If you enjoyed the "How to Train Your Dragon" movies as much as my family did, you'll be especially excited for the new Netflix original series "Dragons: Race to the Edge." I'm happy to report that the TV show more than measures up, with the same engaging blend of action, humor, and heart that drew us to the movies in the first place. And best of all, it fills in a key gap for HTTYD fans: How did the smart but shy Hiccup of the original movie grow into the strong, confident adult we meet in the sequel?
The answer is an ancient artifact called the Dragon Eye, which shows young Hiccup a world much larger than his home island of Berk. The Dragon Eye leads Hiccup and his friends to a new island called Dragon's Edge, which they use as a home base to discover new lands and dragons - chased all the while by a band of dragon hunters who want the Dragon Eye for themselves.
My kids were both pretty pumped for this show, and they weren't disappointed by the transition from big screen to small. First, there is PLENTY of action starting with the very first scene, a dramatic prison break. Second, the animation created by DreamWorks is great. Third, the show is voiced by the original lead actors, the very likeable Jay Baruchel as Hiccup and America Ferrera as Astrid. (This might seem like a small thing, but you have to admit: "Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness" is just a tiny bit less awesome without Jack Black and Angelina Jolie as Po and Tigress.)
More importantly, my kids seemed to really respond to the bonds of friendship among Hiccup, his "dragon riders," and the dragons they pair up with. The movies spend a lot of time developing these relationships, and the TV show continues to put the focus on teamwork and camaraderie. The affection these characters show for each other makes you want to see them work together to succeed.
One obvious difference between the movies and the show? The serialization, which works well but came as a bit of a surprise to my two kids, who are used to TV programming that's much more formulaic and self-contained. As the credits rolled on the first episode my daughter gasped, "But he didn't solve his problem!"
No, honey, he didn't. But we look forward to finishing the season to find out how he does. Think of it as "How to Train Your Dragon 1 1/2" - a new 13-part movie coming to a TV or computer screen near you.
If anything, maybe Netflix has been a bit too successful. I've already told my kids that they're not allowed to binge-watch until they go to college.
"Dragons: Race to the Edge" premiered Friday, June 26, on Netflix.
The answer is an ancient artifact called the Dragon Eye, which shows young Hiccup a world much larger than his home island of Berk. The Dragon Eye leads Hiccup and his friends to a new island called Dragon's Edge, which they use as a home base to discover new lands and dragons - chased all the while by a band of dragon hunters who want the Dragon Eye for themselves.
My kids were both pretty pumped for this show, and they weren't disappointed by the transition from big screen to small. First, there is PLENTY of action starting with the very first scene, a dramatic prison break. Second, the animation created by DreamWorks is great. Third, the show is voiced by the original lead actors, the very likeable Jay Baruchel as Hiccup and America Ferrera as Astrid. (This might seem like a small thing, but you have to admit: "Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness" is just a tiny bit less awesome without Jack Black and Angelina Jolie as Po and Tigress.)
More importantly, my kids seemed to really respond to the bonds of friendship among Hiccup, his "dragon riders," and the dragons they pair up with. The movies spend a lot of time developing these relationships, and the TV show continues to put the focus on teamwork and camaraderie. The affection these characters show for each other makes you want to see them work together to succeed.
One obvious difference between the movies and the show? The serialization, which works well but came as a bit of a surprise to my two kids, who are used to TV programming that's much more formulaic and self-contained. As the credits rolled on the first episode my daughter gasped, "But he didn't solve his problem!"
No, honey, he didn't. But we look forward to finishing the season to find out how he does. Think of it as "How to Train Your Dragon 1 1/2" - a new 13-part movie coming to a TV or computer screen near you.
If anything, maybe Netflix has been a bit too successful. I've already told my kids that they're not allowed to binge-watch until they go to college.
"Dragons: Race to the Edge" premiered Friday, June 26, on Netflix.
