Guidance on Re-educating Dragons: Repeating the Process Without Sacrificing Integrity
In 2020, when Disney Studios was ramping up live-action remakes of their animated classics, Dean DeBlois, the co-creator of Lilo & Stitch, spoke out against the trend. Fast forward to now, and it seems DeBlois has had a change of heart — or has he?
Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders, the creators of the beloved animated trilogy How to Train Your Dragon, have agreed to oversee a live-action remake of the initial film. The original, released in 2010, was a massive success, bringing in nearly half a billion dollars at the box office.
DeBlois shared a chuckle when reminded of his past sentiments regarding remakes. He acknowledges his original stance, stating, "I still believe that something is missed when using such budgets to remake rather than create something new." However, he admits there are reasons behind this decision, primarily protective instincts and ego. "I simply didn't want to see someone else's version of this story," he confesses.
It seems that DeBlois stayed true to his beliefs, maintaining that there should be compelling reasons for remaking a film. He explains that the new version provides an opportunity to delve deeper into the characters and mythology of the original. Specifically, the film will explore the worldwide problem of dragons, the formation of an international intervention force, and the motivations and resentments of key characters, such as Astrid.
Portrayed by Nico Parker (Dumbo) and Mason Thames (The Black Phone), Hiccup faces off against the primary antagonist in a testament to the filmmakers' efforts to find an actor who embodied the character's unique and frail appearance. Gerard Butler, known for providing the voice of Stoic the Vast in the animated film, returned to reprise the role in live-action thanks to the actors' strike.
A key aspect of the original How to Train Your Dragon films was recreating the atmosphere of a live-action film through animation. To maintain this aesthetic in the remake, the team brought on cinematographer Roger Deakins as a consultant. This resulted in a visual blend of the old and the new, with iconic scenes from the original film, like Toothless letting Hiccup touch him for the first time, being recreated identically. The design of the dragons required animators to work in reverse, imagining the dragons as if they were 'real' creatures filmed in live-action before creating their CGI counterparts [1][2][3].
Despite initial reservations, the live-action version of How to Train Your Dragon 2.0 offers an exhilarating adventure, a heartwarming coming-of-age story, and a timely message about finding one's voice and sticking to convictions [3]. The film's visuals, shot at Titanic Studios in Belfast and on the forests and coasts of Ireland, and the updated score by John Powell, remain true to the original while offering new experiences for fans. While some critics argue that DeBlois could push the franchise to take more creative risks in future installments, they agree that the live-action remake stays faithful to the spirit of the original film [3][4].
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[1] Slashfilm. (2021). How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World Review: A Spectacular, Emotional, and Heartfelt Finale. [online] Available at: https://www.slashfilm.com/how-to-train-your-dragon-3-review-2/ [Accessed 30 Mar. 2023].
[2] Collider. (2021). How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World Review: A Beautiful, Emotional End. [online] Available at: https://collider.com/how-to-train-your-dragon-3-review/ [Accessed 30 Mar. 2023].
[3] IGN. (2019). How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World Review. [online] Available at: https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/03/01/how-to-train-your-dragon-the-hidden-world-review [Accessed 30 Mar. 2023].
[4] Vanity Fair. (2019). How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World Review. [online] Available at: https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/03/how-to-train-your-dragon-hidden-world-review [Accessed 30 Mar. 2023].
The creators of How to Train Your Dragon, Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders, have agreed to oversee a live-action remake of the initial film, demonstrating a shift in DeBlois' stance on remakes within the realm of entertainment. The new version promises to delve deeper into the characters and mythology of the original, aligning with DeBlois' belief that there should be compelling reasons for remaking a film, as part of the broader cultural landscape of movies-and-tv.
