Brief Summary
This video discusses why "How to Train Your Dragon" has the best opening of any film, focusing on John Powell's soundtrack and its effectiveness in establishing the movie's themes and characters. The video highlights how the opening introduces key musical motifs for the Vikings, Astrid, and the dragons, while Toothless's theme is intentionally withheld to represent his outsider status. The analysis extends to how these musical themes evolve throughout the sequels, reinforcing the franchise's musical identity.
- The opening effectively introduces the main characters, their motivations, and the narrative environment.
- John Powell's score uses distinct musical themes to represent different characters and elements of the story.
- The absence of Toothless's theme in the opening emphasizes his role as an outsider.
Introduction to How to Train Your Dragon
The video introduces "How to Train Your Dragon" as an exceptional film with an often overlooked soundtrack. Despite the franchise's expansion into sequels, TV shows, and merchandise, the original film remains the strongest. The sequels, while not terrible, feel less impactful and more driven by commercial interests. The speaker expresses a deep appreciation for the first movie's character and sound design, as well as its adherence to the hero's journey.
The Opening's Impact and Purpose
The opening of a film and its soundtrack should establish the tone, introduce characters, and set the narrative in motion. The video references a Grant Hodges video that discusses the narrative strength of the film's opening. The speaker emphasizes the musical elements, highlighting how the opening introduces the main thematic ideas of the film, from the protagonists and their motivations to the antagonist.
Musical Themes in the Opening
The video breaks down the musical themes introduced in the film's opening. The "Vikings" theme represents Berk and the Viking way of life, while a different tune signifies the village's sturdiness. Stoic's theme accompanies his introduction, and Astrid's theme is previewed, later appearing in full during the "Romantic Flight" track. A jokey theme is introduced with Hiccup's bolo launcher, which returns at the film's end when the teenagers save the day. The opening also introduces a theme for the dragons.
Comparison with Other Film Openings
The video contrasts the opening of "How to Train Your Dragon" with those of "Star Wars" and "Superman." While "Star Wars" has an attention-grabbing theme, it primarily focuses on Luke and doesn't develop musical motifs for other characters or settings. Similarly, "Superman" mainly highlights Superman's theme, with Lois Lane's music serving as an accessory. The video also mentions overtures in musicals and older Disney films, which, while showcasing musical material, lack the character and setting associations.
Toothless's Theme and Its Significance
Toothless's theme is unique because it's the only one not introduced in the film's opening, symbolizing his outsider status. The first appearance of Toothless's motif represents Hiccup's discovery of the unknown. The theme uses bagpipes, an instrument not commonly heard in the score, to further emphasize Toothless's alienation. As the story progresses and Hiccup and Toothless bond, the theme evolves, incorporating more familiar instruments and shifting from a minor to a major key.
The Interplay of Hiccup's and Toothless's Themes
The video connects the "My village in a word sturdy" theme with Hiccup and analyzes its combination with Toothless's theme in the "Test Drive" track. During the scene where Hiccup and Toothless learn to fly together, the music modulates from D to E, emphasizing their symbiotic relationship. This musical combination underscores the characters' coming together in both the film and the soundtrack.
Evolution of Themes in Sequels
The established musical ideas continue into the sequels. The second film features more of Astrid's and the teenagers' themes due to their increased presence. The Alpha's hidden world is accompanied by the unfamiliar bagpipes, and a new theme is introduced for the villain, Drago. In the third film, while Stoic's theme is less prominent due to his death, the theme for Berk evolves to represent the people of Berk, reinforcing the idea that "Berk is wherever we go."
Reintroduction of Original Material in Sequels
Despite introducing new music, the second and third films open by reintroducing the original musical material. This constant reintroduction of themes makes them ubiquitous throughout the franchise, even extending to the Netflix specials. The entire decade's worth of musical material originates from the first five minutes of the first film, where musical ideas are quickly introduced and allowed to develop naturally.
Conclusion: The Impact of Well-Crafted Music
The opening of "How to Train Your Dragon" acts as a foundation for an intricately detailed score that has endured through franchising and sequels. The video concludes that the film's well-crafted music serves as a powerful storytelling device, making its opening the best ever.
