Live-Action ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Teaser: Enhanced Dragons Steal the Spotlight, Leaving Questions About Toothless’s Design

Have you caught the latest teaser for the live-action version of How To Train Your Dragon? It features dragons so realistically depicted that they might just make you do a double-take. Universal Pictures piqued everyone’s interest last year by unveiling the initial teaser for this adaptation, leaving many of us wondering, "Why remake it?" Fast forward to this weekend, we got a peek at a second teaser, and frankly, I’m still pondering that very question.

While this new teaser doesn’t reveal much more than the first, it does showcase a lot more dragons. Seeing them has now made me wonder something else: what is up with Toothless’ look? While the beloved dragon maintains his iconic design from the animated film, albeit with more lifelike textures, the rest of the dragon crew seems incredibly realistic. Unlike Toothless, they appear to have leaped straight out of a different, more intense dragon movie.

Let’s remember, dragons—spoiler alert—aren’t real. So, there’s only so realistic they can get. Some feature designs that do retain a touch of that whimsical, cartoonish essence. Yet, the realism is still strong enough that you wouldn’t bat an eye if these dragons swooped into a more serious fantasy flick. Oddly enough, Toothless comes off a bit sillier than his usual self. It’s a strange twist, especially when you realize that the original animated series boasted a range of dragon designs, many of which were arguably more playful than Toothless himself.

Anyway, what’s done is done when it comes to design choices. Thankfully, fans can rejoice knowing that Dean DeBlois, the director behind the animated original, is helming this project. Plus, Gerard Butler is back, lending his voice to the ever-formidable Stoick the Vast. So, there’s hope for some continuity, even if you’re not entirely sold on the new dragon aesthetics. You won’t have to wait too long to judge for yourself, as the film is set to hit theaters on June 13. Mark your calendars!