Well, it's that day again! June 13th has rolled around, and this marks five years since HTTYD2 was released. It's kinda funny... because, in the years between HTTYD and HTTYD2, I really did not anticipate the direction the franchise was going. I genuinely thought all the characters would stay about the same age, that we might get a human villain or some sort of treasure quest (based on the second HTTYD book). I was shocked when the images confirming the aged up characters hit the internet! But, now looking back, I'm really thankful for those decisions. HTTYD2 is not my favorite out of the three films, but it is an absolute masterpiece. The complexity and counter-intuitiveness of the themes is brilliant. After the very archetypical storyline of the first film (in which a visionary young person follows their heart and changes the opinions of all the closed minded adults), it was really refreshing to see a film that gave the adults credit, a film that showed the heavy weight of idealism. Hiccup gets a devastating blow in the second film, something that could have shattered him and his views forever, but he weathers the storm, and it makes for a fantastic climax.
However, even if we ignore the particular themes of pacifism, human cruelty, being "born-different", and unconditional love, the second film still holds a gem that shines out bright even when compared to the other two films: we get to see Hiccup vocalize his motivations. Hiccup is an incredibly introverted protagonist, and his best friend is a dragon who does not speak. As such, we get this rich mine for analysis: what is Hiccup thinking? Why is he doing that? What are his motivations? What does he want to be? Who does he admire? For years many people in the fandom had noticed and loved the selfless attitude Hiccup so often expressed, but then in the funeral scene, we actually see just how much Hiccup wants to be like his dad. He wants to be brave. He wants to be selfless. That scene still stuns me. It feels perfectly natural and in-character for Hiccup to finally vent in this darkest and saddest of times. And with that speech, we see exactly what Hiccup has been thinking and feeling for the past two films, and it is a stunning testimony to how well Dean and Jay worked to craft this quiet, humble hero.
So, yeah, I'm gonna watch the film again tonight! Kinda worried I'll cry a lot... but it has to be done!
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