Top 10 How to Train Your Dragon Characters

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How to Train Your Dragon is in theaters this weekend, so, with this newfound spark of the franchise, I thought it would be time to revisit what is, in my opinion, the second best animated trilogy of all time (Toy Story is obviously first). This franchise was a bit tough to do a ranking of, because the main characters are incredible...but some of the side characters are not. So, while this is a top ten, I am not a fan of all of the characters on this list. That said, here's my ranking of my top ten favorite How to Train Your Dragon characters.

10. Drago Bludvist

To be completely honest, these bottom characters are not characters I particularly enjoy. Drago is not a good villain, but How to Train Your Dragon is only a trilogy, so there's not a ton of characters to choose from. I think he works as a menacing force, but his actual characterization is as generic as can be. I think setting him up as this ominous, mysterious figure that Stoick is afraid of makes you prepared for this great, all-time villain...and then he's just this mustache-twirling guy who wants to control all the dragons. He isn't given motivation. He doesn't have any intelligent plans. He tries to kill Hiccup by having the Alpha possess Toothless, but that kills Stoick instead, and Drago doesn't really seem to care. He's so bland and such a disappointing waste of a character that should be a great villain. Hopefully they fix his character and make him an actual compelling antagonist in the remake of How to Train Your Dragon 2.

9. Valka Haddock

Much like Drago, I do not think Valka is a good character, but I also think she has a lot of wasted potential. Right off the bat, I think she is very unlikable, because she abandoned her family to be with the dragons. This is barely ever acknowledged, and all the characters are okay with it. I want her to actual feel some regret that she chose between defending the dragons and staying with her family, but no. She just always picks the dragons. I think her chemistry with Stoick is really good, but when she's not playing off of him, she just comes off as somewhat pretentious and annoying. Like, when Toothless murders Stoick (even though he was possessed), she immediately defends him when Hiccup yells at him. Like, ma'am, your son just watched his father get murdered by his possessed dragon. Of course he's going to be upset at Toothless, even though it isn't his fault. I find her really, really annoying and I think she is one of the biggest faults of How to Train Your Dragon 2.

8. The Light Fury

I knew The Hidden World had a dragon romance between Toothless and the Light Fury, and I was very hesitant about it. I thought that that would just come off as this very childish, weird romance that had a lot of moments fall flat...but it's actually really charming and heart-warming, and it makes Toothless's arc more compelling. There are some elegant sequences of dialogue-less flight between Toothless and the Light Fury, and it's able to communicate so many emotions without a single word. I also love that she does not like Hiccup initially, but she can see how much Toothless cares for him, so, when Hiccup tells her to rescue Toothless in the finale, she also rescues Hiccup. That's an awesome little moment that gives her a bit of a powerful character arc despite limited screentime.

7. Fishlegs Ingerman

I find most of the comedic relief side characters to be unbearably annoying. That is why you don't see Ruffnut and Tuffnut, Snotlout, or Eret on this list. Fishlegs is bearable. He's also actually funny. Christopher Mintz-Plasse of McLovin fame does a great job of voicing this lovable dragon nerd whose comedy feels much more natural and less childish than the rest of the side crew. He doesn't ever try to upstage Hiccup like Snotlout does. He never really breaks the dramatic tension with a joke. Because of his extensive dragon knowledge, he is often able to provide some helpful information in the third act battle. I think this is the type of side character I wish was more present in these movies, because he's funny, but he also sometimes matters to the things that happen in the story.

6. Grimmel the Grisly

Grimmel is, for my money, easily the best villain in the franchise. He's not a great villain, but he's a significant improvement over Drago. He's a conniving, clever dragon hunter who has actual plans and motivations. F. Murray Abraham's vocal performance is much more elegant and scary than Djimon Hounsou. He is the polar opposite of Hiccup in every way. He wants to make peace for the humans by eliminating the dragons, not saving them. I even love the small piece of backstory that he was the one who killed all the Night Furies, and Toothless is the only one that he hasn't gotten yet. That makes him feel like a villain that poses an actual threat, and I think it makes the stakes of The Hidden World feel much more real than in either of the other two films.

5. Gobber the Belch

If Fishlegs is a decent comic relief character, Gobber is a fantastic comic relief character. Voiced to absolute perfection by Craig Ferguson, this one-handed, ugly viking blacksmith is a great mentor character and foil to Stoick. I love how Gobber is always kind of annoyed at Hiccup, but also clearly cares about him. He feels like this comedic, warmer version of Stoick that also can be harsh and deliver some honesty when needed. Like Fishlegs, he is a comedic relief that also serves the actual story and can actually participate in the dramatic moments that the story calls for. I also love his design. He is so ugly and so viking-like, and I think it makes him one of the best-looking characters in the franchise.

4. Astrid Hofferson

I think Astrid is one of the most underutilized characters in the franchise. Every time she is on screen, she's great, but I just wish we spent more time with her. Even though we don't spend a ton of time with her, she is so memorable and fun. She is clearly the best dragon fighter and then best dragon rider once the humans bond with the dragons. I love her determination and her strong willpower. She grounds Hiccup when he needs to be grounded. She supports him when she needs to support him. And she stands up to him when she needs to stand up to him. Again, I just wish we spent more time with her, but as it stands, she is a great character.

3. Stoick the Vast

I think Stoick has arguably the most powerful arc in the series. He starts off as the viking chief who wants to protect his people from the dragons. He is so firm in his belief that he refuses to listen to Hiccup, and this ultimately causes their relationship to break. He disowns his son...but then realizes that he was right all along. Him jumping in the water and saving Toothless during the battle with the Red Death is possibly my favorite moment in the entire trilogy. His death is also very sad and very powerful, especially after we've seen the first movie and understand how much he cares for Hiccup. Movies often try to tackle these complex father-son relationships, and I think How to Train Your Dragon is one of the best at doing it right...and a lot of that is due to Stoick.

2. Hiccup Haddock III

Great movies always need great, compelling protagonists, so, naturally How to Train Your Dragon has Hiccup. I love how he starts off as this wimpy, clumsy kid who just wants to make his dad proud without abandoning his own belief system. However, everything changes as he develops his relationship with Toothless. I love how he is a viking not in body and muscle but in spirit and heart. He will do anything to protect those he loves, and that starts with Toothless. His arc is closed out to perfection in The Hidden World as we see him say goodbye to Toothless, showing that he wants to protect him even though he views the Night Fury as almost a part of his own identity. He is so compelling and such a great main character that fits this franchise perfectly.

1. Toothless

At the core of How to Train Your Dragon is Hollywood's most iconic fire-breather. Sure, you've got Smaug and Drogon and even Mushu, but nobody can measure up to the pure cuteness and lovability of Toothless. Although at first, he may just seem like this cute animal sidekick, he has an actual personality and even his own character arc. We see him as the dragon version of Hiccup that wants to make peace with the humans and help the dragons survive. I love how he bonds with Hiccup but realizes that, in the end, he needs to go his own way to help his species. It's such a powerful arc for such a lovable character, and I think he is pretty much everyone's favorite dragon. If he's not, he's at least up there. And he is, for my money, the best character in the franchise.