A Worthy Flight: Why How to Train Your Dragon (2025) Deserves a Spot in Every Animation Lover’s Collection
Look, I’ve watched a lot of cartoons in my time. And when I say a lot, I mean the entire range — from those nostalgic Saturday morning reruns to the obscure international gems no one else on my block had heard of. I’m the kind of person who can appreciate a good visual gag in Looney Tunes and still get emotionally wrecked by Grave of the Fireflies. So when a new animated film hits the big screen, especially one from a well-loved franchise, I pay attention.
And let me tell you, How to Train Your Dragon (2025) earned its wings.
Animation That Respects the Craft
First things first — the animation. This isn’t just a visual upgrade for the sake of it. DreamWorks went all-in on the details, and you can see it in every scale, every wisp of smoke, every fold of a character’s clothing. The textures here are on another level. There are moments where the lighting hits so naturally that it almost tricks your brain into forgetting this is a fully animated world.
But what really matters to me, as someone who loves this medium, is that the animation doesn’t just look good — it serves the story. When Hiccup and Toothless soar through a sunset sky, you feel it. The frame isn’t crowded with unnecessary effects or gimmicks. It’s clean, focused, and emotionally charged.
A Sequel That Understands Its Audience
One of my biggest gripes with animated sequels is when they underestimate the audience. This one doesn’t. It trusts that fans have grown alongside these characters, and it isn’t afraid to tackle more mature themes like leadership, responsibility, and the bittersweet nature of letting go. It still delivers on humor and lighthearted moments (because, yes, the kids in the theater laughed plenty), but it never cheapens its deeper moments for an easy gag.
It strikes that rare, careful balance between accessible family entertainment and thoughtful storytelling that animation, at its best, can achieve.
Memorable Characters, Old and New
As a cartoon aficionado, I live for good character design and memorable personalities. Toothless is still one of the most expressive animated creatures out there without saying a word. Hiccup has evolved in a way that feels honest, not forced. And while a few of the newer characters don’t get quite enough screen time to fully shine, the core ensemble still has that spark that made the original so beloved.
Even the minor moments between background dragons feel alive and intentional — a mark of creators who genuinely care about their world-building.
