How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014) Review

How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014) Review

(5/5)

“How to train your Dragon 2” is the animated movie to watch this year, stretching some technological boundaries for feature-length animation filmmaking.

Dean Deblois has become one of the most successful animation directors in the world, having directed “Mulan” (1998), and “How to Train Your Dragon” (2010), the film’s predecessor. This year, the sequel to “How to Train Your Dragon” soars. In fact, it flies higher than the original with some of DreamWorks’s best animation to date.

Five years after the Viking village of Berk has made peace with the dragons, dragons now live amongst the villagers as working animals and companions, and even take part in racing sport. Hiccup goes on adventures with his dragon, Toothless to stop the villainous Drago from a massive invasion.

As for the story and characters, it’s pretty decent; however, it doesn’t get much thicker than the whole “people controlling dragons to fight other people controlling dragons” thing. Therefore, it can, as a whole feel a little too straightforward. It would definitely benefit the story if there were more off-putting subjects to make us feel curious about the world Deblois has created for us.

Then again, the animation is simply stunning. High flying dragons corkscrew their way through perilous attacks and also make for friendly, occasionally cute companions. The animators used focal length on there subjects to create a greater sense of depth during the battle sequences. You can tell the most time spent was on texturing each dragon; the skin textures were insane.

The animation isn’t like any other I’ve seen neither by this studio nor, by an animated film I've seen thus far. ITs masterfully executed like a live-action superhero film; the water being the most realistically rendered piece. My only critisicm regarding our technological advancements in 3-d animation is the movement of the hair and clothes. I still think its being succeeded more in traditionally animated films like “The Wind Rises” (2013). It will probably be the next improvement in 3-d animation. Regardless, it’s a very rare and fresh medium since it’s a very expensive one to produce.

Overall, “How to train your Dragon 2” stretches some technological boundaries for feature-length animation filmmaking. Its a sure hit, and the animated movie to watch this year.

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