FILM · 2019 · USA
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
24 archived facts 6 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
24 Interesting Facts About How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
Interesting Facts (16)
- #001
Grimmel explains why Toothless is the last Night Fury: because he hunted all the others. This explains why the Book of Dragons in How to Train Your Dragon (2010) contains nothing about Night Furies. In The Hidden World, however, a few surviving Light Furies can be seen among the dragons.
- #002
The giant Alpha Dragon (the Bewilderbeast) from How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014), the one shot by the female Toothless, can be seen among the crowd of dragons in The Hidden World.
- #003
Justin Rupple replaced T. J. Miller as the voice of Tuffnut Thorston in mid-2018, after T. J. Miller made headlines for his disruptive behavior.
- #004
It is DreamWorks Animation's first series in which each film was distributed by a different studio: Paramount Pictures distributed How to Train Your Dragon (2010), 20th Century Fox distributed How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014), and Universal Pictures distributed How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.
- #005
At the wedding, Fishlegs is seen with a plush in his backpack that resembles the baby dragon he used to carry there.
- #006
Unlike How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014), the third film uses the subtitle "The Hidden World" instead of being numbered, while the second film at one point used the subtitle "Secrets of the Ice Cave," later shortened to "How to Train Your Dragon 2."
- #007
As the ships and dragons move to their new home, the sheep on one ship's deck (which are dragon food) are disguised as dragons. More about this is explained in one of the DVD's special features.
- #008
Months before the film's release, Amazon and other websites posted preview pages for The Hidden World and its tie-in books. Some pages in the books spoiled major plot points of the film. The pages have since been removed.
- #009
Despite being in the film's title, the Hidden World has only five minutes of screen time.
- #010
Eret wears an owl-shaped medal, the same animal that Valka's dragon is based on, suggesting the two may actually be in a relationship.
- #011
It is DreamWorks Animation's fourth film series with three or more entries, after "Shrek," "Madagascar" and "Kung Fu Panda."
- #012
New animation software had to be designed to accommodate the film's advanced look.
- #013
On April 17, 2018, a little less than a year before the film's release, it was confirmed that the film's title was not simply How to Train Your Dragon 3 but How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World. However, since the film premiered as How to Train Your Dragon 3 in most countries, that is its original title.
- #014
It is the first DreamWorks Animation film to be distributed by Universal Pictures.
- #015
Dean DeBlois announced on his Instagram account that production on the film was completed on November 29, 2018, 85 days before its release.
- #016
It was sent to theaters under the title 'Royal Flush.'.
Production Story (2)
- #017
In earlier drafts of the film, Drago Bludvist was planned to return as the film's main villain and to be redeemed at the end of the story. In a recent interview with Cloneweb, it emerged that Drago's comeuppance and his return in general were scrapped halfway through production.
- #018
In September 2012, 20th Century Fox, the studio's distribution partner at the time, and DreamWorks Animation announced that the film would first be released on June 17, 2016. In September 2014, the premiere date was pushed back a year, from the original June 17, 2016 date to June 9, 2017. In January 2015, the premiere date was delayed a year from June 9, 2017 to June 29, 2018, following DreamWorks Animation's corporate restructuring and layoffs. On June 18, 2016, the premiere date was moved up from June 29, 2018 to May 18, 2018, taking the release date of Warner Animation Group's The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019). On December 5, 2016, the premiere date was pushed back from May 18, 2018 to March 1, 2019. The premiere date was shifted one last time, from March 1, 2019 to February 22, 2019, taking the slot of the live-action DreamWorks film The Turning (2020). This gives How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World a total of six premiere date changes.
Easter Eggs & References (3)
- #019
As Hiccup and Toothless are about to part ways forever, Hiccup's hand leaves Toothless's snout in a shot that references the first film, in which Hiccup turns his head, reaches out his hand and Toothless touches his snout to it. Some time later, when Hiccup introduces his children to Toothless, the music playing is a rearrangement of the music from that same scene in the first film.
- #020
This is the final film in the series, concluding the journey between Toothless and Hiccup.
- #021
Like Shrek Forever After (2010), another DreamWorks Animation franchise finale, a montage of clips from the previous films plays during the end credits sequence.
Deeper Meaning (1)
- #022
Astrid's hairstyle and clothing change throughout the films. In the first How to Train Your Dragon (2010), she braids her hair tightly and wears clothing covered in armor and studs, symbolizing her initially tough and overly aggressive personality. In How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014), she wears a looser braid and her clothes have a noticeably softer look, showing how Hiccup's gentle and loving nature has influenced her. In this film, her hair is now half-braided and her clothes are more stylish and feminine, reflecting her maturity and her complete change of mind.
Career & Awards (1)
- #023
How to Train Your Dragon is the first animated series in history to have three or more films, all of them nominated for the Oscar in the Best Animated Feature category.
Life & Family (1)
- #024
In an interview with a French website, Dean DeBlois said that legendary filmmaker and DreamWorks co-founder Steven Spielberg did some uncredited work on the script, offering story suggestions for the film. Notable examples include Toothless's love interest and the film's ending, in which Hiccup and Astrid marry, have children and visit Toothless and his family in the Hidden World.
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- IMDb
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