Ask Movie Slate - How to Train your Dragon 2

Ask Movie Slate - Episode 189

Commissioned by

Featuring the awesome and her friend Mary Sue, in a Toothless onesie.

This picture didn't change much in terms of concept, but it sure did in terms of setting. The original idea was going to have them floating above a sea of clouds, well above surface and far away from any piece of land of mass of water. That's one of the reasons why I drew the update for "Top Gun", so I could practice my flying scenes. But as I was starting to sketch the background I realized how boring and dull the picture was going to look, and considering the tone of this movie is slightly darker than its predecessor's, I went for a sunset scene with lots of browns and oranges, as it changes from twilight to night time. Also I placed it closer to the ground, so we could see the sea and some rock formations in the distance. I think it looks more interesting like this, not just clouds, clouds, and even more clouds. Anyone can draw clouds, that doesn't make a picture special, it just makes it...well, cloudy.

"How to Train your Dragon 2" is a film that does a lot of things right, some of which are better than the original movie. This is the right way to make a sequel, instead of remaking the original it expands upon it. Instead of staying in the Isle of Berk we see what's beyond it. Instead of just flying around in a dragon now we have battles and action sequences from the dragons perspective. We see more of their society, and how they are structured, and how the vikings have adapted their lives to live with these dragons. It is a bit self-indulgent in the cuteness factor anytime Toothless is in the scene, but since the tone of the movie is a lot darker than the original movie it's kind of welcoming. The story isn't all that innovating or spectacular, but the characters are what make this movie, and seeing their struggles and their inner conflicts is what brings this movie alive. Also, Cate Blanchett. It doesn't matter to me if the movie I'm watching is terrible, because if Cate Blanchett is in it I guarantee you there's going to be something positive to talk about, and that will be Cate Blanchett. She's just perfect in any movie she's in. Unfortunately, there is one weak point that's so blatant it might as well be colored red and have glowy lights around it like the final boss of a Contra game: The villain. Drago is one of the dullest, most boring, flat, one dimensional and insufferable villains I've ever seen in a movie in quite a long time. His motivations are petty, his plan is idiotic, and he might as well being made out of air and spouted white noise from his mouth. The only thing I remember from him is that he is voiced by Djimon Hounsou. Which by the way, I'm getting tired of seeing Djimon Hounsou being reduced to play a subpar villain in movies lately (Furious 7, Guardians of the Galaxy, Seventh Son, this movie) This has been a trend that has to stop. He's an amazing actor, he deserves better than this! Is it his agent? I want to see him in a great role again, like in "Gladiator", "In America" or "Blood Diamond", goddamnit!

It would've been fun to have Movie Slate freaking out over the fact that she's flying on a dragon with the potential of setting her hair on fire, but I never felt that would've been a gun running gag to have. The picture I did for "How to Train your Dragon" established Movie was scared, but that never felt effective, nor natural. So I decided to remove her fear of dragons. Something tells me she would've stopped fearing them sooner or later. Plus, it gave me the perfect excuse to draw her in that badass dragon rider outfit, and curl her hair to make her look a bit more viking. Maybe she even curled up her hair with the heat coming from Toothless' body. Plus, seeing how Maddy calling Movie a "Wee Jessie" has a pay off in this second drawing is a lot funnier than any fear-of-dragons joke I could've come up with.

I hope you guys enjoy the picture!

Please, let me know what you think of it in the comments. I appreciate each and every single one I receive.

Thank you!

You can check the update on Movie Slate's blog right here.