How To Train Your Dragon

At first glance, How to Train Your Dragon appears to be a simple animated adventure about Vikings and dragons. But beneath its humour and breathtaking visuals lies a story that echoes an ancient and timeless theme: how God - or providence, if you prefer often chooses what the world considers "lowly, despised, and insignificant to confound the wise and the powerful, demonstrating His power, revealing His strength through weakness and preventing human boasting, so that all glory goes to Him." (1 Corinthians 1:28) 

Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel), the son of the village chief Stoick, is not your typical Viking hero. In a culture that celebrates brute strength and dragon slaying, he is small, clumsy, and more inclined to invent than to fight. Like the young shepherd David standing before Goliath, Hiccup appears unqualified by his society’s standards. Yet, from the very beginning, the film quietly suggests that leadership is not always forged through physical power, but through wisdom, courage, and vision.

Eager to prove himself - and to earn the respect of his peers, especially Astrid (America Ferrera), a brave and determined girl of his age - Hiccups builds mechanical contraptions in an attempt to defeat the most feared dragon of all: the elusive Night Fury. During one of his experiments, he succeeds in trapping one. This should have been his moment of triumph. But instead of killing teh dragon, Hiccup hesitates.

Curiosity overcomes fear, and compassion interrupts violence. He frees the wounded creature, later naming him Toothless. This decision becomes the turning point of the entire story. What was meant to be an act of conquest becomes the beginning of an unexpected friendship. Their connection highlights the deep bond between humans and animals, present since their creation in the Garden of Eden. While dragons (the old serpent) often symbolise evil in the Bible, setting the spiritual meaning aside for a moment, the story celebrates the remarkable friendship that can exist between man and beast.

As Hiccup cares for Toothless, he discovers that the dragon is unable to fly due to a damaged tail. Using his ingenuity, Hiccup designs a prosthetic fin that allows Toothless to soar once more. Together, they rise into the sky, sharing breathtaking flights above clouds and oceans. These moments are more than thrilling spectacles- they symbolise freedom, trust, and the healing power of kindness. 

 Their bond deepens, and eventually Astrid discovers the secret. Instead of exposing Hiccup, she joins them, sharing in the flight of joy and uncovering a truth far greater than any Viking legend: dragons are not evil by nature. They are driven to attack villages because they themselves are enslaved - forced to serve a colossal dragon that rules through fear. This scene subtly echoes the Garden of Eden, when the serpent, once upright, became the servant of the devil and was cursed to crawl on its belly and eat dust (Genesis 3:14). Just as the dragons here are manipulated into wrongdoing, the serpent was compelled to carry out evil, bearing the consequences of its bondage. 

This revelation reframes everything. The real enemy here is not the dragons but the cycle of fear, domination and misunderstanding that binds both sides. In real life, the same principle applies: often our greatest struggles are not with our fellow humans, but with the spiritual evil forces that influence our physical world, as the Bible reminds us: 

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:12) 

Hiccup does not defeat Toothless through violence; he befriends him, ending the cycle of enmity. Likewise, Scripture calls us to put on the whole armour of God - truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and the word of God (Ephesians 6:13-17) - so that we can face challenges wisely and justly. When people hurt us, fighting back often only deepens the wounds. Forgiveness, understanding, and moral courage are far more potent weapons, as Hiccup demonstrates with his compassion and patience. 

Watch Trailer

Inspired by Hiccup’s journey and the lessons it teaches? Experience the whole adventure yourself—How to Train Your Dragon is available on Amazon.