#httyd parallels

You know what I love the most about Crushing it ? It's how much of a reverse parallel to How to pick your dragon it is.

First there is Stoick overall attitude towards flying a dragon.

In How to pick your dragon he is very much against it instead being dead set in traditions and the Viking way. He ignores every suggestion from Hiccup about the advantages it would give him and the village unless it is parroted back by Gobber.

In Crushing it, it is shown Stoick very much missed flying as he had made sure Thornado's saddle stayed shiny despite his friend being gone for three whole years.

He even said so when him and Hiccup were looking for the Rumblehorn: "Ah, it's good to be back up in the air again."

Then, once Hiccup did get on a dragon, Stoick basically took over Hiccup, riding Toothless in his place and cutting off his son when he tries to give direction to his friends leading to one of Hiccup's famous quip : "Can anybody even see me back here ?!"

In Crushing it, the opposite happens.

When Hiccup and Stoick arrived back on the Edge and are apprised of the current situation, Stoick, being Chief, immediately try to take charge. Except, this time, Hiccup is the one who cut him off and gives instructions to his friends while his father is caught by surprise.

Finally there is the way he behaves towards the dragon threat in each episode.

In How to pick your dragon, Stoick is so sure as to why the Thunderdrum is attacking their fishing ships while Hiccup thinks there maybe another reason and it's only when they discovered Thornado's injured friend they realised Hiccup had been the one who was right.

In Crushing it, it is Hiccup who is so sure of what the behaviour of the Rumblehorn means and that, he maybe forced to deal with him the old fashioned away while Stoick is the one who realised something doesn't add up and turns out to be proven right.

And, in the end he bonds with his two dragon friends because they all shared the same desire to protect what they hold dear at all cost.

The guy who’s really good at inventing, didn’t want to let their dad down, and didn’t think he’d be a very good fighter but becomes one of the best.

The jokester(s) that have more common sense than people give them credit for.

The born warrior with the heart of gold. Also a sucker for the inventor.

The pacifist who can kick butt if needed.

The warrior who didn’t start out that way. Also a sucker for the pacifist. Also voiced by Mae Whitman.

The guy who had a change of heart and is now best friends (brothers!) with the hero.

Snotlout. He has no equal. He is Snotlout, oi oi oi.

Aha really funny that you asked it because I was already planning one… Here you go!

I was excited for this sort mainly because we’ll know more about Zephyr and Nuffink. Because you know even if we see them at the end of HTTYD3, we could not really tell which personalities they got. It’s hard to define people in less than 5 minutes on the screen. So Homecoming really satisfied me in these terms.

Let’s start with Zephyr. As we already knew, she definitely has her father’s side regarding the inventions she develops. She obviously loves to create things! The notebook she wears in the epilogue goes in this direction but also tell us about an interest in books and stories etc. And we got it confirmed when we saw her sharing with her parents the researches she did on dragons and what she found.

That’s when I saw in her a lot of her mom’s side. Like Astrid, she doesn’t let herself be easily convinced. She read things, she read dragons are monsters so they are monsters, it’s written in black and white you know. So her parents have to prove the contrary. But she’s really stubborn, like her father. So even if the show is great, unlike her brother Nuffink, she still not believes dragons are good. She only changed her mind when she finally experienced the thing by herself and meet a real dragon, namely Toothless.

Also, we can find a lot of signs that shows that she acts just like her mom. First, yeah she love to create things but not just any kind. She creates weapons to defend her family from the dragons! She definitely got that from her mom. She’s protective like her. And a future warrior if we add to this the way she’s sharpening her knifes everywhere like her mom used to.

Originally posted by odair-hofferson

Also, can we talk about how protective she’s towards her little brother? This little girl is so brave!

Originally posted by saieras

This is so damn cute and it reminds me a lot of her parents’ side who were always protecting each other in RTTE. Well done, Hiccup and Astrid! Concerning the headcanons I could make after that, well, I think Zephyr thinks a lot, like a lot (like her father do) and it will maybe cause her some troubles when she’ll be older. Maybe she’ll overthink her relationships with others and will not know how to act with people of her age during her adolescence. But as a positive side, during the village’s council she’ll be able to help her father when he has big decisions to make. She’ll came up with new ideas and help him see clearer in his mind. And her daddy will tell her that’s what will make her a great chief. Also, I can clearly see her writing Hiccup’s memoirs because she’s been fascinated with his story and the story of her tribe. And since her father would maybe not want to write it, to keep the dragons a secret, she’ll do it to honor Berk’s story but maybe will keep that to herself and it would be her grandkids finding it and later, publishing it when the world doesn’t believe in dragons anymore.

But maybe I’m going too far aha… Anyway, she really is a beautiful mixed of her two parents

Nuffink now. This boy is such a sweat heart. He freaking loves his big sister and would do anything for her. I mean, look of how proud he is to follow her everywhere!

He really admires her. And that’s why I see more Hiccup’s side in him. He really got excited for everything he does and that’s so Hiccup’s like! But we can tell he’s his mama’s boy too. He loves to strike his head on everything and he’s ready to fight whenever it’s necessary.

Originally posted by odair-hofferson

Also, he liked to help her sister performing her new defense systems but I think he more likes to be into the action than building the thing. Nuffink seems like he can be easily influenced because he follows her sister everywhere but at the same time, you can see during the show that he’s not showing his excitement just because of Zephyr and because he wants to please her. And at the end of the show, he can’t contain it and just applauses with all his strength.

Originally posted by saieras

I headcanon that when he’ll be a teen, he would have an interest in navigation. Because he does not want to stay in New Berk, he wants to see the world (like his father) and so he became a great sailor and visits a lot of places! He would also bring his sister with him even she’s reluctant to the thing at first but once again, his excitement would finish convincing her. I can also definitely see him saving her sister many times when they’ll go on adventures together. And I think she’ll be grateful and not like Astrid saying that she doesn’t need the help of anyone. I think Zephyr would be wise enough to admit she needs her little brother in some situations.

when hiccup’s unsteady on his new leg... (how to train your dragon)

Some things never change...

Carried away by dragons, unable to do anything but distressingly cry out for their partners who they’re torn away from...

Then the ones left behind, helplessly and mournfully calling after them...

...it made me think again about the comparison made between Stoick & Valka and Hiccup & Toothless in THW.

The depth of the loss they felt are the same.

(0:00) This is Berk HTTYD 1 / (0:35) GOTNF / (1:07) Dragon Racing HTTYD 2 / (1:54) Raiders Return To Busy, Busy Berk HTTYD 3

The Evolution of “This is Berk”

Maybe the music majors out there can fill this out a bit more, but I really enjoy how the iconic Berk leitmotif evolves across the movies.

The first iteration of the theme (0:00-0:17) is steady, straightforward, and uncomplicated. The arrangement sort of reminds me of rolling waves or a pendulum keeping time. This is the Berk of Hiccup’s childhood—essentially his father’s Berk.

In the second movie  (1:07-1:23) the arrangement features brighter instrumentation and the percussion drives you forward a bit more. There is a little more variety, but it is not so different than the first. This is a progressive, lighter, and hopeful Berk, but it is still Stoick’s Berk.

Then there’s the third (2:00-2:27). It’s still the same leitmotif, but it’s been transformed into something unique. The arrangement here is more varied than the previous versions. It is full and lively, maybe even a bit chaotic at times. And those horns blasting out the melody line—they are just so triumphant! You can literally feel Hiccup’s pride in what he’s accomplished—this is his Berk.