How To Train Your Dragon 2: Elephants, Panthers and Dragons… Oh my!
Directed by Dean DeBlois
Starring Jay Baruchel, Kristen Wiig, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Gerard Butler, Cate Blanchett and Christopher Mintz-Plasse
In UK Cinemas July 11th, 2014
by Ella Jean
How do you take a creature that doesn’t even exist and make its voice sound human enough to be a realistic, empathetic being? One half of the duo that directed Lilo and Stitch (and directing this film) Dean DeBlois, says it’s due in part to the talented sound designer Randy Thom. It’s also due to the talented elephants, panthers, parrots and bulldogs who lent their voices to these animated dragons. By adding real animal attributes, and often true sounds, dragons can appear as loveable as house pets.
Based on the books of the same title by Cressida Cowell, How To Train Your Dragon (2010) was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Score. It was also an off-trend hit. A viking child who makes friends with a mythical beast sticks out amongst the princesses, robots, mad scientists and talking toys that frequent animated movies of the past decade. The film’s uniqueness made it a true success, so now there’s a sequel.
Dreamworks has just teased the media with a glimpse into the new How To Train Your Dragon 2, and it looks really good. With such a successful start to the franchise, the full all-star cast of the first film is returning. This includes Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler and Craig Ferguson. In addition Cate Blanchett, Kit Harington and Djimon Hounsou have joined the cast.
The plot of the second film remains a legend, but with such a dedicated team of creators and voice artists returning, How To Train Your Dragon 2 is bound to be a solid sequel.
