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How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014) movie poster

Characters & Themes

How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2014 · 102 min · English
JustWatch #20,305 8
Directed by
Dean DeBlois
Starring
Gerard Butler, Cate Blanchett, Jonah Hill, Kristen Wiig, Craig Ferguson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse
Budget
$145M

As the Viking village of Berk enjoys a newfound harmony with dragons, Hiccup and his dragon, Toothless, venture into uncharted territories. Their exploration leads them to a hidden ice cave, revealing a vast, untamed world of dragons and a mysterious Dragon Rider. This discovery jeopardizes the peace they’ve worked so hard to achieve, forcing Hiccup and Toothless to confront a dangerous threat and protect their bond, along with the future of humans and dragons.

Action Adventure Fantasy Comedy Animation Family Cast, crew & box office
On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (5)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 The book behind the movie
  7. 7 Movie threads
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)

Where can you watch How to Train Your Dragon 2? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount Plus Premium and Amazon Video: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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5 main characters · contains spoilers

How to Train Your Dragon 2 Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Hiccup

    Hiccup is the protagonist who evolves from a hesitant young Viking to a confident leader. He struggles with expectations from his father while embracing the peace he values with dragons. His compassion drives him to seek non-violent resolutions, showcasing his growth.

    • 🧑‍✈️ Hero
    • 🤔 Uncertainty

  • Stoick the Vast

    played by Gerard Butler

    Stoick is the chieftain of Berk and Hiccup's father, embodying strength and leadership. His tragic sacrifice highlights the depths of a father's love and the burden of leadership in a time of crisis. He represents traditional Viking values and struggles with the evolving world around him.

    • 🛡️ Protector
    • 😔 Sacrifice

  • Toothless

    Toothless is Hiccup's loyal Night Fury, exhibiting intelligence and bravery. His journey reflects the bond between a dragon and its rider, especially as he grapples with mind control and ultimately showcases his power to protect Hiccup, redefining what it means to be a leader.

    • 🐉 Companion
    • ⚡ Power

  • Valka

    played by Cate Blanchett

    Valka, Hiccup's long-lost mother, is a fierce protector of dragons who embodies compassion and strength. Her return signifies Hiccup's growth and reinforces the importance of family as she guides him towards his destiny of uniting humans and dragons.

    • 🦸‍♀️ Warrior
    • 💖 Nurturer

  • Drago Bludvist

    Drago is the main antagonist whose ruthless ambition threatens the harmony between Vikings and dragons. His villainous approach to power and control serves as a formidable challenge for Hiccup and the peace they strive to maintain.

    • 🦹 Villain
    • 🐉 Power

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 18:56

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Setting

Where and When Does How to Train Your Dragon 2 Take Place?

The setting of How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Five years after the events of 'How to Train Your Dragon'

The film takes place five years after the first movie, during a period of peace between Vikings and dragons. However, tensions arise as new threats emerge in the form of dragon trappers and a power-hungry villain, highlighting the fragility of this peace.

Location

Berk, Dragon Sanctuary

Berk is a fictional Viking settlement known for its integration of dragons and humans, where the inhabitants live alongside their dragon companions. The Dragon Sanctuary, protected by the Bewilderbeast, is a unique island that serves as a refuge for rescuing dragons from threats, showcasing the bond between dragons and their riders.

  • 🏰 Kingdom
  • 🐉 Fantasy

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 18:56

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3 major themes

How to Train Your Dragon 2 Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Heroism

    The theme of heroism is prevalent as Hiccup steps up to confront the looming threat posed by Drago. His growth from an uncertain young man to a courageous leader reflects the courage required to face adversity and the sacrifices made for loved ones.

  • Family

    Family ties are central to the story, particularly Hiccup's relationship with his father Stoick and his long-lost mother Valka. Their bonds motivate Hiccup's actions and decisions as he navigates loss, legacy, and the quest for identity.

  • Unity

    The movie emphasizes the theme of unity between dragons and Vikings, showcasing Hiccup's journey to reconcile their differences. The resolution of conflicts leads to an alliance that symbolizes hope for coexistence and mutual respect.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 18:56

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Character & theme questions

How to Train Your Dragon 2 Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is How to Train Your Dragon 2 set?

The movie takes place primarily in Berk, a fictional Viking settlement that has evolved into a harmonious community where Vikings live alongside dragons. The story also ventures to the Dragon Sanctuary, a protected island refuge for dragons led by the Bewilderbeast, and explores uncharted territories including a hidden ice cave that reveals a vast dragon wilderness.

  • berk
  • village
  • dragon sanctuary
  • setting
  • viking settlement
Q2

How many years after the first movie does the sequel take place?

The film is set five years after the events of the first How to Train Your Dragon movie. This time jump shows Berk in a period of established peace between Vikings and dragons, though new threats begin to emerge during this seemingly tranquil era.

  • timeline
  • five years
  • sequel
  • peace
  • first movie
Q3

What are the main themes in How to Train Your Dragon 2?

The film explores three primary themes: heroism, as Hiccup transforms from an uncertain young man into a courageous leader; family, focusing on Hiccup's relationships with his father Stoick and his returned mother Valka; and unity between dragons and Vikings, showcasing the alliance that symbolizes hope for coexistence and mutual respect.

  • themes
  • heroism
  • family
  • unity
  • dragon viking alliance
Q4

Who is the antagonist in How to Train Your Dragon 2?

Drago Bludvist is the main antagonist, a ruthless and power-hungry villain who threatens the peace between Vikings and dragons. His ambition to control dragons through force and domination poses a formidable challenge to Hiccup and the harmony he has worked to establish.

  • drago
  • antagonist
  • villain
  • dragon trappers
  • threat
Q5

Who is Valka in How to Train Your Dragon 2?

Valka is Hiccup's long-lost mother, a fierce dragon protector who embodies compassion and strength. She has spent years living among dragons in the Dragon Sanctuary, and her return to Berk signifies a pivotal moment in Hiccup's journey, helping guide him toward uniting humans and dragons.

  • valka
  • mother
  • dragon sanctuary
  • family
  • hiccup's mother
Q6

What role does Toothless play in the story?

Toothless is Hiccup's loyal Night Fury dragon and the central symbol of the dragon-rider bond. Throughout the film, he grapples with mind control by Drago but ultimately reclaims his agency to protect Hiccup, redefining what it means to be a leader and partner.

  • toothless
  • night fury
  • dragon bond
  • rider
  • loyalty
Q7

How does Hiccup change throughout How to Train Your Dragon 2?

Hiccup evolves from a hesitant young Viking struggling with his father's expectations into a confident leader who embraces non-violent resolutions. His compassion drives him to seek peace rather than conflict, and he ultimately steps up to confront Drago while navigating loss, legacy, and his quest for identity.

  • hiccup
  • growth
  • leader
  • viking
  • protagonist development
Q8

Who is Stoick the Vast and what is his role?

Stoick the Vast is the chieftain of Berk and Hiccup's father, embodying traditional Viking strength and leadership. He represents the burden of leadership during crisis and his relationship with Hiccup highlights the tension between old Viking values and the changing world around them.

  • stoick
  • chieftain
  • father
  • viking leader
  • berk
Q9

What is the Dragon Sanctuary?

The Dragon Sanctuary is a protected island that serves as a refuge for rescuing dragons from threats. It is guarded by the Bewilderbeast, a massive alpha dragon, and showcases the deep bond between dragons and their riders. The sanctuary represents the film's theme of unity and protection of these creatures.

  • dragon sanctuary
  • bewilderbeast
  • refuge
  • protection
  • alpha dragon
Q10

How is the fragile peace between Vikings and dragons portrayed?

The film depicts a period of newfound harmony in Berk following the first movie, but quickly introduces threats from dragon trappers and Drago's expansionist ambitions. This fragility highlights that the peace requires constant vigilance and that unity must be actively defended against those who seek to exploit or control dragons.

  • peace
  • threats
  • dragon trappers
  • harmony
  • vulnerability
Q11

How does family play into the story's narrative?

Family ties drive much of Hiccup's decision-making throughout the film. His complicated relationship with his father Stoick, the emotional discovery of his mother Valka, and the legacy he inherits all shape his journey. These family bonds motivate him to protect what he loves and define his path toward becoming a leader.

  • family
  • stoick
  • valka
  • hiccup
  • bonds
Q12

What does the film say about heroism?

The movie presents heroism as requiring courage to face adversity and the willingness to make sacrifices for loved ones. Hiccup's growth exemplifies this theme, as he must overcome uncertainty, face a powerful villain, and ultimately accept the weight of leadership despite personal loss, showing heroism as both inspiring and costly.

  • heroism
  • courage
  • leadership
  • sacrifice
  • hiccup's growth

Movie threads

More Movies Like How to Train Your Dragon 2, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes How to Train Your Dragon 2 tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Animated Action Epics with Emotional Depth like How to Train Your Dragon 2

High-stakes animated battles intertwined with heartfelt character journeys and bittersweet victories. Explore movies like 'How to Train Your Dragon 2' that blend spectacular animated action with profound emotional resonance. These films feature high-stakes adventures, inspiring heroes, and bittersweet victories that leave a lasting impact, perfect for viewers seeking animated stories with both thrilling spectacle and genuine heart.

  • epic
  • adventurous
  • heartwarming
  • suspenseful
  • inspiring
  • tragic
  • Tone: hopeful, epic, bittersweet
  • Pacing: fast, action-packed
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically follow a heroic protagonist on a large-scale adventure, facing a formidable threat. The fast-paced plot is driven by action sequences and discoveries, but the emotional journey—often involving themes of legacy, sacrifice, and self-discovery—is equally important, leading to a finale that is triumphant yet personally costly.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together because they share a unique alchemy of high-intensity animated action and significant emotional stakes. They appeal to a broad audience by delivering visual excitement alongside mature themes of loss, duty, and growth, creating an experience that is both exhilarating and deeply moving.

How to Train Your Dragon 2 movie poster

How to Train Your Dragon 2

2014
The Last Airbender movie poster

The Last Airbender

2010
Dungeons & Dragons movie poster

Dungeons & Dragons

2000
Dragon Nest: Warriors’ Dawn movie poster

Dragon Nest: Warriors’ Dawn

2014
The Myth movie poster

The Myth

2005
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian movie poster

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

2008
Last Action Hero movie poster

Last Action Hero

1993
Return of the Jedi movie poster

Return of the Jedi

1983

Chosen One Chronicles of Legacy and Leadership like How to Train Your Dragon 2

Young heroes embracing their destiny to unite divided worlds against tyranny. Discover movies similar to 'How to Train Your Dragon 2' where a young hero must rise to their destiny. These films explore themes of leadership, uniting opposing forces, and confronting a dark legacy, often involving a personal loss that solidifies their resolve to protect a fragile peace.

  • inspiring
  • tragic
  • uplifting
  • epic
  • adventurous
  • heartwarming
  • Tone: hopeful, inspiring, tragic
  • Pacing: fast, progressive
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a protagonist who discovers a hidden truth about the world and their place in it. They confront a villain who represents an old, divisive order, forcing them to bridge a great divide (e.g., between species or clans). A pivotal personal loss often serves as a catalyst, solidifying their resolve to lead and fulfill a prophesied or inherited role.

Why they belong together: These films are united by a core protagonist arc of accepting a heavy destiny centered on peacemaking and leadership. They share a hopeful tone despite the presence of tragedy, focusing on the hero's growth and the ultimate triumph of unity over conflict, making them inspiring tales of reluctant leadership.

Dragonslayer movie poster

Dragonslayer

1981
Dungeons & Dragons movie poster

Dungeons & Dragons

2000
Sheena movie poster

Sheena

1984
Monster Hunter: Legends of the Guild movie poster

Monster Hunter: Legends of the Guild

2021
Atlantis: The Lost Empire movie poster

Atlantis: The Lost Empire

2001
Sheena: Queen of the Jungle movie poster

Sheena: Queen of the Jungle

1984
Mosaic movie poster

Mosaic

2007
The Princess and the Pilot movie poster

The Princess and the Pilot

2011

Every angle

How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about How to Train Your Dragon 2 in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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