How to Train Your Dragon (2010) – IMDb: 8.1 Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure Director: Chris Sanders, Dean DeBlois

Starring: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera
How to Train Your Dragon is a heartwarming tale set in a mythical Viking world where dragons and humans have been enemies for generations. The film follows Hiccup (Jay Baruchel), an awkward young Viking who defies his village’s traditions by befriending a dragon named Toothless instead of hunting him. This unlikely friendship sparks a journey of self-discovery, bravery, and the breaking of ancient prejudices.

With breathtaking animation, a powerful score, and themes of friendship, loyalty, and understanding, How to Train Your Dragon is an emotional and visually stunning experience. The film beautifully balances action-packed sequences with touching moments of personal growth and empathy. It went on to become a beloved franchise, with its sequels continuing the saga of Hiccup and his dragon companion.

The plot: Young Hiccup is an outcast amongst Vikings – scrawny and weak, of no use when protecting his village against a variety of marauding dragons – high on enthusiasm, low on skills, and worse yet, he’s the son of the village’s burly fearless chief – but defying orders to stay away from battle, Hiccup lucks out one night, secretly bringing down the most feared dragon of all – a Night Fury.

Venturing out to the dragon’s crash site, Hiccup is set to cut out the injured dragon’s heart, and prove himself to the tribe… but he can’t go through with it. Instead, he slowly forms a bond with dragon ‘Toothless’, nursing him back from injury and making a specialist harness to replace a missing tail-piece. Hiccup uses his time with Toothless to learn the truth about dragons – and finds peaceful ways to move through dragon training in the village. But can he keep Toothless a secret from the tribe?

The scene: Having spared Toothless’ life, Hiccup returns to feed Toothless. His protective shield gets wedged between rocks – meaning Hiccup only has friendship and trust to help him out. What follows is a scene of pure visual storytelling, as Hiccup slowly gains the cat-like Toothless’ trust through feeding him a fish – and then proving their growing friendship by eating a regurgitated morsel from Toothless. You can watch the scene from HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON here.