Hey, just expressing how I feel. Dreamworks doesn’t have a good rep with me when it comes to sequels (not much of a good rep at all actually, aside from Panda and Dragon), so yeah… Let’s just say me not trusting Dreamworks to come up with a good sequel for this is an understatement.
Please, Dreamworks, prove me wrong…
Chao- I think it’s more a case of a lot of people having enjoyed (and even loved) How To Train Your Dragon and then being disappointed about possible sequels, turning it into another Shrek (as the original Shrek is popular here too). So it’s more loving than hating really.
And the only reason I can’t see a sequel going well is not because Dreamworks is making it (after all, they managed pretty well with the first one!) but because the story doesn’t justify a sequel in my opinion. I feel the same about Cars 2 and Monsters, Inc. 2, so it’s regardless of whoever happens to be making the films.
Well, that does make me feel a lot better. The fact that they actually have proper ideas even at this point suggests that it might come naturally from some angle we haven’t thought of, which vastly increases the chances of it being good. It’s rather like how Toy Story 2 took some ideas that Pixar were thinking of using in the first film but couldn’t. Given that these ideas are coming from Sanders and DeBlois, I think we can safely say that any similarities to the books will be purely coincidental, but that wasn’t a problem with the first film. Man, it feels weird to say that about something still in the cinema. Were sequels always announced this quickly?
I can’t really think of any reason why they wouldn’t get John Powell to compose the score for the sequel, unless he decides that he wants a lot more money.
Yeah, I saw this on Wall-E Forums too. While I’m pleased that the duo have a chance of being picked up again (or Mr Jeffrey better be expecting serious backlash…), I have to echo lizardgirl’s opinion of dragging out a story’s already perfect conclusion (Although, LG, I think Cars 2 leaves room for more sequels with such an open-ended ending. 
).
I always like to compare it with Avatar. Even the ending is pretty similar (bittersweet epilogue, epic final frame, title card). The End. Just like Monsters Inc. No more. Done. Finito. Habis. Fin.
Unless there’s another world to explore (a direction Mr Cameron is considering for Avatar 2), there’s really nowhere else Dragons can go. Shrek had a perfect ending (the fairytale book even closes, for Chrysler’s sake!), and look where they ended up.
And it’s not like this hasn’t happened to Chris before. Stitch went on to make three direct-to-DVD sequels, and one of them is actually a TV pilot!
Of course, maybe I’m makin’ much ado about nothing. But like Czarine and a lot of others say, this film has won the hearts of many fans, and to see that beautiful memory tarnished by a shoddy, unnecessary sequel is something to be worried about.
^ This.
I too have mixed feelings about this, and as a result have not posted here since I haven’t been able to gather all my thoughts on this. But most of you said it well enough all ready - the story was complete, where else can you go with it? Most of the stuff we could come up with is probably better suited for fanfiction (in my case, some of my ideas should be left to fanfiction. 
). It’s really good to hear that DeBlois and Sanders are back on the project, but I’m still gonna be feeling ‘mneh’ about this until I get more information on the plotline and such.
It just seems so odd to me that they would release this information, or even decide to make a sequel while the movie is still playing in some areas… 
Seriously. Who actually decides on making a sequel that fast? Oh… wait… this is Dreamworks we’re talking about, never mind.
little chef
I’m really miffed with the rate of production of the movie industry these days. Before the 90s, sequels were unheard of (and the only ones made were mostly by James Cameron). Now, sequels are being churned out barely two years apart from each other! And book/video-game adaptations (I mean HTTYD was inspired by a book to begin with!). And remakes. Why remake a movie? You know you’re not gonna top the original one with its nostalgic element, and you know there are gonna be inevitable comparisons. And reboots! Let’s go back to basics, as if we didn’t explain that already in the first movie.
Sorry to go on an off-tangent rant, but this “Let’s see how much golden eggs we can get from this goose!” paradigm is really making me angry. Please don’t kill the goose, Jeffrey.
@TDIT: I do think there’s enough content they can use. There are a lot of books in the How To Train Your Dragon series they can abuse the plots of.
@littlechef: I’ve heard of companies starting production on sequels even before the original was out in theaters. 
Still… the ending was perfect. Why stretch it out? 
Oh well. At least we get to see moar of Toothless.
Czarine: Yeah, I’ve heard of that too… but who in their right mind releases that kind of information off the bat? coughKatzenbergcoughcough
I dunno. The whole thing’s just making me kinda mad right now, like TDIT mentioned. And I’m going to need a lot of convincing in order to get myself to pay Dreamworks for making yet another sequel, when I thought they had finally done something good and moved on when they made this film. sigh 
Some just never learn…
little chef
Because ADVENTURE!
… IS OUT THERE?
Anyway, sequel or no sequel, nothing is going to change the way I think about this movie. 
I’m going to see the sequel(s) when it/they come(s) out and if I don’t like them then that’s all there is to it, and if I do: cheers, Dreamworks, for once again proving all my expectations wrong with yet another amazing animated feature in the HTTYD franchise.
Just realized this, by the way… yay, sudden change of heart.
This is why I hate these people.
Loved this film. And I’m so glad I stayed away from spoilers because a certain detail about the lead character at the end was too good to ruin for myself before hand, so I’m thankful I got to have a real reaction. And honestly it’s part of why I say I love the film rather than really really liked it.
The sequel is coming, and even though there’s always the fear of having a repeat of the million Shreks cycle repeat with every DreamWorks movie I’m excited for HTTYD2 (or whatever it be titled) I loved the teens, Snotlout, the twins, Fishlegs. Of course Hiccup, in all his Jay Baruchel glory.
I did a guest spot on the podcast @TrendingCinema who did an episode where the last half was all about DreamWorks and HTTYD. Check it out HERE !
Okay, review tiem;
Not counting Aardman collaborations (Chicken Run, Curse of the Were Rabbit, that stuff,), this is Dreamworks Animation Studio’s best film.
Ever.
Period.
Yes, I’m aware they made Shrek.
Yes, I’m aware of their 2D animations.
Really, I loved this film. It usually takes me being rather bored to see a film they made once. The last one I saw in theaters before HTTYD was Over the Hedge, and the only one between now and then I regret missing is Kung Fu Panda.
I’ve seen How to Train Your Dragon Twice. In 3D.
HTTYD had an incredible level of heart, characters you really loved and rooted for, and while it’s not the most innovative and unpredictable film on the planet, it writes the formula well. Sometimes, that’s enough, you know? I feel Deja Vu from when I saw Princess and the Frog; so what if it’s not gonna change the scope of animation as we know it? It’s FUN.
I know I’m gonna get killed for saying this, cause this is the Pixar forum and Dreamworks is our sworn enemy and all, but between how much the critics are loving this, how much animation fans are loving this, not to mention the fact that the Academy is not huge on sequels, Toy Story 3 already has a serious run for its money come Award Season next year.
Of course, Dreamworks is still Dreamworks. This doesn’t put me in line for every future film they make. This doesn’t even put me in line for Megamind (especially not that, actually,) but it shows me, once again, something Kung Fu Panda rose my suspicions to; Dreamworks has the potential for heartfelt and thoughtful storytelling, and they’re getting better at it.
So, yeah, go see it. And treat yourself to 3D at a good theater.
P.S. I want a Toothless. Really badly.
Ohmygawsh… share the Dragon love, people! I feel all warm and fuzzy… I’m truly surprised by the positive reviews this is getting, especially on a rival studios’ fan forum!
For fans, there’s an online ARG (alternate reality game, a popular tool used for marketing movies) on the Dragons site. You get a pop-up saying a ‘Dragon Fire Race is over’ (what I assume is a promotional tie-in contest), but you can ‘still play for fun’. Once you ‘Register a Dragon’ (Just give a bogus email and check the parental consent box) and log-in, you can play some pretty neat mini-games and compete with scoreboards!
It’s flamin’ fun! 
Oh, and does anyone know if the menu background music is on the soundtrack or an unreleased track?
Yes, it is. On like 18 seconds in track 10: ‘See You Tomorrow’. And again at 1:43.
I instantly found it in like 10 seconds, because I knew at what part it played in the movie ^^
This is probably great news for everyone but me…
[quote="TAMATER":2llgub8b]This is probably great news for everyone but me…
Old news, there’s already a lot of mixed opinions on it.
Though with CHris Sanders and Dean DeBlois both working on the sequel, I think it’ll be fine. The trick is how that TV show will turn out.
This is something that I don’t understand. There wasn’t a sequel to Monsters vs Aliens because it didn’t do well in “key” markets. But Jerry announced that they were turning this movie into a franchise. But the last I checked, HTTYD and M vs A have made around the same amount of money total at the box office. Well at least according to Wikipedia. Can somebody explain this to me?
As far as the sequel goes, I’m a little worried. Now if the same people behind the original come back, I’ll be a little less worried. But still seeing how it ended, I wonder where could they go with the story. If this was being done by Pixar I wouldn’t be worried at all. But then I think about how I haven’t read the books, so there could be another story to tell. Does anybody know how closely the movie follows the books?
I really love this movie. As of this post, I’ve seen it three times in IMAX and I plan on seeing in later today and tomorrow. I want to see it in IMAX 3D a couple of more times before Ironman 2 takes up all of the showtimes at my local IMAX screen this friday. I hope the way this movie has been very well recieved by critics and audiences (although I don’t understand after seeing the M vs A gross) makes Jerry realize that they need to do more movies like this and Kung Fu Panda and less Shrek. I hope they go deeper as far as the story is concerned. I would love for them to explore some of Hiccups past with his mother. Actually I think if they can come up with a good storyline, his past should be explored quite a bit in the sequel. I just hope there’s nothing in the sequel about Night Fury having a kid or some vikings from some far off place come along and decide to wage a war against the dragons, not knowing what the vikings of Berk know. Although I think the latter maybe interesting, if told the right way. I hope John Powell comes back to do the score. I cannot stop playing it. It’s been getting constant play in my iPod since I came home and bought it after seeing the movie opening day.
I have no comment on the tv show or live show. I have no interest in either one. I just hope they come up with another timeless and deeper story to tell for the next sequel.