Behold! A mild comparison/rant on Snotlout from the first movie, and his latest adaptation. I apologize for any error and the lack of visuals, though hope this is enjoyable, nonetheless.
Now, starting off simple with dragon training. In the original, the teens are quick to scatter, with Snotlout specifically having the unique path of running right rather than the left all the other teens take. In the Live Action, however, he simply backs up- though seems to shield Hiccup slightly judging by how his hand is outstretched to the only path Hiccup could take. Interestingly, it doesn't seem like Live Action Snotlout stepped forward when/if questioning Gobber as he's no closer to the camera than Astrid.
When entering the arena, he lacks the enthusiasm of his animated counterpart, seemingly furthering the idea that the riders were dragon sympathizers rather than the reality of what canon implies to us: Snotlout wants to kill a dragon because it is why he was spawned in the very first place, but upon seeing a dragon save Hiccup* from the Monstrous Nightmare (aka. the dragon that only Stoick and Gobber are ever shown to fight)- something he's very clearly stressed by judging by how he climbs the bars when Hookfang attacks.
When Hiccup is revealed however, the difference is most notable; Live Action Snotlout appears nearly disgusted at the sight of the heir, whereas the Animated Snotlout glances him up and down incredulously, starting to smile when Gobber begins the lesson.
Considering this, there is an inferable trait of Live Action Snotlout that differs from Animated Snotlout is that he seems to genuinely dislike Hiccup- which combined with his supposed "be cool" mindset serves as evidence for him actually going out of his way to bully Hiccup. This is far different from Animated Snotlout whom actually does the opposite: go as far out of his way as possible to make sure Hiccup stays away from him (think his jibes and moving so that Hiccup can't sit with them). This is given motive by Spitelout: status is all he cares about and if Snotlout were to hang up with Hiccup, he'd effectively telling his dad to screw off.
Live Action Snotlout prioritizes being seen as cool by his peers, Animated Snotlout prioritises surviving living with his father.
Both Snotlout's are a product to their environment, but environments seemingly different to each other. Both wants fame, power, recognition-
One to be "cool" and one to cope with the fact that deep down he knows his father is willing to leave him once the moment arrives. Sure, he's delusional, he thinks that his father knows best for everything and that all the injury he gets he must deserve for something he's done, but that doesn't mean he isn't scared of his father, doesn't know that his childhood is one unusually* unpleasant.
At this point, this becomes more opinion, but I imagine that such is why he leans so hard into being what his father wants. It gets him food, it gets him affection and yet he never gets love. He's weak, too weak, so he needs to prove that he's not the worst by fighting fights he knows he'll win- to retreat from a fight is a sign of weakness, of losing the battle. If he must smother the guilt, the affection he feels, then it is simply to do as his father wants, it is to ensure he gets a "well done son, I'm proud". Perhaps if he pretends he only cares for what his father does, that he has none of the wild thoughts Hiccup has always had that his father hates so, his father will finally tell him he loves him?
And then there's dragons. He is to be like Hiccup- and so he leads the dragon riders until Hiccup awakens. He can't play the facade for long, and as soon as Berk realises he provides so very little, not even the leader his father desires of him, he's hated. He returns to his roots, for Berk is still a land of Vikings, and he knows it'll get him back the praise, back to being the second best-
It doesn't. Nobody likes him, no matter how he tries, so he decides to hate them back. His loyalty keeps him from betrayal, but is it not sweet vengeance to force them to pay for life giving water, to leech them of their wealth? It is immoral, and yet wealth is power, and his father has always taught him to aim high no matter if by playing clean or dirty.
* Spelling error correction
