With audiences tired of soulless remakes, things weren’t looking too good for the live-action “How to Train Your Dragon.” However, this new version embraces the emotional core of the original without watering down the charm of the 2010 animated hit. Through its carefully picked cast, stunning visuals and refreshing score, the live-action maintains the original’s themes of empathy and growth. In an era overrun by forgettable reboots, this remake feels purposeful. 

“How to Train Your Dragon” is a captivatingly simple story. A young viking — different from the rest of his clan — learns empathy, strength and leadership through his unlikely friendship with a dragon. While straightforward, the film became one of DreamWorks’ most successful and acclaimed projects, with its emotional message — portrayed through its stunning animation and beautiful soundtrack — touching the hearts of many. This movie redefined what animated storytelling could do and remains widely talked about to this day. The “How to Train Your Dragon” franchise already consisted of three movies, a television series and several short films, which is why the idea of creating a live-action remake felt risky.

Live action remakes have historically missed more than they’ve hit at the box office. Recently, critics have emphasized that live actions are getting unnecessary and out of hand. In 2024, Disney released more live actions and sequels than original movies, making these films feel more like cash grabs than true creative projects.

So, when DreamWorks announced that a live action version of “How To Train Your Dragon” was in the works, the general outlook was uneasy. Even after DreamWorks released the trailer, revealing the producers would closely stick to the original film, many wondered: Why make a dull, less expressive copy of the movie? Despite this, it is clear the live-action adaptation of “How to Train Your Dragon” doesn’t just encapsulate the phenomenon of the original, but elevates it.

The film isn’t just a remake — it is an enhancement. The producers stuck to the visual tone and character essence of the original, but managed to transform it for a live-action version. The team behind the movie didn’t seem to view it as a cash grab but a way to further the storytelling of the original and better immerse the viewers. 

Some of the best decisions the movie crew made lied with who they cast. Mason Thames as Hiccup is almost uncanny — from his mannerisms to his distinctive nasally voice. Nico Parker as Astrid, a viking warrior and Hiccup’s love interest, delivered Astrid’s strength and determination to a tee. While the film lost the fluidity that comes with animation, it was able to effectively translate the characters’ arcs and express grounded human emotion.

Toothless, Hiccup’s lovable dragon, was surprisingly good CGI. While in animation every character is stylized and crafted digitally, live action blends real actors, sets and the environment. The visual effects team was able to make Toothless feel physically present and made it hard to believe he wasn’t real.

In the original animation, some of the most stunning scenes were wide-pan shots of the viking village, dragons flying over the open sea and the dense floating islands. In the remake, the visuals felt almost surreal, especially the iconic scene where Hiccup rides Toothless for the first time over the panned out scenes of the island of Berk. With the effects, props and costumes translated seamlessly to the live-action setting, it not only portrayed the story in a new light, but also elevated the magic of the film.

One of the most talked about parts of the “How to Train Your Dragon” franchise is the score. The music producers didn’t just copy the orchestral masterpieces of the original animation but added musical elements to them, increasing the impact of the pieces. One of the most iconic tracks, “Test Drive,” plays when Hiccup and Toothless go on their first flight, and it was lengthened in the live-action and had more instrumentals to capture the tension and suspense of the moment. 

The “How to Train Your Dragon” live-action is definitely different from the animated version, especially with the reduced exaggeration of emotion and movement. However, the live-action film’s ability to keep the heart and story of the original is what makes it a successful adaptation. This movie is not meant to replace the original classic, but instead exist alongside it.