Two questions about the movie "How to Train Your Dragon"

October 13, 2011 8:45 PM

Two questions about the movie How to Train Your Dragon.

1. At the beginning of the movie, Hiccup mentions that the Night Fury never steals food. Is there some significance to that? It never seems to be a factor in anything that happens later.

2. When Toothless takes a tree branch in his mouth and uses it to draw a long looping line in the sand around Hiccup, what is he trying to communicate? That he longs to fly again?

posted by Trurl to Media & Arts (4 answers total)

The statements below are presented as conjecture and should not be taken as fact:

1. It's the reason why no-one's seen a Night Fury: If the Night Fury stole food, they would have to come within sight of the villagers, and would no longer be a mystery.

2. It's to show that Huccup and Toothless are developing a rapport, which comes in handy later in the movie.
posted by lekvar at 8:53 PM on October 13, 2011 [2 favorites]

Based on my memories of the film from a year ago... 1. Hiccup is foreshadowing the fact that the Night Furies are different (special!) than other dragons. In fact, I believe that Night Furies only eat fish.

2. They are becoming increasingly friendly. Toothless is demonstrating affection.
posted by arnicae at 8:56 PM on October 13, 2011

I can attest to the truth of Lekvar's conjectures. My SO works closely with the author of HTYTD and he says that those are the correct plot points. :)
posted by These Birds of a Feather at 8:57 PM on October 13, 2011 [6 favorites]

2. I took this to be done for humour. The audience expects to see some crude drawing or message from Toothless after all his efforts, but it's just a bunch of squiggles.
posted by Nightman at 11:29 PM on October 13, 2011 [1 favorite]