How to Train Your Dragon (2025)

How to Train Your Dragon (2025) confidently defies this trend, presenting not merely a continuation, but an intelligent and emotionally layered expansion of its mythos. It reminds audiences why this universe captured hearts over a decade ago while daring to evolve both its world and its message.

As a film critic who has spent years dissecting animated features and their role in modern storytelling, I approached this installment with cautious optimism. Could DreamWorks Animation truly justify returning to Berk after the thematically perfect farewell of The Hidden World? The answer, surprisingly, is yes — and then some.

Narrative Maturity and Thematic Depth

What sets this new chapter apart from its predecessors is its thematic focus on legacy and generational responsibility. How to Train Your Dragon (2025) shifts its lens to Freya, the spirited daughter of Hiccup and Astrid. This change of perspective is more than a narrative device; it’s a commentary on the challenges faced by those who inherit a world built by the sacrifices and triumphs of others.

The film opens in a flourishing Berk, a haven where dragons and humans coexist in relative harmony. Yet peace, as ever, is a delicate thing. When Freya inadvertently awakens a long-dormant threat from the archipelagos beyond the known seas, she finds herself at the center of a conflict that questions not only her personal courage but the very foundations upon which Berk was built.

Screenwriters deftly navigate this terrain, exploring themes of leadership, the burden of expectation, and the necessity of forging one’s own path. Freya is not a mere echo of her father; she is written with her own convictions, insecurities, and defiance. Her relationship with Lumen — a strikingly designed, azure-scaled dragon with unique bioluminescent traits — mirrors the bond Hiccup once shared with Toothless, but with a distinctly different emotional register.

Visual Splendor and Technological Advancement

DreamWorks Animation continues to push technical boundaries with this production. The animation here is, in a word, transcendent. The skies above Berk have never looked more alive; clouds roll with tangible weight, light dances across rippling water, and the dragons’ movements exhibit a grace and individuality that surpasses previous entries.

Particularly notable are the night sequences, where Lumen’s bioluminescent markings turn him into a living, moving constellation. These scenes aren’t mere showcases of visual effects — they serve narrative purpose, creating moments of both eerie tension and awe-struck wonder.

The flight choreography, too, deserves commendation. Sequences involving aerial chases through tempestuous canyons and soaring over shimmering seas are staged with a kinetic energy and precision that rivals the most accomplished live-action action films.

Musical Resonance

Composer John Powell returns, infusing the score with familiar motifs while introducing new themes that reflect the film’s generational shift. The soundtrack is not merely accompaniment but a narrative force in itself, guiding the emotional tempo of the film. Powell’s work ensures that pivotal scenes resonate long after they’ve passed, from moments of high-stakes peril to tender exchanges between characters.

One particular track during the film’s climax — a haunting, string-led arrangement underscoring Freya’s decisive confrontation with the antagonist — exemplifies Powell’s skill in elevating visual storytelling through music.

Performances and Characterization

Voice performances remain a cornerstone of this franchise’s success, and the 2025 entry is no exception. Newcomer Freya is voiced with a balance of youthful impulsiveness and emerging wisdom, capturing the nuanced transformation of a character stepping out from the shadow of legends.

Veterans Jay Baruchel and America Ferrera reprise their roles as Hiccup and Astrid, offering poignant, restrained performances that reflect characters weathered by time and experience. Their limited screen time is wisely utilized, providing narrative anchors without diverting attention from the new generation.

Supporting characters, while not as robustly developed as Freya, serve their narrative functions capably, though one might wish for a deeper exploration of their backgrounds in future installments.

Conclusion

How to Train Your Dragon (2025) is a rare example of a franchise extension done with care, intelligence, and artistic ambition. It understands that true legacy is not about repeating past glories, but about honoring them while forging a new path. Visually resplendent, thematically resonant, and emotionally rewarding, it stands as both a continuation and a rebirth for the series.

For audiences who grew up with this saga and for newcomers alike, this film offers a cinematic experience that soars — a testament to the enduring power of stories well told.

Rating: 4.5/5