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How to train your dragon - Gerard Butler, Jay Baruchel, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders

Threat advisory: High - High risk of entertaining activities

Movie propaganda

The film is about the adventures of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III (Jay Baruchel), the 11-year-old son of a Viking chieftain, who must capture a dragon for a rite of passage. Set on the Isle of Berk (next to North Island, Meathead Island and Cannibal Isle), a group of 10 youths of the Hooligan tribe (from Hooligan Village), are being lead by Gobber the Belch to perform their first military operation - to catch their own dragon. Those who are not able to catch and train a dragon are exiled from the tribe. This military operation has to be done by every Hooligan - with the military op being culture and tradition of the Hooligans - a test known as The Dragon Initiation Programme.

Theatrical propaganda posters

How to train your dragon theatrical one sheet image

Target demographic movie keyword propaganda

Film adventure animation fantasy dragon rite of passage Viking boy fire-breathing

Persons of interest

Jay Baruchel .... Hiccup
Gerard Butler .... Stoick
America Ferrera .... Astrid
Craig Ferguson .... Gobber
Jonah Hill .... Snotlout
Christopher Mintz-Plasse .... Fishlegs
Kristen Wiig .... Ruffnut
TJ Miller .... Tuffnut
Robin Atkin Downes .... Ack
Kieron Elliott .... Hoark
Cressida Cowell .... Author
Dean DeBlois .... Screenwriter
Adam F Goldberg .... Screenwriter
Chris Sanders .... Screenwriter
Peter Tolan .... Screenwriter
Dean DeBlois .... Director
Chris Sanders .... Director

Cinematic intelligence sources

How to train your dragon official movie sites:

How to train your dragon film production notes
How to train your dragon QuickTime movie trailers
Awards and film festivals:

Golden Globes, USA (Hollywood Foreign Press Association) 2011: Nominated: Best Animated Feature Film

Studios and distributors:

Paramount Pictures

Intelligence analyst

Agent Chereine Waddell

Theatrical report

This is a thoroughly enjoyable film; the trailer didn't do it justice, but the film itself was both humorous and a feel good experience. The animation was outstanding and utilised the latest 3D technologies to its advantage. Despite the predictability in storyline, How to train your dragon is worth the watch and definitely a film to be seen at the cinema.

The story is centred around a young Viking teenager who lives in a world of vikings and dragons where fighting dragons is a way of life and an expected career choice from his Viking father. It tells a tale of a young boy, gentle and awkward in nature, to his father's disapproval, who rebels against Viking expectations after befriending a dragon and learning that what he has grown up believing is wrong. Hiccup, the boy, courageously challenges his cultural upbringing of slaying dragons in a quest to save the dragons from their fate and in doing so encourages individuality and proves that even the geeky strange kid with an alternate opinion can go on to make a difference and change the way people think. The movie references our need to belong and be accepted, the role of peer pressure and in its own innocence sets up a cute love story between not only the two most unlikely teenagers, but also a love for a species he was brought up to believe should be hunted and killed.

If you are a fan of Shrek and Kung-fu panda, then expect the same witty humour, lovable characters, feel-good morality and captivating visuals: I'll be surprised if you don't love this film equally or more. It will make you come away with a smile and no doubt inspire you to be yourself and courageously stand up for what you believe in.

The adventure, animation, fantasy movie How to train your dragon is directed by Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders and stars Gerard Butler, Jay Baruchel, Christopher Mintz-Plasse.