Film Name:馴龍高手3 / How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
A decade-long fantasy adventure has come to a close.
It transformed Vikings and dragons from enemies to allies, evolving from “dragon slayers” to “dragon riders.” With its unique art style—a blend of rounded and elongated forms—alongside vibrant, colorful scenes and stunning 3D visuals, it tells a story about friendship and growing up… While the “How to Train Your Dragon” series may not rank among the most exceptional classics in animation history, it is destined to remain a crucial cornerstone of animated films in our era.
As the series finale, “How to Train Your Dragon 3” delivers with heartfelt sincerity: visually upgraded, packed with compelling content, and providing a satisfying conclusion to Hiccup and Toothless’s journey.
The film’s most striking trait is its unassuming, gentle nature—a quality that permeates every aspect. This serves as both its greatest strength and its most significant flaw.
[Friendly reminder: Spoilers ahead.]
Beyond Pixar’s consistent stream of masterpieces and Disney’s occasional blockbuster hits, DreamWorks stands as Hollywood’s most reliable animation production line since the new millennium. The Shrek series, Madagascar series, Kung Fu Panda series, The Croods, and others are all household names. While their overall quality generally meets expectations, few truly stand out. The How to Train Your Dragon series is one of the rare standout “aces” in their portfolio.
After watching the film, I understood why “How to Train Your Dragon 3” has recently achieved both critical acclaim and box office success in North America: it lives up to its status as the trilogy’s finale. To put it simply, its production quality alone has reached the pinnacle of the industry.
Compared to the first two installments, “How to Train Your Dragon 3” significantly increases its use of “simulated live-action” effects. Whether it’s the wave patterns at the entrance waterfall to the dragons’ hidden homeland or the intricate textures on the sand as Toothless tries to win over the Light Fury, the visuals are incredibly lifelike and truly breathtaking.
Meanwhile, the film employs dazzling visual effects sparingly yet masterfully. Hiccup’s fiery transformation, the bustling spectacle of Berk Island, and the vast fleet on the ocean all serve the narrative seamlessly without overshadowing the story. The only unrestrained display of visual prowess comes in the breathtaking sequence where Hiccup and Astrid enter the Hidden World—while vibrant, fantastical realms aren’t unique to How to Train Your Dragon, such stunningly beautiful and magical imagery is never too much.
The film maintains the series’ signature blend of cartoonish and photorealistic character designs, a style that stands out even among DreamWorks’ vibrantly colorful productions.
Moreover, the film retains its signature 3D and widescreen formats. These technical elements amplify the exhilaration of dragon-riding sequences, delivering impressive results whether through rollercoaster-like first-person perspectives or scenic third-person views.
The scenes where Toothless and his girlfriend share sweet moments perfectly synthesize all these technical strengths: visually appealing and captivating designs, realistic and beautiful environments, and sleek, fluid flight interactions…
The sheer enjoyment of this audiovisual feast alone is worth the price of admission.
Unfortunately, while the film delivers thrills, it falls short of delivering even greater thrills. In truth, from character design and setting details to narrative direction, “How to Train Your Dragon 3” should be the most “mature” installment in every sense. The flaming folding fire sword, fire-resistant dragon scales, the growing conflict between Berk Island—where humans and dragons coexist peacefully—and offshore dragon hunters, and the new generation of Vikings like Hiccup shouldering their clan’s destiny…
This film could have delivered a richer, weightier, more adult narrative. Yet it chose not to. The dazzling designs exist merely for flashy showmanship and cuteness, while the looming tribal crisis serves only as backdrop. Combat scenes avoid violence and bloodshed, lacking even a single properly depicted death—
To put it plainly, “How to Train Your Dragon 3” remains committed to crafting an all-ages animated film, which inevitably imposes limitations on its expressive scope. The conflicts are present but not intense, the lessons are there but not harrowing, and the depth exists but isn’t profound—this applies across all layers of the film. For some viewers who have grown up with the series, it’s undeniably a disappointment.
Of course, this is simply the film’s own choice, and there’s no need to judge which approach is superior. Those who feel unsatisfied shouldn’t dwell on it too much.
Within this context, the film’s thematic focus on “growth” still managed to catch my attention.
One aspect is Hiccup’s bumpy journey of becoming a leader.
From breaking free from his father’s wings to soaring on his own, to enduring hardship after losing his father, and finally leading his people to ride dragons high into the sky—the How to Train Your Dragon series is also a chronicle of a leader’s growth. The film deliberately inserts flashbacks of Hiccup’s childhood moments of intimacy with his father, further emphasizing the ritualistic sense of this “son following in his father’s footsteps” life cycle.
The chieftain’s responsibility compelled Hiccup to chart a path for his entire tribe’s future: as Vikings and dragons multiplied, their shared habitat grew increasingly constrained while external threats mounted. Hiccup’s resolve to relocate the entire tribe from their ancestral home, Berk Island, demonstrated both visionary foresight and bold ambition.
Yet this correct decision was marred by excessive irrationality—Hiccup’s repeated raids on dragon hunters’ ships and adoption of wild dragons had significantly exacerbated Berk’s mounting internal and external crises. Moreover, his single-minded desire to lead his entire tribe away from the human world to dwell in the hidden realm of the dragons—such “reckless abandon” and “stubborn obstinacy”—also revealed his immaturity as a chieftain.
The film’s main antagonist, Grimm, serves as Hiccup’s starkest mirror: one believes “those not of our kind have different hearts,” seeking to exterminate dragons entirely while enslaving dragon servants through potions and force; the other steadfastly believes humans and dragons can coexist peacefully, each fulfilling their needs and caring for one another, single-handedly resisting the world’s prejudice… Yet if one stubbornly persists when the cause is lost, isn’t that another form of obsession?
Even if Grimm is defeated today, stronger adversaries will emerge tomorrow. To realize his vision of “human-dragon harmony,” he risks leading his people back to the Hidden World to relive the past struggles against dragons… when better solutions exist.
When Hiccup finally lets all the dragons return home at the film’s end, choosing to stay on New Berk and marry Astrid, I felt profound relief—it felt both “down-to-earth” and “grounded.”
Of course, the film’s more significant emotional arc lies in Hiccup and Toothless’s tumultuous bond. Their story profoundly captures the essence of companionship, growth, and farewell.
In “How to Train Your Dragon,” we witness the birth of a great friendship that transcends racial barriers. Especially in the end, Hiccup and Toothless’s flaws become the perfect touch where two negatives make a positive. They complement each other’s imperfections, becoming indispensable halves in each other’s lives.
“How to Train Your Dragon 3” demonstrates that “even perfect matches may not last forever.” Toothless experiences his first stirrings of love for a white female Light Fury dragon, but with Hiccup tagging along like a third wheel, he simply can’t pursue his dragon crush… Thus, the theme of this friendship aligns perfectly with the film’s overarching message: the key word is “letting go.”
Constantly clinging together for warmth isn’t necessarily a sign of true friendship. Accepting separation and helping each other find better places belongs is what good friends do. Hiccup understands this truth but struggles to act on it wholeheartedly (much like many of us ordinary people), making it easier for audiences to empathize.
Though the film concludes with Hiccup’s family of four reuniting with Toothless’s family of five—further diluting the already understated farewell atmosphere—the movie’s gentle, unhurried tone makes it hard to fault this choice…
Moreover, Dean DeBlois, director of the How to Train Your Dragon series, has explicitly stated that the third installment will be the finale, with no further sequels to follow. Isn’t such a warm conclusion perfectly fitting?
Therefore, this article won’t dwell on the film’s flaws—such as uneven pacing, overly simplistic plot, or caricatured supporting characters. As a finale, it remains lighthearted, moving some viewers to tears while leaving others feeling it lacks depth…
Yet at the same time, “How to Train Your Dragon 3” is truly an outstanding family-friendly film (perfect for taking children to see). If you’ve ever experienced growing up, you simply won’t remain unmoved.
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