Okay— y’all wanna see something that really tripped me up flipping through the art book? These earlier Grimmel designs.

I was surprised! He looks like a very different character and if I hadn’t seen the name I would’ve thought it was. But looking at that 3D model makes me think they got pretty far with this younger Grimmel design before changing it.

Also peep this fantastic, chilling description about Grimmel from Dean DeBlois:

HAPPY NEW YEAR ❤

359 of 365: Dedicated to the viking Queen, America Ferrera.

Thank you for giving this loyal, fearless, strong and forever kick-butt woman her voice. Astrid embodies power & purpose, a true role model for many in and out of this fandom. 

It’s funny.. My first impression of Astrid was rather negative when I first saw HTTYD. I just, didn’t like her and that was mostly due to the fact she roughed up Hiccup as much as she did in the first film. A character I so closely related to.

It wasn’t until I joined the fandom and began reading and seeing posts and analysis did I start to see her character more clearly. I rewatched the movie with an eye on her arc and began to understand her as an individual and not just the “reward role” she had at the end of the first film (Something she broke far away from by the 2nd and 3rd film). She is a viking warrior. Focused and determined, not always patient nor perfect but deeply passionate. It took a minute to realize that outside her tough facade, hardend by the rough elements of the circumstances around her in HTTYD1, there existed a caring interior. She is a force to be reckoned with and when I came to realize this my love for her only grew- 10 fold by the day. Her pep-talks with Hiccup always seem to sLAP, and I’ll fight anyone who tries to make her a damsel in distress as this Astrid is anything bUT and I love her all the more for it.

365 of 365: The End.

If you’re reading this, this one’s for you.

Dedicated to dragon fans and animators alike. For all those who have liked and supported this wild ride of mine, I thank you. Whether you were here at Day 1 or Day 364 or anywhere in between, thank you for sticking around as long as you did. I’ve also said this before but at the start of this countdown I had no idea how far I’d get or if I’d even finish at all. Who’d be watching, and if anyone would care or just find the daily posts annoying. Drawing everyday for a year was a challenge that seemed even more crazier after the fact that I had barely surved inktober a few months prior. But I promised myself to try. All I could do was try. Something Hiccup I learned from Hiccup I suppose. ;)

It.. wasn’t easy, and if you’ve seen some of my tags you know how some days were tougher than others. Finding time to prioritize college homework as a full time student and the countdown, more often than naught having to sacrifice sleep or time with friends- but I was ok with it. We’re artists. It’s an occupational hazard. I wanted to follow through with a personal project, my love for HTTYD spurring me on even if no one cared. However; people did. You did. There were some people who said I couldn’t do it- that is was too much and tbh I expected more people to think the same thing. But the amount of utter support and encouragement from this fandom was jarring and beautiful. Reading your kind and lively comments and asks pushed me forward especially times when I felt really low and discouraged. I’m often hard on myself, but the fact that people took to this countdown so warmly and enthusiastically really got me as far as I have. I truly believe I wouldn’t have made it this far without you.

This fandom has been a home away from home with me for years. I’ve learned so much from this fandom, it’s the first and pretty much only one I’m in, and I’m so happy I was able to savor and share the last wait of dragons with you all. We have our squabbles, our disagreements but so does our beloved Hooligan gang! In the end there’s one common denominator that unites us all: Our love for Hiccup and Toothless.

Though the movies may be over, and everything Hiccup and Toothless had to teach us has been taught. Their journey and legacy will forever be embed in our hearts. And there will always be people out there sharing that very same connection, that love of dragons.

So from the bottom of my heart,

Thank you How To Train Your Dragon.