For the Gronckle, the How to Train Your Dragon animation team studied the way walruses and rhinoceroses move for inspiration, and then imagined what that creature would do if it had the size and speed of a hummingbird’s wings.
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For the Gronckle, the How to Train Your Dragon animation team studied the way walruses and rhinoceroses move for inspiration, and then imagined what that creature would do if it had the size and speed of a hummingbird’s wings.

‎”Developing Hiccup was a balancing act. He had to be appealing, but he also had to be enough of an individual to frustrate his father at the same time.” - Chris Sanders, co-director
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‎”Developing Hiccup was a balancing act. He had to be appealing, but he also had to be enough of an individual to frustrate his father at the same time.” - Chris Sanders, co-director

To give the cove a sense of being a safe-haven for the characters, art direction called for “softer colors, the application of moss along trees, and calm water on the lake,” recalls Head of Surfacing Sabrina Riegel.
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To give the cove a sense of being a safe-haven for the characters, art direction called for “softer colors, the application of moss along trees, and calm water on the lake,” recalls Head of Surfacing Sabrina Riegel.

‎”Dragon Island is the most twisted, off-kilter, abstract, unwelcoming, pointy and volcanic environment imaginable. It’s no wonder the Vikings lost all their ships whenever they went to look for it.” - Kathy Altieri, production designer
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‎”Dragon Island is the most twisted, off-kilter, abstract, unwelcoming, pointy and volcanic environment imaginable. It’s no wonder the Vikings lost all their ships whenever they went to look for it.” - Kathy Altieri, production designer

“This classic archetypal protagonist tends to go either the arrogant way, ‘You are all wrong and you’ll see,’ or the self-deprecating one: ‘I am lame, I wish I could be like all of you.’ We went with the latter; we wanted a more empathetic character, a humble protagonist that learns the value of himself and is accepted for who he is.” - Alessandro Carloni, Head of Story Photo: Hiccup Expressions - Simon Otto
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“This classic archetypal protagonist tends to go either the arrogant way, ‘You are all wrong and you’ll see,’ or the self-deprecating one: ‘I am lame, I wish I could be like all of you.’ We went with the latter; we wanted a more empathetic character, a humble protagonist that learns the value of himself and is accepted for who he is.” - Alessandro Carloni, Head of Story

Photo: Hiccup Expressions - Simon Otto