Modern children’s films tend to have deeper meanings behind their seemingly light playful narratives. Disney Pixar’s “Incredibles 2” provides a great example of a colorful, fun family film with a complex narrative that can help kids deal with real-life issues. Sure, it is about a family of crime-fighting superheroes, but the story also focuses on an out-of-work father trying to raise his kids while their mom continues her dream of fighting crime. “Incredibles 2’s” message breaks traditional western family norms, such as displaying men as breadwinners and women as homemakers. All this to say, “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” also has a more profound message behind its playful exterior. The fantasy-themed motion picture shows viewers the importance of community and reliable friends. The entry into the new generation of children’s films does not just try to entertain kids, it also appeals to the emotional experience in both children and adults.
The conclusion of the popular DreamWorks Animation series, “How to Train Your Dragon 3” has had tremendous success in its first week of showings. Rotten Tomatoes gives the fiery flick a 91 percent overall and places it at the top of the box office after it grossed a whopping $55 million dollars on its opening weekend, beating out the likes of “Alita: Battle Angel” and “The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part.” Fresh off Oscar-nominated animated films like the aforementioned “Incredibles 2” and Sony Pictures’ “Spider-man: Into the Spider-verse,” “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” kicks the new year of animation off to an amazing start with its dazzling picture quality and engaging storytelling.
The newest dragon film impresses because of the clear and realistic environments the movie portrays. Awe-inspiring waterfalls and incredibly textured landscapes in various scenes invite audiences into a fascinating new fantasy world to join our characters on a memorable journey. Along with the incredible animated visuals, the storytelling reaches deep into the minds and hearts of viewers. Our dynamic duo, Hiccup, played by Jay Baruchel, and his scaled sidekick Toothless, struggle to create a new eutopia between dragons and humans in their Nordic homeland. Along with external issues from antagonist Grimmel, played by F. Murray Abraham, the inseparable heroes face challenges to their friendship and Hiccup’s leadership.
The third installment of the “How to Train Your Dragon” franchise is the perfect resolution to the successful animated adventure series. The relationship between Hiccup and Toothless comes full circle by the film’s climax. Though “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” is intended to be a family film, this animated adventure shows viewers that life has its ups and downs, but the people we surround ourselves with should be there to pick us up. This film is not your average children’s movie as the characters are well-developed and extremely relatable to both young and old audiences. It has been an exciting ride for this successful trilogy, and viewers should appreciate the satisfying conclusion to the series.
