seen my best friends in 5 years, and since I'm only 23 so far, that is a lot of time. But we still hang out online every month or so and with no doubt we would laugh and drink our asses off when we meet again
Heresor That’s what I always thought. That sure at some point in a healthy relationship you accept some changes as maybe that person in your life makes independent choices and learns to take care of themselves, or circumstances come along where you and that person may spend time apart but doesn’t mean the relationship or how you feel about that person ends. Personal experience: my best friend moved away but we still kept in contact all these years and would see each other given the chance. We’re still close even if all we do is talk or text. And she even has new friends and relationships where she lives as do I, but we’re still there for each other, that never changed.
I feel like he didn’t pay enough attention during the movie (despite how much I love his videos on music), they aren’t safe with humans, but that doesn’t mean they can *never* see each other, just that every time it happens you’re risking the dragons being found so they’ll keep it to a minimum
I very selfishly loved the ending. I think that from a technical standpoint, it wasn’t strong. But as someone who had grown up with the characters, and is incredibly attached, the ending was everything I wanted. I felt that strong, raw emotion when the dragons left, the pride seeing Hiccup and Astrid all grown up with kids of their own, and absolute satisfaction seeing them reunite with Toothless and his new family. It was just beautiful. I acknowledge that comes purely from a place of sentiment for me rather than critical analysis, but I loved it.
If you guys like the soundtrack of the first movie (which everyone does) DO NOT sleep on the 2nd movie. It's new themes are so incredibly beautiful. Specifically valka's theme, stoick and valka's love motif, and together we map the world. Seriosuly incredible pieces. If this soundtrack is epic, the second is beautiful. Like incredibly beautiful. As beautiful as this soundtrack hits hard. Edit: I'm aware story-wise the movie lacks a bit but I'm just speaking solely on the music where in my opinion it's oddly the most nostalgic for me and possibly even better (for my taste) than the 1st movie's music
Ok, weird thing, but... I have this thing where, when I’m watching a film or show and the music is playing, I get really emotional with certain note patterns. Major keys and two scores being mashed together are the parts that give me the most emotion and I don’t even need to be watching anything, I could be listening to a soundtrack and get that same feeling (even for a film I’ve never seen before, the music still effects me) Edit: imagine your emotions having a gut, and the music is punching it... I’m being punched in my musical gut
OMG, finally someone said it! When I listen to "Third Date" and "Once There were Dragons" from The Hidden World, as well as "Zen Ball Master" from Kung Fu Panda 2 (and many other songs), there are certain parts where the instruments just all come together and I start tearing up. Literally, I have this overwhelming feeling that I can't even explain with words. I love your idea of it being my "musical gut". That's so clever!
Same! This happens to me with any type of music, it can be from a video game or movie. Though I have to know where the music is coming from. Sometimes my emotions change during the random song....
The first time we hear Toothless' theme, it's actually sounds like Uilleann pipes, which IS a type of bagpipe, but has a distinct sound that adds to the mystery. Later on, they use standard bagpipes for a more triumphant, militaristic sound.
The music for test drive is absolutely phenomenal, huge kudos to John Powell, and the orchestra (for all the rest of the score too,) but whoever did the sound design did such a good job. like by itself, test drive specifically brings me to tears and I just love it so incredibly much, but watching the scene itself gives me even more chills and tears. The way that toothless screeches as he's desperately trying to slow down before they reach the stacks, hiccup reaching desperately over and over again but the saddle is just out of reach, the click of the pedal and the wooshes of air as they swerve and dive and roll, the wind whistling as they fly through it, the low groaning sound that you hear when toothless dives and touches his wings to the water is just *chefs kiss* masterfully done. and the best part is that its so well done that neither the music nor that sound design/voice acting overpowers one another.
It's based off of books by the same title. The books, however, have dragon training as a normal viking thing from the get-go. Oh, and dragons can speak in the books.
I can't listen to this soundtrack more than once a month. Anymore than that, and I was afraid it would somehow kill its magic. John Powell REALLY should've gotten that Oscar for this movie.
I have listened to Once There Were Dragons from the third film dozens of times in the passed month. All the motifs throughout the song get me but nothing like the Forbidden Friendship motif. Also, Toothless Found from the second film makes my heart jump every time Toothless snaps out of it.
I love how in the intro, the theme that seems to be Hiccup's is played low, being overshadowed by everywhere motif soon after, but in the end after he's made change to the village, he and the theme stand front and center
"...Just remember this tune"
He says.
As if any of us could forget.
Your so right
Lol yeah 😂
Ikr XD
exactly
EXACTLY. I heard a TikTok video with like 4 SECONDS of HTTYD and felt so familiar until some literal seconds I found it.
Sideways: How To Train Your Dragon has the best-
Me: Yes.
Exactly!
💯%
Yep
🐡
Yes.
“Test Drive” makes me want to fly
To this very day, whenever someone asks me what my super power would be, I will always answer to fly
yeah...
@@sophie427 YES
Yep. Test Drive and the Flight scene from Man of Steel.
I mean, it basically goes straight upwards most of the time lol
Test flight gives me chills every time. It's so PERFECT. The fact that it switches theme songs based on if Toothless or Hiccup is in control and then it COMBINES THEM?! And the fact that the TV show plays a huge role in the movies is awesome as well
It just gives you chills? It makes me cry on regular basis.
It is GOD-GIVEN miracle Test Flight exists! How can music capture the very essence of power, joy, and freedom all at once?! It makes flying feel like the greatest accomplishment, and the cornerstone of unity between man and beast!
It’s test drive
It's also the best movie out of the whole trilogy
I don't allow myself to listen to Test Drive while driving on back roads because I go into full rallycross mode and become dramatically unsafe.
How to train your dragon: Elegance, meaning, power, beauty
Starwars: *BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB*
star wars ain't really subtle tho, and that's cool too.
It's actually BbBbBbBbBbBbBbBbBbBb... cause it's B flat you know... I'll see myself out
Haha Star Wars go BrRrRrRrR
@@rfv618 no don't, that's actually funny.
Star wars be like: BWAAAAAHH
Powell has actually said multiple times that the second film featured only old themes for the entire opening as we re-familiarised ourselves with our surroundings but the moment hiccup opens the map (which is the path to new worlds) is the moment when the first new theme appears
Jonny P Reminiscence Therapy
The most bingeworthy trilogy. I never actually watched it when it first released, and only watched the first and the second maybe last year (2018). I was immediately in-love with the movies, and I was like WHERE IS THE NEXT ONE, *NEXT YEAR* OMG...
I honestly can't watch the second one, my heart hurts near the end.
And no, I'm not a girl, I'm in the military believe it or not. It just hits that hard.
@@captainbritain7379 that has gotta be the most underrated comment I've ever seen and so few will get it
It's called 'Together we map the world' for those interested, one of the best new themes of the second movie, after 'Stoics Ship' of course :D
God there's so much subtly there
Finding out HTTYD is 10 years old literally just shot an arrow thru my heart.....am I old?!??
I remember watching this with my baby. So you probably aren't old.
@@isaywhateveriwantandyougot7421 When you need to kneel down and for the first time think...
Never mind getting back up, getting down is hard enough."
I had an existential crisis for exactly three minutes... it was awful.
so I know exactly how you felt xD
httyd came out when i was four im turning 14 this year now isnt that something
.... 17-10... what?!
I find it interesting how there isn't really an antagonist to the first film. The dragons are set to be the bad guys, yet the entire point of the movie is that they're not what they seem. The Red Death only appears at the end as something to fight for an action scene. Stoick is the closest thing to an antagonist as his views are completely contrary to Hiccup's, and he could genuinely kill Toothless, yet he's Hiccup's dad - and not in a Darth Vader way - he's not evil. And even if you consider Stoick as the antagonist, he's away throughout most of Hiccup's development, and he's overcome by coming to an understanding instead of defeating him - Hiccup doesn't use the dragons against him to become the new chief, he makes his father proud by saving his life and showing his views were wrong.
I really like how this movies is just like hiccups story and his development kinda like the antagonist is himself and just like finding himself
I think you are conflating "antagonist" and "villain".
villain: someone who could be described as evil, actively wants to cause harm eg Sauron from LOTR
antagonist: Someone who is thematically opposed to the protagonist and is a part of/usually causes the conflict eg Tony/Steve in Captain America: Civil War (depending on who you agree with)
Stoick is definitely _not_ a villain, but he very much is an antagonist, or at the very least is the representation of the antagonistic force (either the village as a whole, or simply tradition)
the main antagonist is the Berk society's misunderstanding of dragons and the world they think they know all about, it's what makes Hiccup an outcast and causes most of the conflict in the story
Stoick, though, is definitely an antagonist, even if as the comment above says he isn't a villain
@@luckas221a I came to comment this, the movie is about Hiccup vs society
That in my opinion is one of the other reasons the 1st movie was so good, it wasn’t just another bad guy movie, it was more of a evolving story where although there was a big bad “red death” the true bad guy was a bit more veiled and indirect, from stoic, to the dragons, and some could even say Astrid. This made it feel much more alive and like a true real life even due to the learning curve of hiccup and the gray with good and bad.
TL:DR learning curve and there being multiple antagonists but not A antagonist made this more real and better than other movies
Me: Hears Test Drive playing
My body: Oh boy, let's get those goosebumps going immediately
And the tears. So many pride tears! I'm SO PROUD OF THEM!
Yes.
PixelDee we’re all basically a emotional mess when it comes on!
I know right I can’t listen to this soundtrack without getting various feels.
I literally work out to that song
Httyd: this is Berk...
Httyd shorts: this is Berk...
Httyd riders of Berk: this is berk...
Httyd defenders of Berk: this is Berk...
Httyd race to the edge: this is Berk...
Httyd 2: this is Berk...
Httyd 3: nope this is a ship
But it gets so much more impact later with the soundtrack too...
To be fair. Berk is the place they call home. The place the people of Berk live, so even with that introduction it still could apply. The intros tend to describe the people and what's happening currently for those people. It doesn't perfectly correlate, but then it also is stated as a new idea for what Berk is to the people.
Httyd books: there were dragons when i was a boy
yup. I had the same reaction.
There's some people from Berk on the ship, it's part of Berk now.
I just noticed something:
After they fall and Hiccup gets back on Toothless, they start gliding, and you can hear Toothless' theme (since he's doing most of the work). Then as they are nearing the rocks you can hear the first note of Hiccup's theme, twice. The theme is stumbling to start, the same way Hiccup is stumbling to act. Then he throws the cheatsheet away, and his theme starts full blast for the awesome overlap of them working together
Oh YEAAAA boi u have a good sense of musical detail t here my dude
OMG YES
That's awesome that you noticed! I'll try to listen for that detail now too
OMG
I saw a tik tok explaining this and had to rewatch and as soon as I heard it I got chills
I‘m a hobby pilot and the „Test Drive“ theme really catches that feeling when you perform your very first solo take off with no safety nets and you know it‘s this sink or swim moment. It’s why I love and always will love this movie
It’s just the distilled essence of freedom. I put it on whenever I’m skiing.
You’ve got it EXACTLY right!! Private pilot as well and that almost indescribable feeling of absolute liberating euphoria and situational awareness is what is shown with this music.
Me: *Actually sobbing after hearing test drive for the 50th time, but just now realizing that it's Toothless's and Hiccup's themes coming together*
the motifs for this film are amazing and I can literally tell what's happening in this film just from the music.
"Oh yea, it's all coming together now"
yo i cried too ngl?? so much emotion
Same, every time I hear Test Flight I break down into sobs and smiles. It’s absolutely astounding music, even without ever having seen the movie. And if you’ve never seen the movie, you’re missing out.
me, at 11:13 - ......WaiT a M I n U t E !!!!!!!!!
Ana Marie Falk test drive**
Sideways: "Ya see viewer, a movie score, is the-"
Viewers: "is the culmination of leitmotifs"
Sideways: " Culmination of- yes, exactly!"
It only works if all the little themes mesh together!
@@xavierhodges9092 and they REALLY do here. It's just SO good.
I dont know why that took so long for me to figure out where this came from
Gabe O. What is it? It sounds so familiar
yaccobb I CAN HEAR IT NOW
As a side note, the 3D in all 3 films is absolutely gorgeous. Its one of those few films where 3D made the visuals better.
@byron kelly when they're on the beach it looked like real sand, it blew my mind
yeah, the animation in all 3 is amazing. especially the first one, with all those little subtle, realistic details that the others don't pay as much attention to. the only thing wrong with the third movie's visuals is that every character looks so... smooth and textureless?? it really kills it for me
@byron kelly in comparison to the other two movies? it was a massive downgrade imo. especially when it comes to Toothless. all his scars, markings, little details... gone
@byron kelly well what the characters look like is actually far from the reason i dislike the third movie but it's just what i think lol
sorry for having a slightly more negative opinion than anyone else i guess
we cant tell the same for the series ... i basicly stopped watching the series of how to train a dragon because of the bad 3D in it
The fact that the opening essentially utilizes EVERY single musical theme from the film in one song/sequence without you realizing that this is what it's doing is so freaking good.
Except for Toothless's theme, which makes it that much more foreign when we hear it for the first time.
4:25 "So listen, listen to what this film opens with"
Me: Bold of you to assume I don't have the entire soundtrack committed to memory
Torilinn Cwanek or that even if you hear the soundtrack, you can replicate the dialogue perfectly (I have watched it too many times)
@@maijupiira9605 Yes but can you do the accents to also of the characters?
(I too have watched this movie and its other more times than I can remember)
First Name Last Name I TRY to do the accents, but because I’m not Scottish in any way shape or form, I fail miserably 💀💀. So I rely mostly on the inflections and tone to evoke the character rather than impersonate
This movie came out when I was 10, and I immediately went and saved my pennies and bought the soundtrack CD and listened to it obsessively for ALL of my adolescent and teenage years 😂😂
What was fun was recently I discovered my best friend has never seen any of the HTTYD movies, so we watched all of them and she is now as in love as I was at 10
Fun Fact: the franchise was planned before they even started the first film, so the sequels were *NOT* just cash grabs. They wanted to create a full length story about a boy growing up and they couldn't do that in a single movie so that's what they managed to do. And they don't like being over dramatic either. It never said the dragons would be gone forever in the third movie, it said they'd go into hiding until it was time to come back. Hiccup going to visit is actually realistic because... why wouldn't he? They're basically brothers at this point. And the message was that they'll be able to *come back* after humans manage peace between themselves, so that doesn't mean dragons can't sneak out every once in a while. They had also created the shows as a way to add even more layers of Hiccup growing up; learning strategy and to think around his enemy as well as to form contracts of peace between other islands. The show is really a story of him learning how to be a chief while the sequel solidifies that. And giving the riders armor made from dragon skin was not just so they could sell more toys, it was a creative choice of the design team and it just happened to end up looking like action figures. Plus it actually would be a natural progression after they see Drago use a dragon skin cape to block the fire from Hookfang. Selling toys is something that every big company will try to do to get more coin but God knows DreamWorks NEEDS it so they get a pass.
Also do you think maybe you can do a video on Rise of the Guardians music? I'd like to see what you think.
Li'l Miss Bacon yES. HELL YES TO EVERYTHING YOU SAID
And the dragons going into hiding happened in the books too
another fact... i think. How to Train your Dragon was based off of the books by Cressida Cowell. i had one growing up and loved it.
@@azul_nova2618 I had those tooo!!!
It’s a lying how every time there’s just a BIGGER body to fight I’m not saying your wrong tho
"Doesn't have the same impact"? Hearing the opening makes my eyes water
"*When you first listen to it*, it maybe doesn't have the same impact". Someone watching HTTYD for the first time isn't going to notice all the stuff mentioned in this video until they rewatch it (as all people should this movie is epic), so it's really not going to have a massive impact. It's not in-your-face like the iconic SW theme.
Lily Hults
Same. Every time I hear the opening I can’t hold back from almost crying. These movies were my entire childhood, and knowing that after 3 they’re completely over and we won’t get any more of the best movies ever makes me extremely sad. Seeing hiccup grown up with his kids and seeing toothless again was the most amazing and depressing thing I’ve ever seen.
@@-Burb That right there is exactly why the opening has impact the second, third, fourth, etc. time around: nostalgia.
*starts hearing the opening music* 😭
10:14 the details of Toothless's eyes and the reflection of the trees continues to be my favorite shot of a movie ever.
The music in all three films is just OUTSTANDING. Also OH MY GOD can we talk about that SOUND DESIGN in the entire scene "Test Drive"?!
The clicks of the gears, the whooshing air, just ahh so good. Talk about an eargasm. This is why I love animation-while sound design in ANY film is hard to do and a LOT of work, in animation it's even MORE so a lot of hard work...Just imagining how many audio files they must've had to work with in all three films.....man. Animation in western film is extremely under appreciated and it's criminal.
Aaaaah I'm fangirling about everything
I really am, I absolutely love this series
I am still angry that this movie lost to "The Social Network" for the "Best Original Score" Oscar. What an absolute joke.
I like how Cinema Wins gave a point when Toothless is courting the Light Fury. The sounds those two dragons make is both amazing and hilarious.
*Test Drive
I genuinely feel like the musical themes of this movie have been imprinted into the deepest recesses of my brain. I might not be able to recall them at any one moment, but the instant I hear the first few notes it’s like the music clicks into some primal part of me that knows exactly what each tune means without even knowing it. I could be 90 odd years old and losing my memory and I would still react viscerally to hearing any of these tunes.
And you my friend must have read my mind.
I know all the scores from the movies. You could play a few seconds of it aajd i would know bit was httyd
I have injected HTTYD in my brain when i was 5
Ikr? I feel like crying from nostalgia every time I hear the music
that exactly just happened to me. That's how I came here
SAME! Just a few first seconds with any of the themes, and I start to get emotional xD
as a girl with blonde hair and blue eyes named astrid who was seven when i first watched this movie, you can tell i idolised astrid HARD
girl didn't WE ALL
she was just perfect
I had a majoe crush on her and hiccup and my mom was like: that astrid is so annoying. I was throwing BRICKS
@@johannaplockl463 Astrid was annoying in the first movie admit it. Always trying to exert power over others. If Astrid was a boy, many would criticise as aggresive and toxic the character was dealing with Hiccup punching and hitting them, trying to belittle him and envious of his success. Now because its a girl, things are overlooked. She got some character development later but if we were to base on how she treated Hiccup before, she was an asshole.
@@asimanayak304 im pretty sure they made her am asshole to make a characyer arc for her
While the other two films might not be as strong as the first one, I find that they actually add a lot to the world and character building in a way that's been clearly thought out by people who genuinely cared about the franchise. There's two main narratives going on, the one about dragons and the one about Hiccup:
The first film is about Hiccup deciding he doesn't want to kill the dragons and finding a better way, learning to co-exist with them. In the second film, he's already comfortable with Toothless but trying to learn absolutely everything he can about the world of dragons, he obsesses to the point of neglecting his duties. And the third has him learn to let go of the dragons and let them be free and mysterious again.
Meanwhile there's the chief narrative where in the first film Hiccup is weak and not what people want him to be, he has to learn to forge his own path and make people proud of who he really is. In the second he has to learn to be chief and accept responsibility, and at the end he's thrust into it before he's ready and has to rise to the challenge and become ready. In the third, he's been the chief for a little while but has to learn to put the tribe first; he's been focusing on his goals and what he wants, and now he has to do what's best for everyone and become the leader he needs to be, yet he still does it in the way he thinks is best and pushes forward keeping the progress he made, ensuring they never go back to warring with the dragons again.
And while the shows are clearly just a fun thing for kids to watch (I still enjoyed them as a young adult though), they do a very good job of filling in the blanks between the films and showing Hiccup's development on-screen. Each film starts with a new version of Hiccup, and while the main development happens in the movies, the shows give that transition that shows how Hiccup went from the end of one movie to the start of the next, and show the extent of his research of dragons and his growth into a leader.
Also the first movie wouldn’t feel complete if that’s makes sense like it’s just feels super nice to have a closed ending where the dragons are safe and hiccup is chief and finally knows who he truly happy yknow
i honestly really really love race to the edge and i love the massive amount of world building in it
race to the edge effectively establishes so many new species of dragons, forces hiccup to really grow into being the leader we see in the second movie, expands a ton on the characters relationships with each other, shows growing affections between hiccup and astrid and establishes their relationship, and gives drago more of a backstory instead of his just kind of random showing up in the second movie. it also is just super fun and funny and overall my favorite thing ever
yeah... also a fan of the shows! they're silly, they're fun, they're not High Art to the same extent of the first movie but they are real good
I personally love the shows because, yes, they expand on Hiccup, but they also expand on the group.
Now, Astrid is pretty developed in the movies as far as a side character goes. I mean, she's the love interest, of course she'd be important. But Fishlegs, the twins, and Snotlout all develop in the shows. The twins become more than just comic relief characters. They're shown to be witty, loveable, and insanely loyal to not only one another but the whole group. Snotlout and Fishlegs are expanded beyond just the mean one and the smart one. Both are shown to be much more vulnerable and deep than they are in the movies.
The movies make Hiccup, the shows make the group.
I'm gonna be honest I think the second and third are stronger movies and stories than the first.
Seven-year-old me INSISTED we watch this movie in theaters more than 3 times... good to know I had impeccable taste, even at that age!
My family watched it together, the a second time with friends, and finicky a third time with our extended family when it came out in the theaters. I could still watch it 100 times back to back.
@@irishviolet9062 Timeless... what a masterpiece!
You had a great taste mate.
Omg lucky youu! I can’t even remember if I watched it in theaters:(
Lucky you, I still shudder at some of my tastes as a child, and especially how snobby I was about them.
The first httyd has the highest honor of love and nostalgia in my heart
Same here
This movie is one of my all time favorite childhood movies. The only one that has ever beaten it for me was spirited away.
I grew up with this movie.
It seems like DreamWorks once in a generation makes some crazy good movie that started a franchise and also leave a lasting impression to the people who grew up with it (as most people know the previous one is Shrek).
I wonder what the next one will be.
The second just made me cry for Hiccup and Stoick... Why does Astrid's face change alot though?
I will say race to the edge is a really good show
Yep
Httyd Race to the edge Is one of the best series.
100% true best series ive watched
HELL YEAH!!!!!
binged it for 4 days straight
I maintain that "Test Drive" is still one of my favourite (and possibly the best) scenes in animated film, if not film, in terms of blending stunning visuals, tension, comedy, themes, music, and pure exhilaration.
The best part is how at the start it says
“This is berk. Etc etc... The only downside is the pests.. etc... dragons” etc you get the point but then at the end it says
“This is berk.Etc etc.. The only upside is the *pets*
etc.. dragons”
Imo it has such an impact on the movie.
"I did this" also has a major impact on the first film as well.
I always thought the ending was corny
This is called a book end and it's used wonderfully in HTTYD
@@jugemujugemugokonosurikire4735 yes
This is Berk.
Its 12 days north or frezing and a few degrees south of hopeless. My village, in a word, sturdy. You think we would have mived out by now. No, we're vikings. We have stubbornness issues.
The only problems are the pests. While some places have mice or mosquitoes we have
Dragons.
I know all the others but its nearly 10pm and i am 13, so i am not going to type them all inot a box i will probably never see again...
But remember:
This is Berk.
4:48 “Remember this tune”
That tune is so ingrained in my being that if you unraveled my DNA and held a microscope up to it you’d find that it’s actually a music staff with that song on it. My grandchildren will find themselves humming that tune without ever even seeing the movie. I am never forgetting it.
True words
Ok
Wait, wait, wait. You aren't going to let your grandkids see this movie? How dare you deprive them of such joy? >:( XD
I've never agreed with anything more
WHY IS THIS SO TRUE
What really does it for me is when Toothless' tail opens on the beat. I don't know, that just gives me chills in a good way, maybe I'm just basic but that was pretty cool.
Oh dude for sure, don't sell that moment short, it's thrilling!!
Bruh it’s ok to be basic ain’t no one a try hard here 🤣🤣
it's incredible to see people actually being kind to eachother and not gatekeep everything. oh my goodness :')
@@RapidVidsProductions a rare thing for today
It's kind of insane how Powell is able to introduce and combine themes for each characters, love, vikings, etc. like Tetris blocks
all for them to collapse into a beautiful line piece four row fill, or better yet, a t-spin ong
Mind you that the “Test Drive” theme is the only theme in the entire film that makes me get goosebumps. Every. Single. Time. I. Hear. It.
it makes me want to cry everytime I hear it
It’s by far my favourite track of all three films
And actually if you listen to it you can hear bagpipes in that track so technically bagpipes DO play more than those few times.
I somewhat agree. To me, the top spot is a tie between Test Drive and Forbidden Friendship. Not sure I'd count Sticks & Stones since it's only appearance is during the credits, but I find that one really amazing also.
@@distantmind956 What about New Tail? I absolutely adore that piece!😍
This video: starts playing HTTYD1 opening tune
My brain: "ok time for you to monologue the entire opening together with hiccup"
I remember back then when I do it as well
I do that everytime
cuz we all remember it, we all watched it over 100 times
*THIS IS BERK*
I literally got chills every time he played any part of any theme
Tell me about it. I found a video recently of all the songs being played by an orchestra. Awards ceremony or something (I forget the title). I highly recommend it, gave me chills and a half
My husband chose the music to our wedding ceremony. I chose the music for our wedding dance. It was “Romantic flight” from how to train your dragon. Cause the first time I heard it I felt like; “this is what pure beautiful happiness sounds like.” Every time I hear it I tear up and I’m reminded of that magical feeling, dancing with the love of my life; free as if we were flying the skies on a dragon.
Forbidden Friendship is the best thing I have ever listened to in my entire life.
When an entire scene is showing us the relationship and bond between characters develop instead of telling us about it. Masterful.
Something about "Stoick Saves Hiccup" will always move me ಥ_ಥ
Along with The Downed Dragon, Test Drive, and the rest of the OST
I was a band nerd in high school and loved the first movie so much. I remember all of us begging my band teacher to let us play a how to train you dragon medley. Finally, he let us play it and it was amazing. One of my friends, who was one of the biggest advocates for playing this medley, was a french horn player and she was so damn happy. It was really amazing to hear this beautiful instrument really have time to shine. Some of my best memories from the band involved that medley. I loved the soundtrack already and this video made me love it even more.
OMT... i have no friends but if i could make this happen again... I would. I can play the piano (and it took me about 4 years to learm how to spell it) and habe httyd music. I will teach it to my children and my grandchildren. It will be passed down in generations . I will make sure httyd satys alive!
I'm so happy for you!
Our marching show my senior year (2018) was based around the Wright Brothers and "Test Drive" was our closer 😭ugh it always gets me in the feels - just like the first few notes of "This is Berk" 😭❤️
YES! BAND NERDS UNITE!
I'M A FRENCH HORN PLAYER AND MY BAND DIRECTOR WOULDN'T LET ME. I'M SUEING. Not even joking I begged because the french horn in this is so FRIGGIN amazing. But honestly this piece is so good.
sideways: *points out hiccup’s theme in the intro*
me: oh that’s test drive
sideways: *points out that toothless’s theme is not in the intro*
me: wait but...test drive was....... *realizing that that was hiccup’s theme* oh *realizing that test drive is a combination of hiccup and toothless* o-oh........
sideways: *points out hiccup’s theme in the intro*
me: *openly crying now* y-yeah
sideways: *points out the combination in test drive*
me: *sobbing* YEAH YEP UH HUH
i’m not usually the kind of person who pays attention to movie OSTs but i have listened to this soundtrack so many goddamn times, it is my favorite movie soundtrack ever and i was so goddamn hype watching this video, thank you for making it
Yeah I have whole soundtrack on phone
I'm too musically stunted to pick up on most of the smaller details of themes and ideas, but listening to him go through and highlight those beats is fun, and every now and then I can hear what Sideways is putting down.
test drive is one of my fav httyd pieces because it uses that combination, switching between the two depending on who's most in control, then they both get into it and the combo appears excellently, iirc, someone made a video about it on tiktok as well
THIS. This was my exact reaction lol I was like "oh yeah, that's test drive... that's also test drive.... OH. OHHHHHH" I love this soundtrack so fucking much
SAME AS HE POINTED OUT I WAS LIKE “wait. Wait. WAIT.” As it just hit me 😭
The little meta thing that I just love is that because the dragon world tends to be represented by bagpipes, you can feasibly imagine that all of the dragons have heavy Scottish accents and that just makes me really happy
Sideways: *Keeps cutting the clip when Hiccup has to say "This is Berk"*
Me: **Visible frustration**
I don't remember if I already left this comment, but we also hear bagpipes when *Astrid* meets Toothless for the first time, strengthening the feeling of him being an outsider after the time we spent getting to know him alongside Hiccup, reminding us how much the vikings see Toothless as a danger that they don't know enough about to defend themselves from.
I think that's also why the bagpipes aren't in the theme for the dragons. They know at least enough about them to know how to deal with them; they're not something completely unknown like a Night Fury.
@Josiah Simmons in the scene where she followed Hiccup to figure out how he was doing so well in training and ends up meeting Toothless for the first time, before Romantic Flight happens.
@Josiah Simmons I'm pretty sure it's Toothless' theme, the one that plays when he and Hiccup first meet.
@Josiah Simmons The bit at the end of The Downed Dragon
We also get bagpipes during the epilogue, signifying this new peace between Vikings and Dragons is a new sort of unknown.
The just-past the opening for test drive is on bagpipes too
"They have this Thor: Ragnarok moment"
I mean, historically and mythologically speakin-
4:26 Berk/Viking Theme
5:27 Stoick and Astrid
8:54 Back to HTTYD
9:18 Toothless
10:50 Minor Key and Major Key
11:13 Hiccup
11:55 Hiccup and Toothless
You mentioned everything I love about the intro except one thing - it all starts with a low brass chorale. I can't even name another movie that does that! No strings, no woodwinds, no percussion, not even any cinematic sweetener - just gently swelling low brass. I'm not sure if it's just because I'm a Tuba player but there is something so unique and charming about that.
Eric Palacios I’m an alto and I love the basses!
Tuba players rise up!
I felt that. I'm a low brass Baritone player so it's nice to hear that music in the beginning, not the background.
No, it’s not because you are a Tuba player, but because it’s so unique. (You answered your own question and didn’t realize it, ya silly!)
I actually think that these first five minutes were what sold me the movie. They were simply magical - the music was pitch perfect.
I wouldn’t call the epilogue undermining the rest of the movie, toothless is still gone, but they’re not back together forever, they’re just visiting each other like old friends
That is, until the Snoggletog special Homecoming
That's what I feel. It reminds me of a few lines in the final book where an older Hiccup is lamenting the diminishing of dragon sightings, but can still see tiny ones if he looks carefully. It's a gentle reminder of why humans should try to be better: to reunite with dragons.
Plus, Toothless becoming the alpha was supposed to mirror Hiccup getting over himself and taking his rightful place as king.
I took it that someday, hopefully humans and dragons can co-exists again (that's the bit with the children). Worked for me
Unoriginal 156 I feel like the epilogue should've been post credits or they should've added a bunch of scenes showing the Berkians trying to move on after saying goodbye to the dragons
People can literally train dragons, but when I try to train a Komodo dragon, I’m “ViOlaTIng UN LawS” and “Am NoW a TERoRrisT aNd No loNgEr aLloWed In bRaZiL”
Lol
I was obsessed with this movie when I was a kid. I watched it on loop constantly (the DVD would actually automatically play the movie if you wait on the menu long enough), and when I wasn't watching it I was listening to the soundtrack. I always appreciated how the _entire_ soundtrack is embedded in the opening number
3:21 "And sure, I like -" *orchestral stab* "...I'm not gonna lie -" *orchestral stab* "...is pretty great. I play some -" *orchestral stab* "...when I'm grinding in classic WoW. Who doesn't like -" *orchestral stab* "...but -" *orchestral stab* "...doesn't have anything on How To Train Your Dragon."
I lost it right there
I got an add right in the middle of the first stab, made me laugh even more lmao
Same!
Your not the only one. 🤣 *Star Wars intensifies*
I died laughing
Star wars be like: *BWAAAHH*
I know everyone loves ‘Test Drive’, it’s incredible and SO iconic. But can we talk about ‘Romantic Flight’? Pure beauty.
I agree- definitely there is incredible intricacy and technicality behind the scores for these films, but my favourite piece to listen to is always "romantic flight"
Romantic flight is friggin beautiful. Still nothing hits me like test drive
Both give me goosebumps equally! 😂
An amazing combination of written storytelling, visual (storytelling), and music... It never gets old.
Both amazing for their own reasons. John Powell hit it out of the park. His scores for the other two movies are also the best part of those movies.
FINALLY SOMEONE WHO APPRECIATES THE SOUNDTRACK OF THIS FILM AS MUCH AS I DO!
ikr?
literally everyone does
I think it has one of the best scores in movies history (No doubt about it).
@@mediatech1588 It's my number 2 next to the one from 'Batman'
I love the test drive soundtrack aswell😁
you know the music's phenomenal when you literally start tearing up and flashing back to being an eight year old seeing the original movie for the first time while watching a video essay about it. fantastic breakdown man, liked, subscribed, probably gonna add half your videos to my watchlist
I kid you not, everytime I watch that first flight scene (the "test drive" theme) I get chills. Everytime! This movie is so so special to me because it came out when I was quite young and I've watched hundreds of times since and I've always been in awe of the music. I CANNOT believe that it didn't get an oscar.
SAME WITH EVERYTHING SAID HERE 🥺
Same
I completely agree with you! I was 8 when this movie came out and in a tough spot with family problems galore. I grew up with this film, these characters and the music and to this day it is my absolute favourite film. Watching videos of people explaining why it is so great only makes me appreciate it so much more. I believe that to this day it is still a somewhat underrated film and I hope it won't be forgotten.
YESSS same! Httyd was my favorite move as a young child and it had a huge impact me. I remember getting chills from the music all the time!
I've watched the film literally once and the "test drive" theme gets me every time. It's just that good
Him: *says something bad about HTTYD 2*
Me: _the council will decide your fate_
It's the weakest of the franchise
@@isaywhateveriwantandyougot7421 1st: holy shit your username fits perfectly with your statement
2nd: that's just an opinion
@@pacol.4302 Why else would you think I chose it?
@@isaywhateveriwantandyougot7421 dunno. There are people out there that think that what they say is the absolute truth and I just wanted to check.
Listen here,
Some say the 2nd is the weakest
Some say the 3rd is the weakest
Some say the 1st is the weakest (not often but possible)
In conclusion
*How to train your dragon is a perfect trilogy*
7:15
"To what is arguably the antagonist of the film"
* I mean yeah but you don't s a y it *
Like how Goofy is the antagonist in A Goofy Movie
I’ve watched this movie perhaps a dozen play throughs. Every time that magnificent chord hits as Hiccup and Toothless fly between the rocks, I feel the same elation I felt on my first viewing. It makes you want to cheer, regardless of how many times you’ve seen it play out. I’d argue it stands as the best musical crescendo we’ve heard in our lifetimes.
Also fun fact: that “test drive” theme is originally in D major and then goes up to E, and comes back in “Coming back around” again in E major. But at the very end of the third film when Hiccup and Toothless reunite for the last time, we hear it for the final time in its highest version, F major :))
“which how to train your dragon movie is best?”
me: “yes”
The first one, definitely.
Ok but the books were better
(says the guy who never actually watched the movies)
@@hyperstone9 I thought the books were................... Fine, I guess. They're pretty different but I remember thinking this was one of the few times I really preferred the movie
@@natekite7532 That's what I hear everyone say. I'd probably prefer the movies too if I actually watched them, I just never had a chance to go see them.
1st one is amazing 2nd one is 95% of the way there and 3rd one is decent but not at that higher level of quality
I legit started crying with the introduction of Toothless' theme and how you started to elaborate on that and I cant believe I never noticed??
I find it so incredibly poetic that one of the most well known and familiar tracks are the ones where Toothless and Hiccup's motifs merge together, because in reality the most important part of this franchise is the bond that these two share, I just think it all works together really well
The 1st one really was the best in the franchise. They really made a good job making Berk feel alive and introducing us to their culture. Is impossible to forget sarcastic Hiccup and his clashing beliefs with Stoic, such powerful ending. Much wow.
The 1st one might be the best animated movie ever. Period. The other two are like 20th and 21st. It doesn't even approximate a competition which is the best.
@@whynotdean8966 no, I would say that 2/3 are somewhere in the 15 or top 10, but you can have your opinion, just like I have mine.
Sideways: Did you know there are HTTYD tv shows on Netflix?!?!
Me: Yes. Yes I did.
TH-cam didin't have time to buthcar it and turm it into monster school be greatful, its what spinoff were meant for
You should watch the riders of Berk it’s right after the first movie and it’s actually really good
@@beans7348 also defenders of berk, which is set right after riders.
@@angusperson4222 and Race to the edge
My brother had Hiccup and Toothless action figures. Hiccup lost his head at some point so we named him headless hiccup.
Snowball ARS soooooooo u had a headless human and a toothless dragon?
@@jeeb2244 well technically there both toothless now
@@elsilogie5872 i snorted my ramen when i read this
@@gkheder what happened to the ramen
@@zachocampo8577 i spat it out is what i mean
i find it funny how, when i saw this movie back when it had first premiered, the music was what impacted me the most even though i obviously had no idea how music was supposed to work in a film, etc etc. now i’m finally understanding what it all meant as a part of the storytelling process and falling in love with this franchise all over again
I'm sorry, I just have to get this out of the way:
The Hidden World was not saying that "Toothless was gone forever". It was saying that Toothless had to live his life without Hiccup anymore. Live with his own kind and not rely on Hiccup as much as the citizens of Berk have relied too much on their dragons. That's not gone forever. And yes, I know the prosthetic tail needs fixing every once in a while...but that's something the film acknowledges.
I mean Hiccup DID say "How's the tail holding up bud?"
You're exactly right. Though as much as I enjoyed the film (Hidden World) as a whole, I did not really like that aspect of it, so I enjoyed the epilogue when Toothless came back. Also, did any one else find the Lightfury kind of annoying? Just asking. I don't know what it was, she just rubbed me the wrong way.
Dean the director of this film said in an interview that the mature way to end the film was to leave it at toothless going to the hidden world. Since this was a kids movie, he did have to cater towards young children. There were many sacrifices the directors made not only in this movie but as well as the other 2 either due to keeping it PG or no time to add some scenes in the movie.
I'm just mad about the classic "HI HERE'S THE ONLY GIRL OPTION OF YOUR RACE, FALL IN LOVE INSTANTLY THX" trope. Also the fact that her noises all sounded like moans. And she looked like a creepy cave fish because they made her all ~~smooth~~ and ~~feminine~~. So uncomfortable.
(Did I still cry at the end because I cry at ALL of the dragon movies? Yes.)
@@briddishlove I can totally see where you're coming from. I mean, some would argue that the light fury is another species of similar genetics to the night fury, which would allow hybridization. That argument is valid given that in the hidden world, if you look closely, you can actually see other light furies, including babies. Despite that, I still think they designed the light fury to be girly compared to the night fury, and they exaggerated on that aspect, and I don't like it a lot.
This is specifically weird if you compare to Kung Fu Panda, in which characters aren't really designed to look feminine by human standards. Look at Tigress, she doesn't have over the top feminine features, she's still a tiger
You did not just make a video about the film that frickin got me into film music, into composing, kept me playing the violin years after i stopped playing, that I based my first duet arrangement off of, that had music that I played when I did my only ever good piano performances in assemblies.
This films means so much to me and yes it is incredibly underrated as is it's soundtrack and john powell himself. Gosh frickin darn it it's time to go sideways on this movie
Jonny P It’s funny how this movie has an intense fanbase and critical acclaim up the yin-yang, and yet i kinda agree that it’s underrated!
I see you, John Powell. Hiding behind your not-so-cleverly named alias "Jonny P" Okayyyy. Yeah, sure Jonny P, the person who definitley isn't John Powell.
@@evanmgamer shhhh🤫🤫🤫🤫
I am still irrationally angry that this movie lost to "The Social Network" for the "Best Original Score" Oscar in 2009. What an absolute joke. 🙃🙃
Same. HTTYD is my winner for Best Score.
The only time I have cared about that Oscar was to see this film get best score. I share your anger.
The Social Network has a better score and a better opening scene.
Social network has a brilliant score so it's not such a travesty
The Social Network is great.
Okay they didn't want to call the second one "How to Train Your Dragon 2" they were originally going to call it "How to Train Your Dragon: Secret of The Ice Caves" but they felt like that was too long so they changed it and that's why the 3rd movie doesn't have a 3 on it
I feel like since the last one is titled The Hidden World, they could have shortened it to The Ice Caves. Both titles would be talking about a place away from Berk since The Hidden World is referenced as more of a place name. Hidden doesn't have an effect on World, unlike Secret would have an effect on The Ice Caves if the first portion was kept in
Me: hears music
Also me: starts crying
Sameeee
Mood.
Says me but with Forrest Gump theme.
Fucking same
@@DanishButterCookie mood
I used to write all my school essays to this movie's soundtrack. Made such a difference
I've done so much great work to this soundtrack it's so beautiful
Seeing Hiccup in the first movie feels weird when we see him in the other movies and shows
He's such a baby
Ikr
As someone who only really saw the first film, seeing big boy Hiccup is very jarring to me
Even ignoring the music at the start, the first couple of lines, I was SO INVESTED!!
Adding on to that, the first look I got into Toothless' eyes, I was breathless. I will forever be glad that I saw this for the first time at the cinema.
This movie has been my life for 10 years. I loved it at 9 and I love it at 19. This movie curated my obsession with dragons and the music just hits differently. this is by far my favorite movie so far and I doubt anything anytime soon is gonna change that.
Aveneer Holodu 8 and 18 for me and I pretty much have the exact same thoughts as you.
11 and 21, but I am on board with this too!
10 and 20.
Me: **freely watches for the first time at age 4**
😂
"This is Toothless' theme, you can hear it whenever Toothless is around"
Ahh, yes, i see the floor here is made of floor.
A HTTYD video essay in the Year of Our Lord 2019? I'm going to cry; this movie is underrated to a mind-boggling degree. Fantastic video. This has been one of my favorite movies for almost ten years, and you still managed to teach me new things about the score. Kudos to you!
I wouldn't say underrated to mind-boggling degree, but definitely 'underlooked.'
Loretta Bes I just feel like this movie often gets thrown into the bin of non-Disney movies that tend to get forgotten in broader culture, which is unfair considering both what a phenomenal movie it is and how it changed the industry of animated films. Either way, “overlooked” vs. “underrated to a mind-boggling degree” is a simple semantic difference based on how highly you view the film.
@@lorettabes4553 Boi !! HTTYD1 and 2 Got Beaten By Disney In The Oscars,Soooo Yeeeeah UNDERRATED!!
Me too!!
Our family loves HTTYD!
My 13 y/o daughter has spent 1 year in 7th grade concert band. It created such a love and appreciation for music, that she rewatched these movies w/ a focus for the music. She then took an internet deep dive and found this video. She was so ecstatic to find your video she knew that me & Dad would appreciate your knowledge! So we are nerding out over here. Thank you for sharing! We will approach movies so differently now!
There are two band arrangements of the music that I have played in middle school for this movie. The movie has an amazing soundtrack. I also love band nerding out with music everywhere, not just in films. I try to pay attention to the individual instruments, the tempo, etc.
I’m going to have to disagree with you regarding your opinions of the sequels. While the third installment may not have been as strong as the first two, the theme that echoes throughout the entire franchise is so mature and heart-wrenching that it almost makes you forget how mediocre the final film was. The themes of friendship, maturation, and letting go are all so present in each film and the epilogue of the Hidden World just brings everything full circle.
The simple idea that there were dragons long before our modern times came around is so thought provoking no matter how unrealistic it may seem. No matter how hard Hiccup tried, and no matter how much he hoped the world would change, it didn’t. He never got his dream. He learned that it was okay to let it go if it meant the safety of his village and his best friend who he grew to love so dearly. The finale is so well executed. Those last five minutes really make the franchise for me. There is so much heart and thought put into the story, and to see how underrated it is is disheartening. Not to mention the outstanding soundtrack.
The fact that the themes in the story and the themes in the music are consistent throughout the entire trilogy leaves me awestruck. This is a story about a boy who makes a friend and grows up with him until it’s time to let go. It’s such a simple narrative, but it’s execution takes these movies to a whole new level.
why isnt THIS top comment?
I agree with most of this. I actually liked the third more than the second lol. The villain is great, I can't have that movie as the weakest in my opinion. All three are great. The second is my least favorite, but not by much. The third feels the most mature to me
I agree completely. Overall the films built upon each other in a way few other sequels manage to do.
What the fuck? Just because it's "the third film", doesn't mean that it's bad by default. It's the second best in the franchise and a fantastic ending to the greatest animated trilogy of all time!!!
2nd movie still has the best scene, when Stoic sees his wife still alive, the world just melts away , there's no anger or resentment just the pure joy of seeing her again
9:19
When you started describing Toothless' Theme, and how it represents Toothless as an alien or outsider, it reminded me of a line from the book, where Hiccup is thinking about Toothless
"However, you only had to look into his big, innocent, heavily lashed eyes to realize that he was totally without morals. The eyes were ancient, the eyes of a killer. You might as well ask a crocodile or shark to be your friend."
That scene where Toothless tackles Hiccup, and the music swells as you see his eyes reminded me of that passage. You get the feeling that at this point, Toothless is still the enemy. Movie Toothless and Book Toothless are wildly different characters, and I don't know if the similarity was intentional, but I think it's cool how the scenes seem to reflect each other
That's the thing I've always LOVED about the HTTYD franchise. Not only are the movies absolute masterpieces, and will forever remain my favourite for all time, but the books themselves are genius. They are so intricate and well thought out that even the first thing Hiccup in the books DOES (getting Toothless) is a MAJOR plot point in the last book, which is, btw, 12 books down the line. There are 12 books in this damn series and every little thing in EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM if so vital for the ending, it makes me weep for joy. Then you look at the movies, and sure, a lot of things are different, but you can also see where they took inspiration from the books. Especially in Hidden World, it felt like a homage to the books by how much of it feels inspired by them. The movies and books may be different universes in their differences, but holy crap they are both so beautiful and perfect, they do what so few other franchises can: They are nearly completely different from each other, yet are incredible in their own right, and one medium doesn't take away from the other. I love HTTYD, and I will never stop loving it.
Which book? 1st? I have all 4 but I don't remember it, could you tell me the page please? I'm gonna highlight it.
@@sketchysim5351 The original book series that the films were inspired by is 12 books long. The story and characters are different but, man, it hits hard. I still stay up at night thinking of the epilogues sometimes.
@@lucemreine6427 oh thanks for telling me, I just figured. But sadly I couldn't find the other 8 so I only have the first 4 books
@@sketchysim5351 They're all on audible. Read by David Tennant. Or you can order the whole set of them on amazon. :)
4:56
“Wait! Wait a second, what’s that behind your ear?”
“Is that a... yeS IT IS! It’s a pin”
“Let’s do this, let’s take the pin and put it in this conversation”
“BOOP”
“And we will not take it down, no ma’am, until this matter is resolved”
My 5 year old nephew loves Bolt. It's the 'Doggy Movie.'
I love that the "like" button on this comment is really just the "lol I recognize that reference" button.
I have this committed to memory for no good reason 😔
"I have a daughter, love of my life. I would trade her for you IN A HEARTBEAT"
It was like my favorite movie when I was little...I love seeing that I'm not alone 🥰😁
What about Kung Fu Panda, it's always being underrated, also has the best opening scenes even it's 12-13 years. Also very detailed scenes, has a very precise action scenes, heartwarming lessons and soundtracks like Oogway Ascends.
All in all Dreamworks has just pure awesomeness in making these kinds of movies.
All these people, they always talk about httyd, but absolutely everyone are missing the huge oppurtunity, i.e. kungfu panda trilogy.
The greatest example of the use of music in opening is kungfu panda 2. 1.It's starts of with a narration where we are first shown gongmen (i dont know the correct spelling) city, and naturally it's theme.
2. Then we get the panda village theme
3. Then we get to lord shen's theme (which is fucking awesome by the way) and has many small different motifs.
4. Then we get to inner piece theme (which also the same motif used in kungfu panda 3 as the dragon warrior theme)
5. Then we get to the furious five theme (which is already established in the first movie i think, but with po now in it, its way more fuller and dramatic)
6. Then we get to the wolves theme (along with a great musical action theme)
7. And then finally we get to the theme mister ping theme (which is also established in the first movie i think)
And from there on, the themes are utilised in the normal way. Aside from these motifs there are also a bunch of great incidental scores like 'more cannons'.
Kungfu panda trilogy and httyd trilogy has the best soundtracks of any animated movie, and is up there with live action movies like potc.
I can enjoy the visuals, the dynamic fight scenes, and the score but whenever I watch that movie it feels like every good thing gets ruined by the protagonist. I can’t stand him at all- he’s annoying and I can’t root for him.
@@maeg.9123skidoosh
It's also by Powell so that doesn't surprise me
I'm planning to get married to sound of Romantic Flight. I cry everytime I hear it. And nobody has to know it's music from my favorite animated kids movie :D only the best ones will know
Omg, i love it. Im stealing the idea, thx
@@Mathewrath yaas, go for it! It's honestly the perfect song for it
As someone who walked down the aisle to the same piece, go for it! It was incredible to experience. Although I can't listen to that piece or watch that scene now without tearing up because of that moment. But it was perfect. I can even recall the moment in the music my husband turned around to see me for the first time in my dress.
@@blueyoshikid329 well I'm tearing up every time I hear it even now 😅 So It can only get worse hah. But it must've been amazing!
For the dancing and the dreaming would be the perfect propsal song.
I always tell people that How to train your Dragon has the best opening music ever. Now I can send them your video. Seriously, everything you say in this video could come right from my heart. Yout are so damn right! Thank your for your amazing videos.
Ye
Ikr
Same
3:19
"Now, I know what you're thinking: 'Hey, what about Star Wars?' And sure, I like: BWAA!! I'm not gonna lie. BWAA! is pretty great. I play some BWAA! when I'm grinding in Classic WoW. Who doesn't like BWAA! But BWAA! doesn't have anything on How to Train Your Dragon."
My favorite part of the video. It had me laughing so much!
Only the music guy could make the SW theme a punchline in 30 sec 😂
Classic WoW, not Wild.
Hank? is that you?
I feel you. And I feel my stomach
Benjamin Martinez but BWAA
I’ve never studied or know anything about music theory. But the EMOTIONS this movie’s music brings out in me is just freaking amazing. The opening just makes me smile. If there is any song I have to say is my favorite it’s Forbidden Friendship. That original BAM and then the growing tension as trust grows and then the mellowing out when the first touch happens is just soooo freaking satisfying! That theme lives in my head rent free and I will forever love it.
Can I just say a teenager who grew up with HTTYD, the TV shows and specials, especially Race to the Edge, build on the HTTYD franchise beautifully.
Spoilers for Race to the Edge (RTTE):
Hiccup and Astrid get betrothed roughly 6 months to a year and a half before HTTYD 2. You read that right, Hiccstrid (Hiccup and Astrid) are bethrothed (engaged) for the second and third HTTYD movies, and the year in between. Thanks to RTTE, I watched Hiccup and Astrid fall in love, going from best friends, to boyfriend and girlfriend, to betrothed, to married and having kids. I watched Hiccup and Toothless go through so much, I could almost feel my heart breaking when they said "Goodbye". 😫 It is a beautiful franchise, that I highly recommend finding and watching every part of it in chronological order.
SAME!!!
Yes, but also for the other characters, Hiccup learning strategy and warfare and they have their own base and allies for god's damn awesome sake.
Yes. 'Test Drive' is one of my favourite pieces of music to ever exist.
SquaredSpekz - Connor Ellis I really like Forbidden Friendship
I love Test Drive, but Romantic Flight is my favorite.
I love Stoick’s ship and flying with mother, and of course test drive. And i love the rest.
Test drive is one of my favorite peices of ALLLL TIME!!!! I CANNOT explain how much I LOVE that peice. Its powerful , beautiful , wonderfully composed , emotional and all around amazing. 😁😁👍👍
Forget one of, it IS my favourite piece of music to ever exist.
Every time Hiccup ditches his cheat sheet I just smile. I love the way the music just Swells. ❤️
I love this soundtrack so much and I’m so excited that at the beginning when you were picking a moment to show off how amazing the music, you picked the “Test Drive” soundtrack! When people talk about how good the score is, most people talk about the “Forbidden Friendship” or “Romantic Flight” tracks because they’re a lot easier to do piano covers of but “Test Flight” is absolutely an amazing piece of music and I’m so excited to see you give it a lot of love in this video!
"They just look like Power Rangers" i see no problem here.
Same I mean some power rangers look badass
it is thematically appropriate, their armor is made of dragon scales, they are dragon people, it makes sense that their design sensibilities would become draconian, which is what I saw happening
Yeah, and it’s a natural development! I mean, seeing Drago stopping dragon fire witha cloak made of dragon hide. That must’ve triggered some ideas!
Test Drive HAS to be my all time favorite score in any movie. It just feels exhilarating and powerful. If you close your eyes and just listen to it it almost makes you feel like you’re flying. This series has some of the best film score EVER.
"You have to let him go. Psych. He's back"
Isn't that what having friends or even kids is about? Helping each other out, but sometimes you have to let go for the other to be happy. And eventually they come back around.
Sidenote: I haven't seen my best friends in 5 years, and since I'm only 23 so far, that is a lot of time. But we still hang out online every month or so and with no doubt we would laugh and drink our asses off when we meet again
Heresor That’s what I always thought. That sure at some point in a healthy relationship you accept some changes as maybe that person in your life makes independent choices and learns to take care of themselves, or circumstances come along where you and that person may spend time apart but doesn’t mean the relationship or how you feel about that person ends.
Personal experience: my best friend moved away but we still kept in contact all these years and would see each other given the chance. We’re still close even if all we do is talk or text. And she even has new friends and relationships where she lives as do I, but we’re still there for each other, that never changed.
I feel like he didn’t pay enough attention during the movie (despite how much I love his videos on music), they aren’t safe with humans, but that doesn’t mean they can *never* see each other, just that every time it happens you’re risking the dragons being found so they’ll keep it to a minimum
@@snowfloofcathug That whole premise is very retarded.
I very selfishly loved the ending. I think that from a technical standpoint, it wasn’t strong. But as someone who had grown up with the characters, and is incredibly attached, the ending was everything I wanted. I felt that strong, raw emotion when the dragons left, the pride seeing Hiccup and Astrid all grown up with kids of their own, and absolute satisfaction seeing them reunite with Toothless and his new family. It was just beautiful. I acknowledge that comes purely from a place of sentiment for me rather than critical analysis, but I loved it.
If you guys like the soundtrack of the first movie (which everyone does) DO NOT sleep on the 2nd movie. It's new themes are so incredibly beautiful. Specifically valka's theme, stoick and valka's love motif, and together we map the world. Seriosuly incredible pieces. If this soundtrack is epic, the second is beautiful. Like incredibly beautiful. As beautiful as this soundtrack hits hard.
Edit: I'm aware story-wise the movie lacks a bit but I'm just speaking solely on the music where in my opinion it's oddly the most nostalgic for me and possibly even better (for my taste) than the 1st movie's music
This was my Disney princess movie that made my eyes sparkle.
Never understood why the rest of my family didn’t like it. Still is my favorite.
My family didnt like it bc dragons = demons lmaoo
Anyways i loved it
This and rise of the guardians were both movies my mother conveniently lost at the first garage sale she could I watched them so often XD
WAIT YOUR FAMILY DIDNT LIKE IT!?, time to get new ones my dude
I wish Disney bought disney bc then we would get it on disney plus XD
I can relate, when I found out it had dragons I flipped my shitttttt. I had a dragon phase at the time so I was shooketh.
Ok, weird thing, but... I have this thing where, when I’m watching a film or show and the music is playing, I get really emotional with certain note patterns. Major keys and two scores being mashed together are the parts that give me the most emotion and I don’t even need to be watching anything, I could be listening to a soundtrack and get that same feeling (even for a film I’ve never seen before, the music still effects me)
Edit: imagine your emotions having a gut, and the music is punching it... I’m being punched in my musical gut
OMG, finally someone said it! When I listen to "Third Date" and "Once There were Dragons" from The Hidden World, as well as "Zen Ball Master" from Kung Fu Panda 2 (and many other songs), there are certain parts where the instruments just all come together and I start tearing up. Literally, I have this overwhelming feeling that I can't even explain with words. I love your idea of it being my "musical gut". That's so clever!
Same! This happens to me with any type of music, it can be from a video game or movie. Though I have to know where the music is coming from. Sometimes my emotions change during the random song....
Finally someone who understands me 🙏🏻😭 Music is making me emotional! 😌
That's me with Asgores theme from Undertale, when the part of Toriel's theme comes up.
@@Salokin92 Fuck, the instant I read Asgores theme I got hit in the musical gut.
The first time we hear Toothless' theme, it's actually sounds like Uilleann pipes, which IS a type of bagpipe, but has a distinct sound that adds to the mystery. Later on, they use standard bagpipes for a more triumphant, militaristic sound.
The music for test drive is absolutely phenomenal, huge kudos to John Powell, and the orchestra (for all the rest of the score too,) but whoever did the sound design did such a good job. like by itself, test drive specifically brings me to tears and I just love it so incredibly much, but watching the scene itself gives me even more chills and tears. The way that toothless screeches as he's desperately trying to slow down before they reach the stacks, hiccup reaching desperately over and over again but the saddle is just out of reach, the click of the pedal and the wooshes of air as they swerve and dive and roll, the wind whistling as they fly through it, the low groaning sound that you hear when toothless dives and touches his wings to the water is just *chefs kiss* masterfully done. and the best part is that its so well done that neither the music nor that sound design/voice acting overpowers one another.
"How to train your dragon" is also a great movie title. It makes you curious to know how does one train a dragon, and what the movie has got to offer.
In the end, it turned out the Vikings were the ones getting trained!
yobbish would tell you to yell at it
It's based off of books by the same title. The books, however, have dragon training as a normal viking thing from the get-go. Oh, and dragons can speak in the books.
@@hauntedshadowslegacy2826 howdeedoodeethere! I see you have heard of them as well.
@@hauntedshadowslegacy2826 And toothless is toothless
I can't listen to this soundtrack more than once a month. Anymore than that, and I was afraid it would somehow kill its magic.
John Powell REALLY should've gotten that Oscar for this movie.
i'm the opposite. i listen to it constantly!
The most effective way to kill the magic is to set it as a ringtone.
Bat Person or an alarm clock
Same... I love it so muuutch... 😂
I have listened to Once There Were Dragons from the third film dozens of times in the passed month. All the motifs throughout the song get me but nothing like the Forbidden Friendship motif.
Also, Toothless Found from the second film makes my heart jump every time Toothless snaps out of it.
@@curtiswhyte3297 I feel that. They are all so incredible. The Kill Ring is another one that I find myself listening to on repeat.
@@curtiswhyte3297 Huzzah! A homie of quality!
I love how in the intro, the theme that seems to be Hiccup's is played low, being overshadowed by everywhere motif soon after, but in the end after he's made change to the village, he and the theme stand front and center