If you and your kids love the world of Dreamworks pictures ‘How To Train Your Dragon’ then you’ll love their new series Dragons: Race to the Edge on Netflix. We got to check out the first two episodes of the show and talk to the creative team behind it and here’s what we think are the most exciting things you’ll see when the show goes live on the 26th!
Expanded Universe
As part of Netflix’s deal with Dreamworks, which has brought us shows like ‘King Julian’ and ‘The Adventures of Puss in Boots’ we are now getting Dragons: Race to the Edge which fills us in on the adventures our heroes Hiccup and Toothles and their friends go through before ‘How to Train Your Dragon 2’. We get to find out just how Berk gets transformed into a Dragon community as the gang discovers a mysterious artifact known as the Dragon Eye. For those who are familiar with the Cartoon Network show’s villain Dagur is back and vowing to get revenge on Hiccup. The two compete to track down dragons beyond the borders of Berk and using the Dragon Eye they discover new worlds. This is super cool because it gives us more HTTYD till the third movie comes out!
New Dragons
The second episode introduces the first of many new dragons as the kids explore places farther than they could imagine. After they find the Dragon Eye, they head to the Glacier Island to seek out the Snow Wraith which holds the key to unlocking the Dragon Eye’s mysterious use. Despite having Astrid, the twins, and Fishlegs with him attaining the key proves to be challenging as the Snow Wraith’s abilities are dangerous. The pure white design of it helps it blend in with its environment which leads to very suspenseful action that kicks off the excitement in the show’s serial adventure tone. It makes you want to keep watching to see how they build a dynamic to help other dragons or learn from them if they’re big and scary. We can’t wait to see more of the very colorful and pretty but ominously named Deathsong dragon!
Morals
What’s really unique is that the dragons represent moral lessons. Each episode aims to teach kids the importance of friendship and helping others. The show is essentially like animal rescue but with dragons as the kids learn to not just train but help the endangered dragons and also be helped in the process. You also get to see the kids grow up and face the things its young viewers could be facing too. You know like, childhood crushes, as we will get to watch Hiccup and Astrid’s friendship turn into a relationship.
Familiar Voices
Most of the cast returns to voice their roles from the films. Even though they’re full time actors working around the world they love these characters as much as we do. Jay Baruchel who voices Hiccup has even said no one but him could voice our hero and has recorded for every HTTYD show and special even though he’s based in Toronto. America Ferrera also returns and records from New York. TJ Miller records from Dreamworks and from on the road if he’s traveling. Both he and Jay are so in tune with their characters that the writers script for their personalities and improv. They also work with the creative team to make character choices in the writing process and that’s how you know the show means everything to everyone involved.
Not Just for kids
This isn’t the type of show you can just walk away from when you play it for your kids. But seriously, you probably already love the movies as much as they do and the creators are aware of it because they too love the stories they’re telling. They write jokes they like, build worlds they want to go to and take you on epic adventures that bring out your inner child. Who doesn’t want to fly Dragons?! Who wouldn’t want Toothless as their best friend?! The timeless story of a boy and his dragon, the friendships forged by fire (had to), and how relationships with parents change. We all go through all those things.
So it’s okay, go ahead and continue to binge watch the show while your kids sleep. We’re gonna do it too.
* Sabina attended an all-expense paid event hosted by Netflix and Dreamworks. Opinions are solely her own.
