Dean DeBlois, the director of all the films in theHow to Train Your Dragonfranchise, both animated and live-action, has revealed his inspiration for directing the beloved films. DeBlois had one main influence when coming up with the feature adaptation of Cressida Cowell’s series of the same name, and it was none other than thesci-ficlassic for the whole family, Steven Spielberg’sE.T. The Extra-Terrestrial.
DeBlois spoke to Den of Geek during their web seriesIn the Den, and he pickedE.T.as the film to dissect during the promotion ofthe live-action version ofHow to Train Your Dragon. The director says the Spielberg classic inspired him to come up with a movie that explored the same themes he went through when he was a child:
“I grew up in a suburb that was built in the 1970s, and it looks like it. It’s a conservative, quiet little environment. And being a kid who was gay, that was also something that was this bizarre thing I had to hide and struggle with.
“There was no representation of what that looked like in a successful adult life, which caused me to be quite insular and rely upon stories and rely upon drawing, and being this odd little kid. I was always out of sorts, cut of a different cloth than all of my sporty friends.”
All 3 ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Animated Movies, Ranked by Box Office Take
Each installment of the ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ trilogy has grossed hundreds of millions worldwide.
The director also talked about how Toothtlessbehaves like E.T.when it comes to trusting his new friend, and not the adults that surround him. In Hiccup he sees the innocence of a lonely boy, and he decides to open his heart to form a beautiful bond, similar to the one between Elliot and the adorable alien:
“What they perceive as their own weakness, or what makes them less than special, that gets acknowledged by this entity. In the case of E.T., he sees something in Elliott that’s pure, and it shapes a bond in the same way that Toothless sees something in Hiccup. He’s not like the other Vikings. There’s something about him and his empathy, his compassion that causes a bond that would ultimately lead to a situation where they are each other’s protector.”
That’s maximum wish fulfillment right there, to be able to take to the skies and fly around with your best friend. I feel like that crosses cultures. It seems to be the core wish fulfillment ofHow to Train Your Dragonand why it speaks to so many.
Spielberg’s Touch on ‘How to Train Your Dragon’
Spoilers for How to Train Your Dragon ahead.
Deblois also talked about Spielberg’s early notes during the early stages of the story. He actually credits the legendary director with one specific recommendation that underscored the themes of friendship that areessential toHow to Train Your Dragon:
“I credit Steven Spielberg for the tears that we get at the end of our movie, because he was the one who suggested the Toothless be in the room when Hiccup wakes up to discover he’s missing his leg. He said, ‘We’ve been witness to this private relationship throughout the movie. Why not have Toothless in the room like a lap dog waiting for Hiccup to stir awake? And when he does, he could be there for Hiccup’s first steps with his prosthetic leg.’ And there’s this bonding of two wounded creatures that are going to complete one another.”
