How to make a solid sequel…
The first How To Train Your Dragon movie was not only a huge commercial success but also a hit with the critics as well (It currently sits at #150 in the IMDB top 250 films of all time after receiving two Oscar nominations).
When making a sequel however, Dreamworks had every reason to be wary after rival studio Pixar put out the disappointing Cars 2 and the patchy Monsters University. Luckily, Dreamworks made a number of solid decisions with How To Train Your Dragon 2. Keeping the original cast and director on board was important, and bringing in Cate Blanchett and Kit ‘you know nothing’ Harrington didn’t hurt either. Secondly, the decision to make this second instalment the second part of a trilogy gives director Dean DeBlois breathing space to expand the characters and the world that they live in.
The main obstacle then in the face of cautious optimism was the general premise. Baring in mind the dragon training promised in the title was delivered in the first film, it was vitally important that the sequel was not a retread of the first story. This is mostly done successfully with the introduction of a couple of key characters as well as vital plot points ensuring that How To Train Your Dragon 2 is not just a stepping stone to the final film in the trilogy, but an enjoyable spectacle in its own right.
Dreamworks will always (rightly) be viewed as inferior to Pixar, but they have still put out some of the most beloved animated films of all time, and How To Train Your Dragon 2 sits nicely amongst the Kung Fu Panda, Shrek and Madagascar franchises.