#httyd book theory

[quiet-art-kid]

been thinking about the httyd books

The exiling of runts and children who are deemed "useless" while sad and cruel makes contextual sense. Food is very limited. One unusually dry summer could cause many to starve to death in winter time. More mouths to feed would be incredibly costly, that is, until the Potato. The magic little calorie packet that is the potato. there is a reason why after it was discovered basically everyone started growing it in our world. It's crazy efficient. Hiccup could actually sustain more people with less effort. people that can't work manually, or can't work as efficiently would no longer be seen as a burden.

[skyisgreen-grassisblue]

httyd book fandom, how big do we think toothless ended up getting over the course of hiccup’s life? i know the books say that he barely grew at all but tbh i half-disregarded that information because there’s no way he barely grew physically over like ~80 years 💀 i just assume they meant mentally

[howtodrawyourdragon]

"QUIET!" yelled Thuggory. "HICCUP IS THINKING." Hiccup thought. And thought.

I feel like Hiccup could've used a Thuggory in the movies.

....

....

Unless

👀

ASTRID!

[noctusfury]

Fishlegs is Alvin's Son? (HTTYD/RTTE Theory/Headcanon)

Well met, my fellow Furians! In connection with my Fishlegs the Outcast article (here), this is another article concerning the relationship between Fishlegs and Alvin the Treacherous Trustworthy.

Could Fishlegs be Alvin's son?

Why would I ask that? Well, if you're a fan of the books like I am, it's obvious I'd ask this question. In the books, Fishlegs was Alvin's son. (Spoilers: Alvin doesn't get a redemption arc in the books. He remains an unrepentant villain to the last! 😂)

Naturally, of course, this is the TV series, and TV Alvin is va-a-a-a-astly different from his Book counterpart. As is Fishlegs, for that matter. And, well, the entire story plot. So it just goes to show that it's 98% likely that they have zero blood relations at all!

HOWEVER!!! That doesn't mean that it's impossible! It's always plausible that Fishlegs could've been adopted, like in the books, and that his real biological father is Alvin!

Of course, in reality, Fishlegs and Alvin have had too few interactions to really authenticate this theory, but at the same time, it's also possible for Alvin to totally not recognize his son (especially if he's never seen the child to begin with), and thus treat him differently than if he knew that he was his son.

Regardless of whether this is true or not, the fact that this plausibility exists just adds an additional layer of depth to this relationship that wasn't there before, and I'm LOVING IT!! 🤩😍

What do you guys think? Do you think that TV Fishlegs and Alvin could be biologically related? Or do you think that they're not related at all?

Thank you for reading and I hope that you have a wonderful day! See you in another article!

Long Live the Night!

— Noctus Fury

[eemoo1o-tfrmoo]

Wait okay why were Snaptrappers never added. Tell me I crave knowledge

Are Snaptrappers this mystical, well-beloved dragon? Everyone’s asking!

Well, some of it may be speculation but the link I’ve referred the past two people to is this. The original post is by @i-hate-spitelout-jorgenson, and I just added on during this blog’s shadowban (so via my main). So, please, credit the OP as well for this info-dump. I’ve been referring everyone back to an iteration of their post, after all.

I may as well abbreviate what I’d said and what they’d said:

What they’d said:

At least some point, each dragon from TBoD was featured in the shows with the exception of the Timberjack and Snaptrapper. However, the former was seen in the background of HTTYD2 as well as mentioned when Hiccup speculates they’ll find at Itchy Armpit.

The Typhoomerang, a recurring dragon in the shows, seems very similar to the Timberjack. They also speculated that it was probably a rehash of the same concept, but points out it doesn’t happen to the Snaptrapper.

The Snaptrapper doesn’t appear canon which is “fair” due to its chocolate-vapour breath (ETA: honestly, it would rake in so much money in today’s vape-pen ridden society), though honestly they could have just… changed that?

It’s absence is most likely because the design was lacking, or the budget couldn’t afford four heads, or the creators just didn’t like it.

What I’d said:

The smokey eye is very cool. (And here’s me adding on, presently — One of the heads even has a different eyeshadow-shade. I think it’s actually inspired by Termagent’s dragon from the book, where two heads are male and the other female.)

However, I think the facial design was too similar to a Monstrous Nightmare.

The Typhoomerang looks like a Timberjack at home.

I speculated that there was perhaps meant to be a third of Berk, because on all four of the DVDs of ROB and DOB there are four Dragon Trackers in the bonus features (you can view them on YouTube — but be warned because that is not Hiccup talking and it is unnerving), which always went over the new dragons we met and also had a preview of the next central species with the line of “This dragon is still unknown and needs to be discovered”, or similar. With the Screaming Death (the only show-exclusive dragon in the OB duology to have a before-introduction preview) they’d used a Timberjack, which is the only incidence where that has happened, but at the end of DOB they’d previewed a Snaptrapper.

They could have just had them in the background of Valka’s sanctuary, but nooo.

Spitelout’s Singetail trap in RTTE was actually named the Snaptrapper, most likely as a reference.

Conclusion / the most likely answer:

The “chocolate breath” felt too inaccurate to include, and they didn’t know how to change it.

The facial features looked too similar to a Monstrous Nightmare for the creator’s liking (though, that didn’t exactly stop them with the Gronckle and the Hotburple 😒)

The animation on the four heads was probably too difficult.

[companion-of-the-dragonmark]

Outlawry and the Outcast Lands (HTTYD Books)

(I’m sorry in advance for any blurry map images, but I can only do so much. If you guys have clearer copies of this, please let me know.)

Hello everyone! Today I’ll write another article that I think you’ll find interesting. I know I haven’t written an article for the Books in, like, a very long time, but now I’ve got myself a topic to talk about. 

As you know, Outlawry and Outcasts are among the main antagonists and themes in the Books. That being said, and in spite of it, there isn’t really a whole lot of info concerning this, aside from the few hints, theories, and mentions we get from it.

In the Books, Outlawry and Piracy kinda go hand-in-hand, though they’re not exactly the same thing. 

In the Viking Age, there was a complicated yet integral system in Viking society called “Outlawry”. For minor crimes — stealing, injuring, insulting someone’s honor, perjury, non-violent treason (disobeying orders and the like), etc, or if the person exiled himself — they sentenced a person to “Lesser Outlawry”.

Lesser Outlaws had safe zones to live in for up to 3 years, and their family and friends could give them supplies and support if needed. His family could even join him if they so wished. However, if the person ever stepped out of these safe zones for whatever reason, it was fair game if somebody killed him, since he is technically an outlaw, and the killer was exempt from any punishment since the outlaw stepped out of the sanctioned safe zones.

“Greater Outlawry” was when a man or woman committed the following major crimes: assault, rape, manslaughter (accidental or intentional), the harming or killing of a chieftain or lord (or “violent treason”), breaking the terms of the lesser outlawry sentence, and other terrible crimes. If anyone committed these crimes, they were sentenced to “Greater Outlawry”, which was permanent, and could never be revoked once sentenced.

Of course, both in the real world and in this world, it’s natural and essential for outlaws to band together to increase their chances of survival. After all, life as an outlaw wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, as Hiccup hints at in Book 1, and mentions from time to time in later Books. In fact, such was the stress and isolation of becoming a permanent outlaw — becoming both socially and eventually physically executed — that there are many who commit suicide, unable to handle the drastic change to their circumstances. 

To be an Outlaw was to, bluntly speaking, metaphorically become the participant of the Hunger Games — except that everyone was coming to kill YOU, gaining glory and honor for themselves, and notoriety for you if you won instead.

Because of this, it was common for Outlaws to band together in order to protect themselves. This is probably how the Outcast Tribe came to be after Thugheart failed in his rebellion to claim the Throne of the Wilderwest for himself, bringing with him whomever got banished with him. Perhaps even with their families, if any went at all. Over the years, they grew to become a deadly force, and unfortunately devolved into a nasty, ferocious, and somewhat primitive Viking band known for cannibalism, human sacrifices, and other bad deeds. Of course, upon Alvin’s coronation as the new High Chieftain of the Outcasts 5-15 years before the events of Book 1, he reformed the Outcasts into a bit more sophisticated force and a bit more with the times, but he couldn’t change all of their traditions.

This Tribe consists mostly of descendants of pro-Thugheart rebels who wish for the descendants of Thugheart to reclaim the Throne of the Wilderwest and rule the Tribes (even though the rest of the Archipelago view them as nothing more than a family of Outcasts and dishonorable men).

While the Outcasts of the Wilderwest are the main groups, they’re by far not the only ones out there. The Archipelago has many Outcast warbands, large and small, spread out throughout the many isles that make up the Barbaric Archipelago. That being said, the Wilderwest Outcasts are by far the most populous and dangerous outlaw bands out there due to their organization, history, resolve, and semi-legitimacy. Other outlaw bands are mostly just warbands led by a leader or warlord rather than a legitimate chieftain or ruler. If they do, it’s self-made and far from legitimate.

But Vikings of the Archipelago who wish to sail through these waters must take heed to the potential danger of running into any bands of wandering Outcasts. Some bands are on dragons, others on ships, and still others with a mix of both. The life of a Viking is fraught with danger.

However, this isn’t the only path to becoming an Outcast. Nor is it the only fate of one, either. 

Regardless if you were Outlawed or not, if you have the misfortune and bad luck to run into the Uglithug Slave Ships, you may as well forget ever hoping for freedom again. To become a slave is the same as becoming an Outcast practically. Once they grab hold of you and gift you with the Slavemark, you can never hope to become a Free Viking ever again. (At least until the Dragonmarker Revolution led by Hiccup the Third brought it back into its original symbolic meaning.) 

But if you ever got lucky enough to escape (though few ever do), you would still be treated as if you were an Outcast and probably killed on the spot, or, if you were lucky, become someone else’s slave.

If you got caught by any Roman ships, then you’d meet the same fate and you’d end up becoming a slave or a gladiator for their Games.

Vikings who got banished from their homes as Outcasts would either go to 2 places: The Mainland, where they would have to deal with dragons AND Uglithugs, and try to avoid becoming a slave or just outright killed on the spot — and woe unto them if they got banished during the winter seasons (though anytime was bad when you’re in the Archipelago); and the second is being sent by UG the Uglithug to the Island of Berserk, where they’re imprisoned in the infamous Forest Dungeon until the time comes for their monthly human sacrifices to the Dragon (until, at least, Hiccup came along and spoilt the fun like the party-pooper he is. XD)

However, there was a THIRD option — one that most people probably don’t know about.

Cannibal Isle. The island where starving to death and dealing with dragons was the LEAST of your worries. 

This place was never mentioned in the Books, but you can find this in some maps in Book 1: How To Train Your Dragon and in the Complete Book of Dragons. That being said, it is mentioned in the Books about Vikings being banished having to face dangers such as being beset by cannibals. Book 1 is the most we get about it, but it is interesting to note that he says this. As he says this in lieu of talking about being banished to the Mainland, it might be that Cannibal Isle isn’t the only place where cannibals reside. That being said, we can’t be sure of such things, since Cowell never mentions the place nor about the banishment since it never happens after the Berkian and Meathead Youths’ victory over the Green Death.

I just happened to have seen this on the maps of Book 1 and the Book of Dragons and was very interested and started to wonder if this wasn’t a connection of some sort. If he mentions cannibals, then the other destination they might’ve been sent to other than the Mainland (which, to be honest, is a FAR DISTANCE from Berk) could’ve been Cannibal Isle.

Cannibal Isle might possibly be home to Outcasts who’ve been banished from society and driven to this island, which doesn’t have much in the way of food, and are lucky to get by on plants and fish and whatever they manage to scrounge up. But eventually the hunger drove them mad and caused them to look to man-flesh to sustain their needs. Thus, the island became known as “Cannibal Isle”, and would often be a place to send permanent outlaws to other than the Mainland.

Another area I thought would be an interesting hotspot for pirates, raiders, and outcasts was in the Mazy Multitudes. Only the bravest would enter these waters and make them their base of operations. Other than the weather, the Sharkworms, and the like, they’d also have to contend with the Romans who’ve made their stronghold there on one of the islands.

However, the Mazy Multitudes also make for a great base since not many Vikings would be crazy enough to risk entering the Mazy Multitudes to deal with any Outcasts or Raiders who’ve made themselves at home here, especially since the Romans have made their base here for hundreds of years.

Not only that, but it’s pretty close to several islands, such as Glum, Peaceable Country, Meatheads, Berk, Waterlands, Mystery, Swallow, and others. And much traffic enters near or into these waters, making it a lovely hotspot. Or one of them, at any point. It’s similar to the modern-day water trade routes in Indonesia.

All-in-all, it’s not a bad spot to hang out at -- though, admittedly, there are perhaps more safer areas to establish your base at.

Conclusion:

So there are many paths and many ways that one ends up becoming an Outcast of Viking society when concerning the lore of the Books. And we’ve learned that becoming an Outcast... is not fun’n’games. At all. It’s literally like Hunger Games, but with worse odds and even less support unless you luckily end up in one of the many Outcast bands or form one yourself.

What happens to Outcasts can vary: from going to the Mainland, to becoming a slave, to dying at the hands of Cannibals or some Dragon, to succumbing to the natural and unnatural elements, to getting killed by dragons... the possibilities are ENDLESS.

In fact, there should’ve been a book called “You Wouldn’t Want to be An Outcast in the Barbaric Archipelago”. lol XD (I might actually do a fanfic on this. Who knows?)

I hope you guys had fun reading this and learned a lot. It was definitely fun for me, and I enjoyed thinking up theories concerning Cannibal Isle and the Mazy Multitudes for this article.

Thank you guys for reading! Please reblog to share with others, and I hope to see you in the next article. 

Long Live the Wilderwest!

— Companion of the Dragonmark

[betterpatroclus]

My favorite little httyd fact is that movie hiccup is kind of based on the story of Hiccup the first from the books. In that version “toothless” was sent by the ruler of dragons to kill hiccup and things pretty much go like the movie from there. But what if that’s what the attack was at the beginning? What if that’s why random dragons kept trying to attack him every time he tried to go out. They knew about the prophecy!

[zynxsone]

Reason's why Jim Lake jr is Hiccup's descendant (and not tom he can go eat shit)

The httyd world and TOA world might be in the same universe.

Astrid once mentioned trolls and used them as an insult "son of a half-troll rock eating!—" and Gobber also said "Trolls exist! They steal and eat your socks, but only the left ones"

Familiar right? Trolls in the TOA world are attached to socks and those are their meals and snacks.

Gnomes and trolls also exist when hiccup stated "that it'll scare gnomes and trolls"

In the Trollhunters museum we can see that Stoick's helmet along with the Viking ship placed in the museum, while his sword was in the hero's Forge. The yaknog jug Astrid carried also appeared in Trollhunters. (The episode where blinky and the others went into Gato's mouth)

Jim's Armor also shares much similarities to Httyd's armors.

Charlemagne isn't much old to exist in the Viking years. He and other dragons could've probably evolved through the years as he looks more of a troll-dragon mix.

Sentinels are also stone creatures (dragons) made out of LIVING stone (much like Trolls), this could be the ancestors of The troll dragons from ROTT movie and also evolved through the years that they could adapt not just rocks and stones but also gems and crystals for skin. The only problem is Sentinel's can survive in the sun while trolls can't, which leads to my other theory.

(sentinel and troll dragon theory) Troll dragons might be the offspring of a sentinel and Troll forming a hybrid that's called The troll dragons. And throughout the years these troll dragons have adapted other environments which made them only not have rock/stone for skin but also gems and crystals.

Now moving on to Jim and Hiccup.

But how is Jim Hiccup's descendant?

— Jim and Hiccup share similarities. (A lot) Jim and Hiccup are both goofy but have a brave heart, they both would sacrifice themselves for their loved ones. They will do everything just to accomplish what they desire. (They're also very embarrassing to be around their crush *cough* Astrid and Claire)

Both grew up being good at weaponry. They were both struck at lightning. Not to mention they kinda look alike and Young hiccup used to Hunt trolls, and Jim in the books was in a blood line of Troll hunters

Barbara's side of family is probably Hiccup's blood continuing, Barbara (somehow) lowkey has potential being a relative to hiccup (both are brunette's too, and her blue eyes match Astrid's) Barbara also looks (not a lot, but it works) like Valka. (Zephyr also had brown hair and blue eyes.)

The troll-market looks identical to the hidden world as it has many glowing/magic crystals/gems and other stones. (The heart stone looks like the giant crystal that the light furry and toothless made their roars as the queen and king of dragons in the hidden world)

And in the first episode of the Trollhunters Toothless made a cameo as an easter egg and wallpaper for jim's laptop.

The book of dragons would be a historical artifact that's probably laying on Charlemagne's Cave (i forgot what it's called lol)

Maces and Talons also made an appearance with Blinky and Draal.

Arcane Order

—This could also mean that the bird-dragon like mask that Bellroc wore was from a dragon they probably slayed.

The bewilder beast might have been created by Skrael's magic (these demi gods have long life and magic and they would create anything they wanted) Skrael probably thought of creating a creature that would inherit his Ice based magic.

And I have photos for proof but they don't seem to upload and idk why

[poibynt]

This is a really long-winded work up to a fic idea/vague character analysis BEAR WITH ME.

this'll be the last HTTYD meta post of the night. It's hard to pinpoint when Cowell fully created the later book's storyline (The seeds really start getting planted in 5, but of course 8 kicks things off, but was that the book when she first truly knew? who knows) but it's obvious the end game plot wasn't conceived by the start of the series. Cowell manages to transition from mostly episodic style adventure books to an overarching plot pretty well but there's some occasional wonkyness. The most fascinating weirdness to me is how the earlier books treat dragons and their societal standing.

I am doing a very out of order re-listen rn so I could be very wrong but while dragons are treated as 'creatures to own' from the start the slavery and mistreatment of dragons by humans starts to really become more textual rather than messy implications by like the 3rd and 4th books. But I don't think Cowell knew if she wanted to Unpack All That Right Now just yet when writing those books, so we get this weird ground where the mistreatment of dragons is there and explicit but none of the characters linger or reflect on it. Specifically in book 4 Oneye is all very "y'all are fucking pig slave drivers" and Hiccup doesn't object or anything but does not think about or engage with Oneye's rhetoric at all. This was a tad jarring coming off of listening to Hiccup giving a massive impassioned speech about how slavery is disgusting and needs to be eradicated in 10 to Hiccup meekly telling Snotlout not to whip dragons for fun in 4. Of course, Hiccup is a child and very rarely do elementary schooler age members of the oppressor class fully understand the abusive systems they profit off of (and obviously Hiccup not standing up to Snotlout is a whole other thing bc Snotlout is a horrible little shit. I'm not condemning Hiccup for not doing much here). Hiccup has all the groundwork of becoming the little leftist abolitionist revolutionary he ends up but he isn't there just yet.

This should have been ground for a bit of a character arc. And yet, it sort of wasn't?? Kinda?? It is but isnt. I think by 7 Cressida knew where the series was going enough to know that Hiccup needed to have a personal reconing with slavery & that's what the Northern Wanderers were for. Hiccup has a close brush with human slaves, gets marked as a slave and comes to see their humanity and dignity despite the rest of his friends and his culture not respecting them or their personhood. On paper, that's decent. Maybe not very good indigenous rep, but decent plot wise. However, it doesn't entirely work. Firstly because Hiccup should already know that captial S Slavery is Bad because of 5. That's a large part of 5. And yet I do not remember Hiccup ever really having much dialogue or internal introspection about slavery and the horrors of it & how it has effected Windwalker and those around him. The narration drills in it's awfulness but Hiccup sort of...doesn't super acknowledge it. Which is weird bc Hiccup is so pro dragon and such a good person you think he might be a bit angry or have some shit to say about Lavalout island or what happened to Humongous (I think there was some 'wow that's awfuls' but nothing much more then that. Or maybe I'm mis remembering grain of salt) 5 should have already done this, but again in 7 we don't get any introspection! The wanderers say a lot of things to Hiccup. They call him a devil, they say that all of history is against his kind, they think that he is inherently irredeemable and should be killed before he himself does harm. Hiccup doesn't think about any of this. And so the attempted arc kind of...falls flat for me. But cool Hiccup is in theory like yeah capital S slavery is bad. Then 8 is what REALLY starts off on Hiccup's abolitionism. Hiccup saves Furious, empathises with the chained monster against possible best judgement, and is disgusted by his torture. He wants to free all the prisoners, everyone locked away on Berserk. This is finally when Hiccup starts having a bit more of a reaction to slavery and imprisonment, and then he starts truly pushing against it out of his own accord and disgust and anger at it.

And yet. Not much inner monologue or reflection or dialogue about slavery outside of Hiccup's talk with Furious. It stays that way until book 9, where Hiccup faces the concept of being a king for the first time and then fights his father for the throne, knowing his father won't do the right thing. So, character arc! We get all the beats but I feel like we sort of don't get the development that goes along with the beats so it doesn't totally feeel like a character arc. Why the internal radio silence? Truly it's probably something about Cowell not wanting to make the books too depressing too early on by lingering on the messed up stuff too hard or something else but. I think there's a very in character and plausible explanation for Hiccup's arc around slavery. And it's all about his father.

The Hooligans are later named as one of the 'kinder tribes' who don't engage in slavery and don't agree with it morally but turn a blind eye to rampant slavery happening elsewhere. Slavery seems to really not be discussed much on Berk, but Hiccup and the other Hooligan boys his age probably grew up with some vague sense of pride in being 'the better ones', for having more honour and morals, something shared by the older tribe members. But this inaction is immoral and even though the Hooligans and other tribes aren't slave fairing, they do abuse and exploit dragons on a daily basis. Book 9 is about Hiccup finally acknowledging what has stopped him from thinking too hard or engaging with the enslavement and mistreatment of dragons. The Hooligans are still in the wrong, doing the wrong thing, upholding a bad system. Which means his father is. Stoick is the HTTYD equivalent of a neo-liberal. He dislikes the disdainful messy bits of capitalism, but he ultimately upholds the abusive and violent capitalist system while helping put down leftist organising. And seeing that in your beloved father, for someone as impassioned as Hiccup, is a fucking bitch. It's what makes their fight so heartbreaking. Hiccup couldn't let himself start down the path of unpacking the suffering of dragons and other humans until it was VITAL to do so because I think he knew things would lead back to the feet of his father, and also Hiccup's own. You don't grow up in an abusive system as a member of the oppressor class without being at least a bit complicit in violence and oppression, and I think that eats at hiccup.

ANYWAY fic idea what if I actually fleshed this all out through fic via like snapshots of Hiccup's various radicalisation moments which then focuses on the gap between 9 and 10 where Hiccup is in the woods for like a year with nothing but dragons, anti war domestic terrorism/sabotage and his thoughts for company while showing more anti war rebellion groups bc surely Hiccup and Cami were not the only ones. Cami's team getting a spotlight. ....thuggory pov??? I have vague fic soup rn and it's threatening to engulf me so I had to get this out somehow.

[quiet-art-kid]

plot hole OR room for theories

[blogthebooklover]

Movie Recs In Honor of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

I decided to write out a list of movies to watch in honor of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes coming out very soon. This list will feature movies with apes besides the POTA movies, or movies with weird and bizarre friendships/found families.

The Original Planet of the Apes Franchise (1968-1973, Amazon Prime)

Honestly, I've only watched the 1968 movie a handful of times. I decided to watch all of the original franchise leading up to the release of Kingdom. They're all a lot of fun, with social/political commentaries at the time of each film. If you're a movie collector, or like behind-the-scenes/director's commentaries, I highly recommend buying the Blu Ray compilation pack.

2. Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes (2001, Disney+ or Amazon Prime)

I know, hear me out. Yes, it's over-hated, and yes, there was A LOT of potential for this movie. There were definitely too many "cooks in the kitchen" when drafting this movie. Imho, I think it's a guilty pleasure, popcorn movie. If you're a fan of makeup effects, Rick Baker (THE modern makeup effects master) does an absolutely phenomenal job with the designs of the apes in this movie (and check out his Instagram too). I do like the production and the ape costume designs for this film as well.

Tim Roth and Paul Giamatti are such a blast in this movie, too!

And the posters for this movie look so cool.

3. Planet of the Apes Reboot Trilogy (2011-2017, Amazon Prime)

I think this is what the 2001 movie should have been, and was trying to go for. While the three movies did make their money back at the box office, I have two theories why they almost went under everyone's radar (again, this is my opinion):

A. Because of the mixed reception from the 2001 movie.

B. Because of the abundance of comic book & remake movies coming out during the 2011-2017 years.

I put this trilogy right up with the Lord of the Rings and Star Wars. The storytelling is great, the special effects hold up well, and this reboot's version of Caesar has became one of my favorite main characters in modern film.

4. Mighty Joe Young (1998 remake, Disney+)

I don't know why this movie doesn't get talked about that much. Rick Baker, once again, does incredible work on the special effects for Joe. There's also a great musical score by James Horner. And Bill Paxton and Charlize Theron give amazing acting performances. And I think it's actually one of the better remakes that came out from the late 1990s.

In fact, the team that worked on the 1933 King Kong also made the 1949 film. Even Robert Armstrong (Carl Denham) came back for the '49 film. Ray Harryhausen worked under the supervision of Willis O'Brien for the special effects for the original movie. He also has a cameo appearance alongside Terry Moore (Jill Young) in a party scene.

Aaaaand I just found out the writers, Mark Rosenthal and Lawrence Konner, also did an uncredited rewrite for the 2001 POTA movie.

5. Tarzan (1999, Disney+)

Of course, who doesn't love Tarzan??? And Phil Collins's A.M.A.Z.I.N.G soundtrack???!!!

6. King Kong (1933, 2005, Amazon Prime/MAX)

Okay, technically it's a giant monster movie and the OG prior to Godzilla. And it also set the standard of film making overall. However, it is also a bit of a Beauty and the Beast story, hence the lines: "It was Beauty killed the Beast" and the "And the prophet said: And lo, the Beast looked upon the face of Beauty. And it stayed its hand from killing. And from that day forward, he was as one dead." I also recommend watching the extended cut of the 2005 remake.

7. Lilo & Stitch (2002, Disney+)

Again, who doesn't love Lilo and Stitch???

8. How to Train Your Dragon Trilogy (2010-2019, Amazon Prime/Peacock App)

Once again, who doesn’t love HTTYD (and why are they remaking it as a live action movie????)???

9. Gorillas in the Mist (1988, Amazon Prime)

This movie is about Dian Fossey (played by Sigourney Weaver), a primatologist who studied mountain gorillas and she was part of a trio of women who studied great apes; the amazing Jane Goodall and her study of chimpanzees, and Birute Galdikas who studies orangutans. The movie is also based on her book of the same name.

I use past tense for Dian, because she met a tragic and horrific death while she was conducting her research on gorillas. I have in-lined a link to Dian Fossey's Wikipedia article for further reading.

Rick Baker, once again, does some amazing practical creature effects work for the gorillas.

10. George of the Jungle (1997, Disney+)

One of my favorite Brendan Fraser movies, and such a fun, and a bit of a campy movie based on the cartoon series (which is also a spoof of Tarzan). I quote this movie every so often. Unfortunately, Rick Baker did not do the ape designs for this movie. The creature effects this time around was done by none other than the Jim Henson Creature Workshop!

[reviewinghiccup]

RIDERS OF BERK || THE SEASON FINALE | HTTYD SERIES | BREAKING DOWN HICCUP

Blog Post Title: Breaking Down Hiccup

Title: We are Family I & II

Ep/Season: Episodes 19 & 20, Season 1 (Riders of Berk)

Premise:

It's Bork week! The riders were tasked to do a Dragon Air show in conjunction w the festive week. The Nadders had a synchorinsed air glide, the Gronckles were gonna arrive in a steady formation and well, Hiccup started feeling a little left-out for Toothless who might need to do the show alone.

Newly entrusted w Bork's papers, i.e., the originals drafts making up the sacred Book of Dragons, he stumbles on a couple of sheets revealing the mysterious Isle of Night, an island filled with Night Furies.

Desperate to find Toothless a family of his own, Hiccup and gang sets out to look for the island, but stumbled into something else.

THEME & MESSAGE

PRESERVING GENERATIONS

The Vikings are a very proud people. Proud of their culture, background and ancestry. They all come from a long line of dragon killers. As far as we know it, no one apart from Hiccup has tried to make peace w the beast. And so, it is a huge deal that this year's Bork Week is celebrated along side the dragons instead of against them.

Bork the Bold is Gobber's great, great grandfather. He has inherited all his trinkets and keepsakes. The journey of collecting and collating the information found in the Book is discussed in Dreamworks Dragons' limited series Book of Dragons.

Maybe that's why Gobber is such a dragon expert himself. It runs in his blood.

Now, we know times have changed and the village has now accustomed themselves to having dragons around. As part of their daily life, culture and community.

That was the one of the main objectives of the Dragon Academy & the aim of the dragon riders. And they’ve done well in securing this new sense of life.

"Traditions' a fine thing Mildew, but things have changed. Better if you asked me...We've come a long way from the time when it was us or the dragons, you might be a little less crusty if you get used to that Mildew."

And if you think about it, how many senseless deaths had occasioned all these generations long because the vikings couldn't or weren't intuitive enough to understand dragons?

So, yes, things have changed for the better.

The council agrees that it is time for Bork's notes to be stored in the academy and placed under Hiccup's charge so that it can be utilised and improved upon. It is, to them, the right place for it now.

Being the nerd that he is, Hiccup spends the entire night sifting through old manuscripts and diaries till he stumbles upon notes on an island full of Night Furies.

FINDING TOOTHLESS A FAMILY

Lamenting earlier in the afternoon, wishing Toothless had a family to belong to, Hiccup was excited to get hold of these notes, embarking almost immediately on a journey to find Bork's cave and retrieve the exact location of the Isle of Night.

This journey was so funny. I mean, Snotlout is such a jerk to the Twins, but it counterbalances because the Twins couldn't care less about Snotlout. The entire scene when he was held hostage by the wild changewing is so unserious its funny.

This adventure was pretty remarkable. I mean, Bork sounds like a pretty elusive character. His cave is revealed by sunlight. It's perched on the side of a steep cliff. I know that I said, Hiccup is the first one we know of that rode dragons, but who knows, towards the end of his life, maybe Bork did as well, he just didn't record it? (This is just my theory. I'm not fully convinced but I do wonder.)

It's also amazing that this was the episode Hiccup discovers Toothless's echolocation.

Let's have an honourable mention for the Isle of Night's location carved into the topside of the cave. Aesthetically pleasing for an adventure this big. (I wouldn’t get too attached though, y’all know why).

This mission was also special. It wasn't a scouting mission, a rescue mission, a mission against the enemy. It was instigated to find Toothless a family. And everyone went with Hiccup. The Twins, Snotlout, Fishlegs and of course, Astrid.

This just goes to show, that inasmuch as they get on each others nerves, the five of them will always have each others back.

UNFORTUNATELY,

For those who watched the final instalment of the HTTYD franchise, The Hidden World, you would know that all Night Furies were hunted down nearly to extinction by this guy...

It was peculiar that the notes specified unruly and hostile behaviour of Night Furies in herds.

Yet, based on that information, Hiccup went alone to spare the others from danger.

The longer it took for any Night Furies to show-up, the more suspicious I was and, on my first time watching, I remember yelling "GET OUT IT’S A TRAP!"

This whole time, it was a ploy by Alvin and the Outcasts to kidnap Hiccup and force him into training their dragons.

MILDEW'S TREASON

I had an inkling that this old man had something to do with something. But I don't know why, when it was reveal that he had a hand in this, it surprised me. I knew he was a grumpy, horrid old sod, but I never expected him to be cunning.

AND, the most interesting part about this treason was how well it played out.

When Mildew was thrown in prison and it looked like Alvin had tricked him too, I thought it was genuine. Who knew it was a charade to get Hiccup to teach Mildew the tricks of the trade?

I mean, Mildew played two cards; (1) Hiccup’s knack for adventure; and (2) Hiccup’s forgiving disposition.

It’s like Mildew knew Hiccup was in search for other Night Furies for Toothless. And I wondered how he knew that was the case to be. Though, on hindsight, maybe he was just taking a swing at Hiccup’s innate desire for discovery.

He further played with Hiccup's sympathy and used it to gain his trust when “trying to escape.”

Though don’t you think it’s ironic, that Midlew is the one from Berk who ends up learning and training dragons on Outcast Island? Doesn’t this deserve an irony of all ironies stamp?

Whatever the case may be, the whole Mildew fiasco was dramatic to say the least:

HICCUP THE UNAFRAID

I don't think I have ever seen this boy flinch at danger or bad guys. He flinches when Astrid's mad at him (which is adorable), but not at Alvin, or anyone whose kidnapped him before. And he has been kidnapped many times.

He just walks through the prison barracks as if its nothing. He is the perfect example of never judge a book by its cover.

We think, from the 1st Movie, that Hiccup is a coward. But no, he is a different kind of fighter. And a testament to his own father, Stoick who is also brave and unflinching when it comes to danger UNLESS the danger befalls someone they care about.

He is more Stoick’s son than meets the eye. And just because he doesn’t look large and compelling doesn’t mean he isn’t.

This adds to what I've been talking about this whole time, that courage, perseverance and leadership takes many different forms. And Hiccup is in a state of his own.

THE RIDERS OF BERK

And in line with our topic on "things aren't as they always seem," it took Hiccup two episodes to realise that Toothless had found his family… in him.

Family doesn’t need to fit the conventional standard of blood relatives or similar species. It can occasion from bonds of brotherhood, friendship and care. The question is, whether you are there for each other no matter what. And the answer to that is, definitely!

This little family is completed w a blonde, warrior Princess and her Deadly Nadder. An arrogant yet loveable (sometimes) dweeb and his Monstrous Nightmare. A tough an tender dragon knowledge geek & his Gronckle. And a pair of eccentric twins on their Zippleback.

RIDERS OF BERK ended w a final lesson - Defending the people you love.

The dragons carried out their mission to save Hiccup and Toothless in the absence of command.

They transitioned perfectly from simply just protecting their riders to actively fighting for them.

Moving on from being riders to defenders, #iykyk.

The whole season dealt w lessons for the dragons and it’s riders. Everyone had so much to learn about themselves and each other. And we get a lovely insight into the whole process.

PERSONAL TAKE & THANK YOUS

ROB lifts the curtain on the day-to-day lives of Berkians because it was a story on how these dragons were going to assimilate into their world.

What I never expected was, being able to find such nuggets of wisdom and character building when I took apart actions and consequences or responses a character had towards their circumstances and fit them into my life creating a moral lesson.

Dreamworks Dragons as a series gets more and more interesting. The adventure thickens. The stakes higher. The losses greater. The bad guys worser. But nothing compares to the heartwarming, soul enlightening, humble beginnings that ROB brings. It’s drenched in nostalgia.

One thing I missed when ROB ended was peeping through Hiccup & Stoick’s relationship for the first time, poking more into their time together. I really wish Stoick didn’t die. It was such a harsh death. I wish he could’ve lived to see his grandkids. He would’ve loved that. He was such a family man.

The story of hope, courage, and finding yourself flows in the veins of this first season of Dragons. It pays homage to the 1st Movie, which is still my favourite. In essence, it is about a boy, and his dragon and finding himself in between.

I have so much more to say, but that might turn this post into a book, so I’ll end by thanking everyone for the opportunity to share my thoughts on this show. My posts are long, and you guys take time to read it. That’s so precious to me, because who am I to be worthy of anyone’s time really?

I’m just an obsessed fan looking for her own voice in a show and I started this blog as a reflection diary not so much realising how strong and interactive the HTTYD community is and has survived. It’s closing in to 13 years since the 1st Movie. Yet it continues to touch, inspire and motivate many.

And isn’t it like life to imitate art. I feel like HTTYD Tumblr is it’s own strong Viking community. Every single encounter or interaction w a HTTYD fan has been delightful and encouraging. It’s like we own this little corner of the universe where a show is studied and enjoyed to oblivion and everyone gets why.

I also believe, especially because I’ve studied Hiccup a lot recently, that if he existed and was stationed here in the 21st century, our boy would definitely be on Tumblr. Wouldn’t he?

- END OF SEASON 1 -

[thecollectivefixation]

HTTYD Live action Movie Analysis

OMG IM ALIVE HELLO HI.

Life has been crazy busy these past few months and then I saw updates from the How To Train Your Dragon live action movie and I had to drop everything sit down and do A DEEP DIVE.

Here's where I reckon Dean (Hi Dean) is posing right now, THE ARENA. I think in front of either the dragon cages or the main gate (as shown below)

Ok so I like 90% believe he's in the arena right now but that's not the point. I have searched high and low to see if those two shields have been shown SOMEWHERE previously but alas I cannot find it (crying).

Ok so this is according to a totally reliable source (TikTok) this is the first look at part of the set. And I sat here looking at it trying to see if i've seen it before, and I have a few theories. (Update tried reaching out to the original poster and they didn't respond so take the photos with a grain of salt)

It's Hiccup's house/front door because now they have decided to give it more detail.

Listen hear me out, it kinda looks like the cover of the book of dragons if you squint your eyes hard enough. (Im delusional)

Here's another pic of the set. I have no idea what the arch is lol but I can see a house sooooooo.

Very excited for this movie with what little crumps we have been given. I grew up with this franchise and it's the only main stream rep that I have with my heritage. I have high hopes for it.

If anyone has anything to add please comment because i'm very curious to hear what other people think :D

-Bookworm

[noctusfury]

Contradictory Anniversary? (RTTE)

Hello, everyone! Welcome to a new article! Today’s topic is on this perplexing issue surrounding Berk’s anniversary.

Now I’m sure many of you were as perplexed by the seemingly obvious error in the HTTYD lore. I mean, we’ve all seen the first film, and it’s only said “300 years”. But Stoick and Gobber CLEARLY SAY “400 years”.

(Race to the Edge, Season 4, Episode 3 “Midnight Scrum”)

So, which is it? Is it an error or is this actually truth disguised as misinformation? We’ll find out, right after this! *Cues 5 minutes of commercials*

Just kidding! We’re finding out NOW. Duh. XD

Anyway, so the film AND the show (not to mention the short films) clearly states by both Stoick, Hiccup, and other characters that it’s been 300 years.

However, there’s a VERY important detail in the film that the Wiki probably missed. What was it?

This!

The Wiki says, as stated in the first snip above, that it’s been 300 years since Vikings first arrived on Berk. But in the film, Hiccup adds an important detail that the Wiki didn’t have.

Hiccup: “300 years, and I’m the first Viking who has never killed a dragon!”

While this may be something unrelated at first, it seems to imply that Vikings have been fighting dragons for 300 years, not living on Berk for 300 years. (That being said, he could be talking about Vikings archipelago-wide, not just on Berk.) Which means that Berkians could’ve been living here for 400 years, but have been fighting dragons for 300 years.

However, just as I say this, Astrid says an interesting quote to Hiccup after they find the Red Death:

Astrid: “Hiccup we’ve just discovered the Dragons’ Nest! The thing we’ve been after since Vikings first sailed here! And you wanna keep it a secret?!”

So which is it, Noctus? Is it 300 years or 400 years?

Well, what the Wiki said about Vikings having arrived on Berk 300 years prior could’ve been assumed from Astrid’s quote here. Which, when you think about it, is a logical one to make.

That being said though, it’s never stated whether she, like Hiccup, was talking about the Berkian Vikings, or about Vikings in general throughout the archipelago. We also can’t be sure what “here” means, whether it implies Berk or the Archipelago.

So... how can we be sure, then?

Well, I have found that when all else fails, turn to math! ^_^

So in the film, Hiccup states in his narration at the very beginning of the film that the settlement of Berk has been here “for seven generations.”

If you look at the portraits of Berk’s line of chieftains, there’s about 7 generations of them (sans Hamish the Second’s and Stoick’s Father’s portraits for unknown reasons, which I’ll get to in another article), and Hiccup’s portrait with Stoick makes it the 8th, meaning that Hiccup and the others are the 8th generation.

A generation is factually accepted to be around 40 years. And since Hiccup’s generation has been around for 20 or less, I’ll add that into consideration. 

40 x 7 = 280 + 20 = 300

So seven generations would give us about 280 years, which makes sense. When we add the 8th generations 15-20 years, it gives us 295-300 years, exactly. So it all checks out.

So, at face value, it has been 300 years since the Berkian Vikings have lived on the Isle of Berk.

Since RTTE, having been produced by Netflix and not Cartoon Network like the Riders of Berk and Defenders of Berk seasons have been, it was inevitable that there’d be several errors in the lore (don’t even get me STARTED on the many plot holes and plot teasers they’ve never followed through with).

But what if the Berkians weren’t celebrating the 400-Year Anniversary of Berk as a village, but as an island? Then things would make a little more sense.

After all, what if Berk had been an island that was claimed by their ancestors well before they themselves actually settled there? Granted, it’s a pretty big stretch, until you consider the BOOKS! 

That’s right, the BOOKS.

The story of Hiccup the Third and Toothless isn’t an old one. In fact, the plot of HTTYD 1 is greatly inspired and influenced by Hiccup the First and Wodensfang’s story in the books. In it (Book 9 specifically), Wodensfang talks of Hiccup the First’s saga, where not long after his birth, the Vikings of the Mainland (later to be known as the Vikings of Berk) were driven out of their fertile lands by the Uglithugs, a Viking horde who’ll control the Mainland up to current times (aside from the period where Grimbeard the Ghastly reclaimed it from UG’s ancestor for a time until after his death). From the Mainland, they sailed to Berk and made their colony there. During this time, they were also in a bloody war with the dragons, where the King of the Dragons, Merciless (also known as the Green Death [Red Death in the film]), once he hears that a Viking named Hiccup will kill him, seeks to kill everyone on the island to prevent the prophecy from coming true. He sends Wodensfang, who, at the time, was the most dangerous dragon in Merciless’s army, to complete this task. Unfortunately, a storm hits and leaves him entangled in the tree, and grows weak from his wounds. Fortunately, Hiccup the First, a child at the time, came to his aid and healed him, and they became fast friends. Wodensfang would end up helping Hiccup steal the Dragon Jewel from Merciless, forcing the latter to capitulate before Hiccup, who has the Jewel now, forcing him to disband his forces, and be exiled from the Archipelago.

Anyway, I’m digressing, hehe.

Long-story short, the Berkians are forced from their original lands and they sail to Berk and settle there. This could’ve very well been what happened in the HTTYD film lore: the Berkians claimed Berk as a territory belonging to the Kingdom 400 years prior as an outpost for both exploration and wartime purposes, but then 100 years later, a fierce war against another Viking faction broke out, ending in their defeat, and forcing the Vikings of the Mainland (or wherever) to sail to Berk, later becoming the Vikings of Berk. And it isn’t long after they settled that they had to deal with the dragons, many of which had made their nests on the island long before. Then came the dragon raids from Dragon Island, which wouldn’t end until Hiccup the Third defeated the Red Death 300 years later.

So that’s my hypothesis explaining the 400-Year Anniversary despite the 300 years of settlement. Because the Berkians had the island for 400 years, but didn’t settle it until a hundred years later.

What do you think? Plausible? I’d love to hear your thoughts on the matter! Do you think this could be the case, or is this another thing RTTE goofed up in lore-wise?

Thank you for reading, my fellow Furians! See you in the next article! ^_^

Long Live the Night!

— Noctus Fury

[albaqae]

☆HI IM ALBAQAE/ALBA☆

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Languages: Spanish, English and ASL!(not super fluent tho)

fandoms: I’m in a LOT, but here’s main ones I interact w here :)

Fixiating over tmnt rn! (Including mutant mayhem, idw tmnt, 2012 tmnt, 2003 tmnt, and ofc ROTTMNT), I also like dhmis, welcome home, atsv, undertale, moomin (books/comics, 90s), mcr and tøp, good omens, bee and puppycat, snoopy ofc, FROGS ISNT A FANDOM BUT STILL, ROTBTD and HTTYD and ROTG super recently (also hijack), and a myriad of other stuff. My focus on each just tends to be on constant, unpredictable shuffle and this is my vessel to put it out to the world :)

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Thank you for reading and have a lovely day <3

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[galadriel-blue]

💙Introduction Post💙

…

Hey there!

Read below to get to know me:

You can call me Blue or Star! I’m nineteen, a girl, and a Christian!

I will probably talk or reblog stuff about my religion sometimes so keep that in mind if that makes you uncomfortable. I’m not the type to start unnecessary discourse if you believe something different than me, so anyone can follow me unless you are mean to me. I am non confrontational and I will just ignore or delete hate comments and block users who are rude. 🤷‍♀️

Things I love: The color blue, fandom theories and headcanons, videogames, animation, knights, making friends, music, my religion, listening to other people’s interests, coffee, and fanfiction/fanart!

I’m in a ton of fandoms so I’ll list them here! This will be added to all the time as I remember more and join more fandoms!

Fandom list:

✨Blue = Favorites at the moment!

The Rings of Power

The Lord of the Rings

The Hobbit

Trollhunters

FNAF (Mainly Security Breach!)

Star Wars/Clone Wars/Rebels

HTTYD

Inkheart (The book series and the movie)

…

I’m really just here to have a good time and talk into the void! I hope you enjoy my ramblings and posts!