How To Train Your Dragon:

'Hiccup' with Toothless

Ruwini Jayawardana

How To Train Your Dragon is based on a story of the same name written by Cressida Cowell. The film finds young Hiccup, son of Stoick, as the misfit of the community. Though anxious to take part in dragon slaying the youth seems the least likely member of the group to become a dragon slayer.

This poses as a problem because the Vikings' main day-to-day activity comprises keeping the fire-breathers out of their territory. This is highlighted by an action packed opening to the film when the village is attacked by a variety of dragons.

Interestingly this sequence relates the range of dragons which inhabit earth and establishes the fact that there is one of a kind that no earthling had ever seen - the sinister Night Fury.

As in most artistic works, this sets the stage to the rollercoaster of incidents that follow - the discovery of the Night Fury. Coincidently it is Hiccup who finds the dragon, which had been hurt in combat, and befriends him.

Training the dragon, which he had christened Toothless, is not an easy task. He is far from the adorable kitten or puppy you bring home. A dark and brooding beast, Toothless is not instantly one to warm up to. However Hiccup finds a way to win the dragon's trust by getting him food and fixing a handmade wing to his burnt out tail end so that he can regain his balance to fly.

The filmmakers have quite appropriately added a number of scenes to show the slow but growing intimacy between dragon and boy. Theirs is a bonding through gestures rather than words. The dragon ultimately returns the kindness when he helps Hiccup win the affection of Astrid, a blond Viking girl with exceptional courage and save the village from more dragon invasion and win over his father's confidence.

The scenes portraying Toothless is a joy to watch. Though the audience may not take to him at first glance he quickly wriggles his way into their hearts with his playful gestures and loyalty. His character is moulded from the best aspects of a dog.

The movie's weak point is probably the fact that it digs into the familiar loser-turned-hero stereotype. Here is a father, the complete opposite of son, who does not believe in his offspring. One fine day the youth embarks on an adventure which wins him wrath in the beginning but later opens their eyes to his heroic qualities.

The heroine too is the spiteful rival at first but is wooed by the hero's skills in the end.

Light humour is scattered across a sequences and the final discovery that dragons are not the violent predators they are thought to be, sends a positive message across to the audience. Harmony is restored in the finale as the youngster witnesses a world where man and beast works together.

Packed with hairy and beefy Vikings and fire breathing dragons How To Train Your Dragon is one of the finest examples of the humorous, engaging , entertaining, heartfelt and family-friendly animations.