Introduction
How to Train Your Dragon is a beloved animated franchise that has captured the hearts of audiences of all ages. With its stunning animation, lovable characters, and epic storyline, it’s no surprise that fans are eager to dive into the world of dragons and Vikings. However, with multiple movies and TV shows in the franchise, there’s been some confusion over the correct order to watch them in. In this guide, we’ll explore the world of How to Train Your Dragon and provide a comprehensive guide to the correct movie order.
A Beginner’s Guide to Watching How to Train Your Dragon: The Correct Movie Order
To fully appreciate the How to Train Your Dragon franchise, it’s important to watch the movies and TV shows in the correct order. Here’s our recommended viewing order:
1. How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
2. Legends of Berk (TV series, Season 1 – 2)
3. Riders of Berk (TV series, Season 1 – 2)
4. Gift of the Night Fury (Short film, 2011)
5. Book of Dragons (Short film, 2011)
6. How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)
7. Dawn of the Dragon Racers (Short film, 2014)
8. Dragons: Race to the Edge (TV series, Seasons 1 – 6)
9. How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019)
Let’s take a brief look at each film:
– How to Train Your Dragon (2010): This is where it all began. We follow the adventures of young Viking Hiccup as he befriends a dragon named Toothless and tries to bring peace between dragons and Vikings.
– Legends of Berk and Riders of Berk (TV series): These two TV shows take place after the events of the first movie and follow Hiccup and his friends as they continue to train and learn about dragons.
– Gift of the Night Fury (Short film): This short film takes place after the first movie and centers around the Vikings’ winter holiday, Snoggletog.
– Book of Dragons (Short film): This short film features an educational component, teaching viewers about the different dragon types in the How to Train Your Dragon universe. It takes place before the second movie.
– How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014): In this sequel, Hiccup and Toothless must face a new enemy while discovering a hidden world of dragons.
– Dawn of the Dragon Racers (Short film): This short film takes place after the second movie, centering around a dragon race that goes awry.
– Dragons: Race to the Edge (TV series): This TV series takes place between the second and third movies and follows Hiccup and his friends on their quest to explore new lands.
– How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019): The final film in the franchise sees Hiccup and Toothless facing their greatest threat yet and discovering a hidden world of dragons.
Chronological vs Release Order: Which way should you watch How to Train Your Dragon Franchise?
While the above recommended viewing order follows the release order of the movies and TV shows, some fans may prefer to watch them chronologically by the events in the story timeline. Let’s explore the pros and cons of each approach:
Chronological Order
Pros:
– The story unfolds in chronological order, making it easier to follow the storyline.
– We get to see the characters grow and change in the order that they naturally would.
Cons:
– Some of the later movies and TV shows were released before earlier ones chronologically, so watching in this order can spoil some plot points.
– Watching in chronological order can mess with the pacing of the story, as the movies and TV shows were intended to be watched in a specific order.
Release Order
Pros:
– The movies and TV shows were designed to be watched in this order, so it allows for a more natural and cohesive storyline.
– We get to experience the story as it was intended to be released.
Cons:
– Some of the later movies and TV shows are not in chronological order, which can cause some confusion over the timeline.
When deciding which order to watch the How to Train Your Dragon franchise, it’s important to consider your personal preferences. If you’re someone who prioritizes the intended pacing and storyline, release order will be your best bet. However, if you’re more interested in seeing the events unfold in the story’s timeline, watching in chronological order might be a better option. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference.
Why How to Train Your Dragon Movie Order Matters: A Deep Dive into Movie Universe Continuity
Continuity and lore are important aspects of any franchise, and How to Train Your Dragon is no exception. Watching the movies and TV shows out of order can lead to confusion and a disjointed viewing experience. For example, if you watch How to Train Your Dragon 2 before watching the TV shows, you’ll miss out on key character development and plot points. Conversely, watching the TV shows before the films can lead to spoilers and plot points revealed out of their intended order.
To achieve the best continuity experience possible for the How to Train Your Dragon franchise, we recommend following the release order of the movies and TV shows. This order was carefully crafted by the filmmakers to provide the best viewing experience and to reveal plot points in the intended order. By watching in release order, you’ll be able to follow the story in a natural and cohesive manner.
Every How to Train Your Dragon Movie and TV Show Ranked
Now that we’ve explored the correct movie order, let’s rank all the movies and TV shows in the How to Train Your Dragon franchise:
1. How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
2. How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)
3. How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019)
4. Dragons: Race to the Edge (TV series)
5. Riders of Berk (TV series)
6. Legends of Berk (TV series)
7. Gift of the Night Fury (Short film)
8. Dawn of the Dragon Racers (Short film)
9. Book of Dragons (Short film)
It’s important to note that even the lowest on this list, Book of Dragons, is still worth watching as it contains valuable lore and information about the How to Train Your Dragon universe.
The Essential How to Train Your Dragon Movie Watching Order: For a Seamless Experience
In summary, the recommended order for watching the How to Train Your Dragon franchise is as follows:
1. How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
2. Legends of Berk (TV series, Season 1 – 2)
3. Riders of Berk (TV series, Season 1 – 2)
4. Gift of the Night Fury (Short film, 2011)
5. Book of Dragons (Short film, 2011)
6. How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)
7. Dawn of the Dragon Racers (Short film, 2014)
8. Dragons: Race to the Edge (TV series, Seasons 1 – 6)
9. How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019)
Watching the movies and TV shows in this order will provide the best continuity experience and will allow you to fully appreciate the world of How to Train Your Dragon. Each film in the franchise has its own merits and contributes to the overall story, so it’s worth watching them all in the recommended order.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the correct movie order for the How to Train Your Dragon franchise is vital to ensuring a cohesive and enjoyable viewing experience. Whether you prefer to watch in release or chronological order, it’s important to consider the intended storyline and continuity of the franchise. By following the recommended movie order, you’ll be able to fully appreciate the story of Hiccup and Toothless, and the world of dragons and Vikings they inhabit.
