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American Ninja Warrior fans, we’ve got a fresh off the press preview for the new Season 17 Episode 2 episode titled Qualifiers 2!

Find out everything you need to know about the Qualifiers 2 episode of American Ninja Warrior, including a full preview, videos, release date, cast information and how to watch!

American Ninja Warrior Qualifiers 2 Season 17 Episode 2 Preview

The excitement continues in Las Vegas as “American Ninja Warrior” gears up for an exhilarating episode titled “Qualifiers 2.” Airing on NBC at 8:00 Pm on June 9, 2025, this episode promises to bring a unique twist with a special theme inspired by the beloved animated film, “How to Train Your Dragon.”

In this episode, ninjas will face off against a series of challenging obstacles, all while being cheered on by none other than Toothless and Stormfly, the iconic dragons from the film. Their presence is sure to add a magical element to the competition, as contestants...

Opening in theaters on June 13 is How To Train Your Dragon. Inspired by Cressida Cowell’s New York Times bestselling book series, DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon franchise has captivated global audiences, earning four Academy Award® nominations and grossing more than $1.6 billion at the global box-office. Now, through cutting-edge visual effects, director Dean DeBlois transforms his animated saga into a breathtaking live-action spectacle, bringing the epic adventures of Hiccup and Toothless to life with jaw-dropping realism as they discover the true meaning of friendship, courage and destiny.

The music is by two-time Academy Award® nominee John Powell

Few film scores have left as profound a mark as Powell’s How to Train Your Dragon, a career-defining work that earned him his first Academy Award® nomination. Nearly 15 years later, he returns to revisit the music that shaped the world of Berk – this time for the live-action adaptation. Fresh...

Universal and DreamWorks' live-action remake of How To Train Your Dragon is already tracking well at the box office and smashing a franchise record. After Disney found some success redoing beloved animated movies in live-action, Universal followed suit by greenlighting a remake of How To Train Your Dragononly a few years after the animated trilogy concluded. The new version of the familiar story returns director Dean DeBlois and Gerard Butler as Stoick, while Mason Thames headlines as Hiccup opposite the lovable night fury, Toothless. Given the success of the animated films, the remake has big expectations to meet.

This includes at the box office, and How To Train Your Dragon's live-action remake is already doing just that. According to early box office projections provided by BoxOffice Pro, the live-action version of How To Train Your Dragon is already flying to an $80 million to $100 million opening weekend domestically. These are early projections,...

Universal and DreamWorks have released the first full clip from the upcoming live-action remake of How To Train Your Dragon, and it recreates one of the most memorable scenes from the original animated classic, as Hiccup begins to form a bond with a dragon he nursed back to health, Toothless.

In the clip, Hiccup (Mason Thames) nervously approaches the Night Fury - which is believed to be the most dangerous of all the dragon species - with a fish in his hands. Toothless gulps down his meal, before somewhat intimidatingly walking towards his soon-to-be friend... and regurgitating the fish's head onto his lap.

How To Train Your Dragon received highly positive social media reactions following its CinemaCon premiere, but full reviews are still under embargo.

Have a look at the clip at the link below along with some new promos, and let us know what you think in the comments section.

Ready for an all-new dinosaur adventure? Cinema’s toothiest troublemakers are returning in Jurassic World Rebirth, set to evolve the blockbuster saga with fresh characters, creatures and more. You can read all about it in Empire’s summer 2025 issue, going on set with Gareth Edwards and his cast – order yours now here.

You won’t find a copy on newsstands until Thursday 8 May, but here’s a sneak peek at what’s inside the issue.

Jurassic World Rebirth

A new era of Jurassic begins. Empire joins Godzilla and Rogue One director Gareth Edwards on set of his dinosaur adventure, speaking to Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey and more as the series evolves its DNA once more.

M3GAN 2.0

Time for an upgrade. M3GAN was a horror smash – and the sequel is upping the ante in every way, going cultier, campier, and cranking up the action. Empire speaks to director Gerard Johnstone,...

Following in Disney’s footsteps, which kickstarted the trend of live-action remakes of classic IPs, DreamWorks’ most esteemed IP is now set to get the same treatment with the forthcoming How to Train Your Dragon.

While DreamWorks’ brand has mostly been a complete contrast to Disney’s approach to the medium, Htyd is arguably one of the best non-Disney animated movies that have graced the silver screen in the 2010s. Interestingly, it’s the first DreamWorks release to get the modern-Disney treatment, but the new poster does little to excite fans about Toothless’ live-action debut.

Toothless looks off in the new How to Train Your Dragon poster How To Train Your Dragon | Credit: DreamWorks

The crux of the first How to Train Your Dragon was the bond between Toothless and Hiccup, arguably one of the best onscreen duos DreamWorks has ever crafted. As for the upcoming live-action version, while the...

Hold onto your Viking helmets, because the live-action How to Train Your Dragon is swooping in to set your heart racing and your jaw dropping. Director Dean DeBlois, the mastermind behind the beloved animated trilogy, is pulling out all the stops to make this remake a cinematic beast.

In a behind-the-scenes (BTS) glimpse on YouTube, we see the magic unfolding: lush landscapes, practical sets that scream authenticity, and a vision to make dragons feel so real you will want to duck for cover. DeBlois isn’t just remaking a classic; he is cranking up the stakes to deliver a film that will cheer you with joy one moment and scream for your life the next.

How to Train Your Dragon is gearing up for its live-action release Mason Thames as Hiccup and Toothless in How to Train Your Dragon (2025) | Credits: Universal Pictures

A jaw-dropping live-action twist on the epic saga comes from Dean DeBlois,...

Universal and DreamWorks Pictures’ live-action How to Train Your Dragon screened for members of the press and theater owners at CinemaCon yesterday, and the first reactions are now online.

Attendees were advised that they were about to see an unfinished version of the movie, but a few incomplete VFX shots weren't enough to dull an incredibly enthusiastic response.

Quite a few posts hail How To Train Your Dragon as "the best live-action remake" yet, and it sounds like the movie does a great job of recapturing everything that made the animated original so popular. The only minor criticism we can see is that the new elements introduced don't work quite so well.

We all know not to put too much stock in these initial reactions at this stage, but have a look at some X posts below, and we'll be sure to bring you what will no doubt be a...

DreamWorks Animation’s 2010 animated film How to Train Your Dragon was a film that received immense love from the audience. It went on to spawn a trilogy of animated films, spearheaded by director Dean DeBlois. DreamWorks Animation joins forces with Universal Pictures for a live-action remake of the first film. The live-action film How to Train Your Dragon premiered at CinemaCon on April 2nd.

The film has received an overwhelmingly positive response from critics, some of whom called the film one of the best live-action remakes ever. Praises have been showered upon the film for its characters, story, visuals, and CGI. The film will arrive in theaters only in June.

Mason Thames as Hiccup and Toothless in How to Train Your Dragon (2025) | Credits: Universal Pictures

It is interesting to note that DeBlois is the director of the live-action version as well. Actor Gerard Butler, who voiced Stoick the Vast in the animated films,...

Six new character posters for DreamWorks Animation’s live-action How to Train Your Dragon, a remake of the 2010 animated fantasy movie, have been revealed via the official How to Train Your Dragon X account.

The newly unveiled posters show the highly-anticipated live-action versions of Night Fury, Deadly Nadder, Monstrous Nightmare, Hideous Zippleback, Gruesome Gronckle, and the Terrible Terror. The main characters in the film, Hiccup (Mason Thames) and Astrid (Nico Parker) are shown in two separate posters riding Night Fury (Toothless) and Deadly Nadder, respectively.

Each poster is accompanied by a caption and a promotion ofHow to Train Your Dragon’s June 13 theatrical release date. The posters can be seen in the X posts below.

Hang on tight. #HowToTrainYourDragon - In Theaters June 13. pic.twitter.com/htEK5orUqK— #HowToTrainYourDragon (@HTTYDragon) March 27, 2025Sharp spikes, sharper instincts. #HowToTrainYourDragon - In Theaters June 13. pic.twitter.com/KasGnGJktC— #HowToTrainYourDragon (@HTTYDragon) March 27, 2025Embrace firepower. #HowToTrainYourDragon - In Theaters June 13. pic.

New posters from the upcoming live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragonhave been released. The highly-anticipated movie will allow audiences to enjoy a new version of Hiccup's (Mason Thames) journey. The new posters from the summer blockbuster feature some of the riders from Berk and their loyal dragons taking flight. In a packed summer season that will include productions such as Jurassic World: Rebirth and Superman, How to Train Your Dragon will attempt to leave its mark on the global box office. A friendship that caught the hearts of the audiences will soar through the big screen once again.

How to Train Your Dragon will tell the story of Hiccup, a young Viking who constantly disappoints his father, Chieftain Stoick (Gerard Butler), because he doesn't share his community's violent nature. Everything will change once Hiccup crosses paths with Toothless. The fearsome Night Fury dragon will prove to be an...

"How to Train Your Dragon" will soon follow in the footsteps of the many remakes of Disney animation movies by getting a live-action, computer generated hybrid film that takes the fantasy adventure and gives it a real world makeover. Perhaps the best thing this new take on the beloved DreamWorks Animation movie has going for it is that the franchise's original director Dean DeBlois, who was behind all three chapters of the animated trilogy, is steering the ship for this remake. At the very least, that means this will pack the same emotional punch that its animated predecessor did, including hints of that uplifting score from composer John Powell returning (at least in the footage from the trailers we've seen so far). 

Since "How to Train Your Dragon" is bound to make a splash at the box office in its new form, it should come as no surprise that a...

Gold Derby’s top news stories for Feb. 12, 2025.

Viola Davis fights terrorists in G20 trailer

Viola Davis can now add “Madam President” to her list of iconic film roles. The Oscar winner for Fences plays the Potus in the new action thriller G20. The plot follows President Taylor Sutton’s fight against terrorists who kidnap her family and take over the G20 summit of world leaders in Cape Town, South Africa.

Directed by Patricia Riggen, the big-budget flick also stars Anthony Anderson as the first gentleman, Marsai Martin as their daughter, Ramón Rodríguez as a secret service agent, and Antony Starr as a terrorist. G20 will bypass theaters, debuting exclusively on Prime Video on April 10. Watch the trailer:

How To Train Your Dragon releases live-action trailer

Fifteen years after Hiccup first befriended Toothless, a live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon is flying into theaters on June 13. Dean DeBlois...

Dean DeBlois knows a thing or two about dragons. And, yes, how to train them. Back in 2015, he directed DreamWorks’ beloved coming-of-age fantasy How To Train Your Dragon alongside Chris Sanders, beginning the tale of friendship between Viking boy Hiccup and his Night Fury dragon pal Toothless – one that DeBlois continued into 2014’s How To Train Your Dragon 2, before concluding in 2018’s How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World. So, when Universal mooted a live-action remake of the first film in the saga, they went to the man who knew the story best – and rather than pass it on to another filmmaker, he felt there was more to explore.

“Chris Sanders and I were brought in as a replacement writer and director team on that first film,” DeBlois tells Empire at the release of the How To Train Your Dragon trailer. “We had 15 months to rewrite and push the movie through production.

Live-action remakes of animated movies are all the rage in Hollywood at the moment. These are the streaming era's answer to the Disney vault of decades past. Now that movies are widely available on streaming, simply hiding a movie for 10 years only to do a grand re-release in theaters isn't feasible. Instead, Disney, and now DreamWorks, are all about spending hundreds of millions of dollars re-imagining beloved animated movies with live-action and/or, in certain cases, purely CGI instead.

The latest one, "How to Train Your Dragon," is a remake of an animated feature that turns 15 in 2025 and is pretty much undeniably one of the best movies DreamWorks Animation has ever made. There's reason to be excited, too, as Dean DeBlois who directed the original animated "How to Train Your Dragon" with Chris Sanders, is back to helm the live-action retelling — meaning, the guiding creative vision remains the same.

Unfortunately,...

This weekend, the biggest event in American sport, the Super Bowl, took place at the Caesar's Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. And whether you were rooting for the Kansas City Chiefs as they went for the three-peat, flying with the Philadelphia Eagles, or sleeping soundly as the quarters crept by, each and every one of us emerged victorious. Why? Because, as ever, Super Bowl Sunday brought with it an absolute tonne of celebrity ads and movie star spots as the biggest companies in the world duked it out to make the marketing most out of the biggest show on the box.

Now, as has become something of an Empire tradition, we're here to run you through the best movie spots and commercials to hit our screens in the run-up to Super Bowl Lix. For Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan flogging Hellman's, The Muppets x Booking.com collab you never knew you needed,...

The animated How to Train Your Dragon franchise is one of DreamWorks' most popular and commercially successful properties. That's why the Isle of Berk is coming to Universal Orlando's Epic Universe, and Universal Pictures is going all-in on the upcoming live-action remake.

That includes dropping a new "Big Game" TV spot (via SFFGazette.com) for the movie during today's Super Bowl. As well as some familiar shots from the teaser trailer, we now see Hiccup and Toothless take flight in what promises to be an epic sequence. There are dragons galore and they all look suitably impressive.

Along with this sneak peek, we can also share the news that a new trailer for How to Train Your Dragon will be released on Wednesday.

Much has been said about the possibility of How To Train Your Dragon is a shot-for-shot remake of the DreamWorks Animation classic released in 2010. Time will tell on that front,...

The Big Game Spot has been released for the live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon. Heading to theaters on June 13, the film reimagined the animated hit in live-action.

In the Super Bowl trailer, which comes ahead of the full trailer's release on Wednesday, new footage from the live-action remake is put on display. It includes a first look at footage of Hiccup riding his dragon, Toothless, as he did in the original animated movie. Mason Thames plays the live-action version of Hiccup, and the trailer also shares a look at BAFTA nominee Nico Parker as the live-action Astrid. Check out the trailer below.

RelatedHiccup and Astrid Prepare for Battle in New Look at Live-Action How to Train Your Dragon

New photo of the live-action How to Train Your Dragon movie is released ahead of the Summer premiere

"On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations,...

The latest trailer for Universal's live-action update of "How to Train Your Dragon" is here, once again making us wonder: Why do we need this movie when the animated version is already great? The new footage offers no answers, but by dropping during Super Bowl Lix, it'll no doubt inspire a few million more people to ask the question.

Admittedly, this new installment in the franchise (which began with the cartoon feature of the same name in 2010) does have a few things going for it, including the return of original trilogy writer-director Dean DeBlois and an animation style that somehow manages to capture the overwhelming cuteness of its heroic black dragon, Toothless. 

The first trailer for the live-action "How to Train Your Dragon," which dropped in November 2024 before screening in theaters with Universal's "Wicked," didn't stray from the original film much at all in terms of its visuals or plot beats.

Gerard Butler says the upcoming live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon will be scarier than the animated counterpart, but in a good way and not in the uncanny valley horrific way that the original Sonic the Hedgehog design was. After Disney turned their animated classics into live-action blockbusters, DreamWorks Animation is now getting in on the action with a remake of How to Train Your Dragon. While the movie certainly looks to go for a different tone than the original film, original co-director and later solo director on the two sequels Dean Debois will return to direct the live-action movie with Gerard Butler reprising his role as Stoick the Vast.

While speaking with The Direct, Butler spoke about how the live-action How to Train Your Dragon will differ from the original animated film:

"I made three of those movies over many years, and I always wondered, I love the animated movies,...

It's been a couple of months since our first look at the live-action How To Train Your Dragon movie was released and a new minute-long trailer has just dropped (via Toonado.com) revealing more never-before-seen footage.

Not only are there some obvious improvements to the visuals (Toothless somehow looks even better than he did the first time), but we also get to see the dragons Stormfly and Hookfang and more of Hiccup's first meeting with his future best pal.

Even if How To Train Your Dragon is simply a shot-for-shot remake of the DreamWorks Animation classic, everything we see here looks suitably epic and there's a good chance this ends up being one of 2025's biggest hits.

Describing the movie as "a game-changer," Gerard Butler recently teased, "I can say it has just been a joy to be a part of these movies, to tell those stories, and see them being received by the public.

Universal Stuidos' new Epic Universe expansion was recently billed as the ultimate immersive theme park experience, bringing guests into the world of Harry Potter, Super Mario, Hiccup and Toothless, and the Universal Monsters. It looked like the project would sizzle the House of Mouse, but new footage teases otherwise.

The Walt Disney World Resort might not have Dracula and the Mario Bros. on its payroll, but when has the company ever been afraid of some competition? Disney isn't just sitting on its Mickey Mitts while Universal builds. As seen in the footage below, it might be the start of a theme park turf war.

Walt Disney Worlds?

As Universal continues its campaign of multiple worlds and franchises, Disney just said, "Hold my Dole Whip" to give us the ad above. While the footage contains imagery we've all seen before, the way the script is written teases Disney is hiding something behind the pixie dust.

The first trailer for the live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon was just released, and with it has come a slew of questions relating to the project. The original film was released in 2010 by DreamWorks, telling the story of a young Viking named Hiccup who befriends a Dragon called Toothless against the wishes of his dragon-hating village. A How to Train Your Dragon remake always seemed like an odd choice, as the original film is already a timeless classic, and unfortunately, the live-action version has already made a misstep when it comes to the fan-favorite dragon Toothless.

While the live-action How to Train Your Dragon's cast looks good, and a single teaser trailer isn't enough to write off an entire movie, Toothless is one aspect that the live-action film has to nail, and so far, there is one part of his introduction that the new film seems to have missed.

Quick Links Does the 'How to Train Your Dragon' Remake Feel Too Soon? The Jump Between 3D Animation to Live-Action Feels Redundant Some Good Things About the 'How to Train Your Dragon' Remake What Is the Point of the 'How to Train Your Dragon' Remake?

After over a decade of Disney remaking its animated films into live-action films, it was inevitable that other studios would get in on the trend. Universal Pictures revealed the first trailer for How to Train Your Dragon, a live-action remake of the 2010 DreamWorks animated classic. The trailer does what many live-action remake trailers try to do: capture audience interest as they slowly reveal that the trailer they are watching is a remake of a beloved movie they know, with the trailer building to the reveal of Toothless.

The trailer's reaction has certainly been mixed, with some audiences excited to see a live-action take on an...

A new live-action How to Train Your Dragon behind-the-scenes featurette highlights Nico Parker's Astrid and the supporting cast. The 2025 fantasy movie is a reimagining of the beloved 2010 animated adaptation of Cressida Cowell's novels. It focuses on an evolving, world-changing friendship between a young Viking and a powerful dragon. The live-action How to Train Your Dragon features Mason Thames as Hiccup, while Gerard Butler will reprise his role from the animated feature, playing Hiccup's dad Stoick the Vast.

Following the release of the first trailer, Universal Pictures' How to Train Your Dragon has revealed a new behind-the-scenes featurette. Check it out below:

In the featurette, director Dean DeBlois dives into what motivated him to bring the movie into live-action while giving glimpses at the cast, the village of Berk, and its inhabitants. In the footage of the dragon-fighter training arena, Parker is joined by Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James,...

Following yesterday's long-awaited trailer debut, Universal Pictures has released a behind-the-scenes featurette for the live-action How to Train Your Dragon movie (via Toonado.com).

As well as teasing lots of new footage from the movie, we get our first proper look at Nico Parker's Astrid, Gabriel Howell as Snotlout, and Julian Dennison as Fishlegs. There's also plenty more of Chief Stoick the Vast, the role Gerard Butler reprises here after previously voicing him in the animated trilogy.

There's a great deal of excitement to see Toothless in a live-action setting and filmmaker Dean DeBlois has done what looks like a terrific job of casting this new version of the beloved story.

The studio no doubt hopes this movie launches a new franchise and, not coincidentally, 2025 will also see the debut of the Isle of Berk land at the upcoming Epic Universe section of Universal Orlando. We'd imagine there will...

We got the teaser trailer yesterday, but Universal Pictures and DreamWorks are keeping the fun going with a behind-the-scenes look at the new live-action How to Train Your Dragon movie. In a new video, director Dean DeBlois takes you into the world of Berk.

On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup stands apart. The inventive yet overlooked son of Chief Stoick the Vast, Hiccup defies centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon.

Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society. With the fierce and ambitious Astrid and the village’s quirky blacksmith Gobber by his side, Hiccup confronts a world torn by fear and misunderstanding.

As an ancient threat emerges, endangering both Vikings and dragons, Hiccup’s friendship with Toothless becomes the key to forging a new future.

Watch the teaser trailer now and experience How To Train Your Dragon in theaters June 13. It’s playing with Wicked and it looks awesome in IMAX!

From three-time Oscar® nominee and Golden Globe winner Dean DeBlois, the creative visionary behind DreamWorks Animation’s acclaimed How to Train Your Dragon trilogy, comes a stunning live-action reimagining of the film that launched the beloved franchise.

Once again the CGI is brilliant and Toothless looks great!

On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup stands apart. The inventive yet overlooked son of Chief Stoick the Vast, Hiccup defies centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society.

With the fierce and ambitious Astrid and the village’s quirky blacksmith Gobber by his side, Hiccup confronts...

Buckle up folks — we're flying back to Berk! Five years after DreamWorks bid a tearful farewell to Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III and his beloved scaly boi Toothless in How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, Dean DeBlois is mounting an ambitious live-action reimagining of the beloved franchise for, well, not quite a whole new generation (it has only been five years), but at least a new audience who may have somehow missed one of the defining animated film series of modern times. And if the eye-widening first teaser trailer for the movie is anything to go by, then it looks like fans and newcomers alike won't be disappointed by what DeBlois and co have in store:

Catch us going all Leonardo DiCaprio in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood watching this one. Look! It's Gerard Butler's Viking dad Stoick in live-action! Look! It's Berk in live-action! Look! It's...

How to Train Your Dragon successfully made the jump from books to film more than a decade ago, spawning a trilogy of beloved animated movies. However, when it was revealed that the first animated film in the franchise was being remade as a live-action entry, many fans were left skeptical about its prospects.

First images from live-action How To Train Your Dragon remake surface (Credit: Paramount Pictures)

According to reports, some images from the live-action adaptation have made their way online. As a result, netizens got their first look at the upcoming remake. Social media has since flooded with reactions to the looks of the fan-favorite pair Hiccup and Toothless in the live-action medium, with haters likely to change their minds after seeking the images.

How to Train Your Dragon Live Action Movie Drops First Images The Black Phone star Mason Thames plays Hiccup in the live-action remake (Credit: Universal Pictures...

Toronto – It’s approaching midnight in Toronto and “The Apprentice” director Ali Abbasi is sitting with his intrepid distributor, Briarcliff Entertainment’s Tom Ortenberg, and producer James Shani, in the bar of the Ritz Carlton.

“We are getting toothless,” Abbasi says, referring to Hollywood. “The studio bosses told me themselves they’re not taking enough risk.”

None of them would take a risk on his feature film about Donald Trump, starring Sebastian Stan as a much-younger Trump and Jeremy Strong as his mentor Roy Cohn, which just had a sneak screening for press at TIFF. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May and, despite strong reviews, was snubbed by one US distributor after another.

Ortenberg’s Briarcliff Entertainment and Shani’s Rich Spirit closed a deal just last week to acquire distribution rights. They will release the film in 2,000 theaters on Oct. 11, ahead of the November election.

A live-action Minions movie is a terrible idea after the middling-to-low success of the original film due to the lack of humor and appeal for adults. Live-action adaptations like The Lion King and The Jungle Book show that animated movies fall short of conveying the emotions and expressions of the original. The stylistic animation of the Despicable Me franchise, which includes disproportionate characters and unique designs, is part of what makes the movies charming.

Many animated movies could translate well into live-action, but I cant understand why anyone would think a live-action Minions movie is a good idea. With the trend of turning Disney movies into live-action, it seemed inevitable that other production companies would start considering live-action versions of popular animated films. One of the first announced adaptations outside of Disney is Universal/Dreamworks upcoming live-action version of How to Train Your Dragon. Im somewhat skeptical of this adaptation,...

Toothless from How To Train Your Dragon captivates audiences with his sleek design and amicable personality. The amazing special effects in The Lord Of The Rings bring Treebeard to life, emphasizing the ethereal history of Middle-earth. Pepita from Coco stands out with her unique design and formidable presence, adding depth to the story and Imelda's character.

Fantastical creatures that look incredibly cool are a key part of some of the most popular fantasy movies ever. Many of the best fantasy movies of all time feature magical creatures based on mythology and legend that contribute to the settings and provide jaw-dropping spectacle. Some fantasy creatures play more important roles in their respective movies than others, as they may serve as a classic dragon to defeat or a loyal steed/lifelong friend.

How these creatures are rendered depends on when the movie was made. Certain older fantasy and sci-fi movies with...

Note to would-be directors of animated features: get your composer involved from the start. That was one of the key observations from The Contenders L.A. DreamWorks Animation panel Saturday, that featured filmmaking talent behind How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World and Abominable.

“I try to put get [composer] John [Powell] involved as early as possible, sending him scripts from the earliest drafts,” said Dean DeBlois, director of all three Dragon films including The Hidden World.

“This is our third installment of a trilogy so we have honed a partnership over a 10-year period in which I completely trust John and his instincts and know that he is a great storyteller in his own right,” DeBlois added. “He finds themes that I might not be as aware of as I’m writing on the surface and they play like harmonies to the intention that I try to put on screen.