How to Train Your Dragon (2010) is the best DreamWorks Animation movie, and I’m not even biased. I just watched it a few weeks ago, and it just blew my mind. While I’ve heard positive things about HTTYD, nothing could prepare me for the magical relationship between Hiccup and Toothless. It’s truly one of a kind. In addition, characters like Astrid and Stoick make the journey a memorable one, with their strong personalities. With that being said, I wonder who is the best character in HTTYD? Well, why don’t we do a deep dive and find out? Here are the top 5 best characters in How to Train Your Dragon, according to The Hergula!
5. Astrid
Voice By: America Ferrera
Astrid is the skilled youth of Berk. In her age group, she’s unrivaled in combat against dragons. That’s the reason everybody admires her and wants to be like her. After all, in Berk, your value and popularity is increased if you’re a proper Viking, doing things the “correct” way. While it’s something that Astrid excells in, being a Viking, it’s the polar opposite of Hiccup. But that’s the reason Astrid and Hiccup’s interactions are so interesting, and so is their relationship. It’s like Astrid is the Yin to Hiccup’s Yang, which makes her stand out in her own right. Ironically, Astrid is the first character to understand and accept Hiccup’s values, while also being his true moral support. That’s truly unexpected, but absolutely beautiful.
I’m sure some of you are wondering why Astrid is only 5th on my list? While she’s well-written, with a distinct personality, there’s not much substance to Astrid. What I mean is that she gets portrayed as the “perfect Viking”, but it’s an element that never gets explored. Like, I can’t be the only one who wonders what drives Astrid? Why is she so good at fighting against dragons? Neither of those questions get answers. But that’s not all, as we never learn about her family. We are never given a reason as to why she accepted Hiccup’s love for dragons with such ease? With these questions unanswered, Astrid just doesn’t have enough depth to rank any higher.
4. Stoick
Voice By: Gerard Butler
Stoick, the Great Chief of Berk, is the stern and hardy leader who’s hell-bent on killing as many dragons as possible. He also happens to be Hiccup’s father! Here’s an obvious conundrum. We have a father who is bound by culture and bad experiences to despise dragons, and a son that grows to love those very same beasts. It’s this oil-and-water dynamic that makes for excellent moments between the two, and leads to an eventual battle of wills that shakes the foundation of Berk.
The burly leader might be the “bad guy” of the story, but his reasons for going against Hiccup are valid. When you consider that his beloved wife was, according to him, “killed” by dragons, you understand Stoick’s fury against the flying beasts. It’s not surprising that he’d be willing to do whatever it takes to strengthen the youth of Berk, as he believes the dragons to be a lethal threat to humans. Ironically he’s correct about them, but only because he never gave dragons a chance to begin with. It’s a war waged between two sides, with neither side knowing why they are killing each other in the first place! Do you know what that’s called? Inheriting a war from your ancestors. That’s exactly what happened here. And when he finally comes around to understanding dragons, it’s a heartwarming moment.
🥉 Gobber
Voice By: Craig Ferguson
Where do I begin with good old Gobber? He’s the one to be the loudest at a wedding, the most obnoxious during a sing-along, but the most caring in an emotional moment. In turn, he’s like a mule kick to the stomach after a hangover, isn’t he? Whether you like it or not, he’s going to be there, right beside you, through thick and thin. It’s like he’s the uncle we all wish we had. You could say that’s this best quality; being a friendly uncle-type person who honestly cares about Hiccup.
On the surface, Gobber is a the comedic relief character. But if you dig deeper, it’s obvious that our beloved blacksmith is Hiccup’s father figure, and only friend. Considering that Hiccup was not close to his father, even struggling to be honest with him, it’s safe to say that Gobber’s the one who Hiccup turned to when he needed advice or help. It’s not surprising, as our beloved blacksmith is the one who looked after Hiccup, and he even taught him how to build, craft and mold items. In turn, they developed a close bond and a good friendship. I mean, Gobber even stood up for Hiccup when speaking to Stoick. That’s saying something, isn’t it? However, they never explore the relationship between Hiccup and Gobber, which is a shame.
🥈 Toothless
The Night Fury is the dangerous dragon that sparked fear in the people of Berk. Just uttering the name would tremble the legs of elderly and make the kids scurry to their beds. But who could’ve known that this “scary monster” would end up being adorable and cuddly, with a wholesome behavior? Well, I guess that’s what happens when you create rumors based on fear, and not knowledge. They might end up not being true, and all you’ve done is create a stigma around something that doesn’t deserve the bad reputation.
When it comes to Toothless, I don’t need to say much. But what I will say is that he’s the heart of How to Train Your Dragon. The story of Toothless and Hiccup is about how two species, two races, can come together in perfect harmony after years of conflict, war and blood-shed. Thus, we’ve got ourselves a heartwarming scenario, in which we see Hiccup learning that dragons are not evil, while Toothless learns that humans are not bad. It’s a story that highlights what animals can do for humans – what humans can do for animals. In turn, it’s about how we all must evolve to fully understand one another. And I think that’s special.
DreamWorks Animation did everything in their power to make Toothless an iconic character in film history, and they succeeded. I’m not saying this to joke, but to genuinelly give praise to a job well done. DreamWorks was able to create a perfectly balanced character, with a distinct personality and a unique behavior. Together with the impressive animation, this is a character that will go down in history as one of the most noteworthy. Thus, he earns himself the 2nd spot on my list of the top 5 characters in How to Train Your Dragon!
🥇 Hiccup
Voice By: Jay Baruchel
There’s no question about who’s the king of How to Train Your Dragon. It’s Hiccup. He’s a hero like non other, who’s willing to go against his own blood and the people of Berk, to show them the error in their ways. Not all dragons are evil, just like not all humans are bad. Consequently, his actions lead to an even bigger rift between him and his father, but he forms an everlasting bond with the Night Fury, Toothless. It’s an adventure for the ages, with Hiccup being the boy behind the change that would ripple throughout the world. In turn, he’s the catalyst to what transpires in the movie, and he’s utilized to perfection. Truly one of the best lead characters in animated movie history!
What sets Hiccup apart from other characters is how inferior he is, constantly trying to fit in, only to realize that what sets him apart is his biggest strength. But that’s not all. Hiccup is a character that genuinelly struggles with right and wrong, his relationship with his dad, and even doesn’t know how to make friends. It’s the classic case of having all odds against you and persevering. Best of all, it’s Toothless that to Hiccup changing and growing as a person, becoming the man he never thought he could be, while doing it his own way. What follows is Hiccup growing from a young boy to a real man. Heck, he even gets himself a girlfriend. With that being said, Hiccup is clearly the best character of HTTYD, so let’s toss him a crown and be done with it!
🦄 Magical movie lists!