How to make an animated movie

“How to Train Your Dragon” is a welcome surprise, a charming film that can stage a moment of utmost beauty and tranquility through marvelous animation and the right pacing and tone. 

The film takes place in a Viking village overrun by dragons, but after a scrawny boy named Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) has an encounter with a rare dragon he successfully harmed, he finds he has a change of heart toward the creature he can’t bring himself to kill.

The establishing story is all quite standard and a bit flat, but out of nowhere comes a wordless, five-minute scene wherein the dragon and Hiccup have their first charming connection. 

And for a time, the film literally soars. It is a lush, colorful, wide-open film, and through numerous, beautifully rendered flight sequences, we are given the opportunity to explore it. 

“Dragon” is a sweet, artistic film not without the Dreamworks share of madcap action and adventure, but there are enough lovely moments of animation and levity to make it all worthwhile.