History Is A Set Of Repeating Cycles...

History is a set of repeating cycles...

I just finished rereading httyd.

Defiant optimism

That is how I would describe the overall tone of the last few books. (Read the first eight a few weeks ago, read the last four tonight.)

Again and again the story tells us that History Repeats Itself. That the future is doomed. The Doomsday is coming.

And again and again the heroes decide. "You know what? I don't care. I'm going to hope for the best anyways!"

again and again and again.

The Wodensfang decides to hope for the best. One last time, even if he really thinks they're all doomed. Hiccup will not stop looking for Fishlegs. Even when everyone tells him that he's probably dead and that they have other, bigger problems. Hiccup refuses to give up on Snotlout. Even though he has betrayed them so many times, Hiccup keeps giving him more chances. Camicazi refuses to believe that Hiccup is dead, no matter what the evidence would suggest.

Hiccup refuses to destroy the dragons. He keeps offering Furious peace. Keeps promising to try his best to fix this broken world.

Yes, the story tells us, Doomsday is Coming, History Repeats Itself, and sometimes even the greatest heroes will find their triumphs turned to tragedy.

But.

If it doesn't end well, it isn't the end.

And sometimes all it takes is someone saying "No."

"No. I dont care what you say, or how hopeless it is. I will keep fighting. I will keep trying. I will not let your hatred destory the world I love. I will always try."

That makes a hero. That makes a king.

Hiccup doesn't win because he's lucky or chosen or smart.

He wins because he never gives up hope. Even when his friends tell him it's hopeless he keeps going. Keeps trying. Keeps doing the right thing.

And that is what makes him a hero. A legend. A king.

And it's what wins the day.

Because no matter how many times his tries fail, Hiccup keeps trying.

Again and again and again.

Hiccup tells Furious that as long as there is even one human, humanity will keep fighting for those they have lost.

But I think that might be how Hiccup sees himself.

One last human fighting for what humanity has lost.

For the dragons, for freedom, for peace. For love.

Because at the heart of all that trying, is love.

Love for his dragons drives Hiccup to plead for their freedom. Love for Hiccup the Second leads Furious to choose peace. Love for her son leads Valhallarama to change the Slavemark back to the Dragonmark, and rally the tribes to try again. Love for her friends makes Camicazi fly to find Hiccup.

Sometimes all you can do is try your hardest.

But if you keep trying your hardest. And try your hardest out of love. Sometimes it will add up.

Its the smaller things of the world that change things. All those little acts of trying your hardest. Doing the right thing, no matter how small.

They add up.

And sometimes they add up so big...

That they make a hero.

And that hero could be you.

The time skip in book ten has me in a chokehold again… the emotional potential is too great. Our lonely little quartet on one cold and unnamed night on the run. I actually love how this turned out but I’m still not sold on Windwalker’s design.

Ooo that’s such a good idea to split the books like that ! It’s been playing on my mind a bit on how to do that, but that idea would work really well. Especially with two seasons, and one ending on a cliffhanger.

Also yes, really want the easter eggs to be a big part in it. Basically symbolism you’d only catch the second time (or I guess if you’ve read the books :D).

Yeah, unfortunately I am just one person, so all I can do rn is just work on it as a small fan made thing. But if it gets bigger I’d love to team up with other fans to help bring this project to life !

So, I’ve been a fan of the httyd books for as long as I could read and I’ve always been slightly (hugely) disappointed that there hasn’t been a faithful adaptation. Am I the only one ?

Anyway so I started brainstorming ideas of if there was an adaptation what it would look like, - feel free to add on more this is just what I have so far.

- Becoming a Hero the Hard Way -

Ideas:

- Sketchy art-style with lots of moving lines and colours - think spider-verse, PIB the last wish, arcane

- Could use 3D models with an overlay of sketch lines and lineart

- Use audiobook dialogue as audio, probably just the talking scenes, for everything else will be drawn at least for now while it’s still quite small

- Keep character versions as close to the books as possible, might have to make them more realistic looking depending on the final animation style

- Characters who are more ‘stable’ have more fps, whereas characters like Alvin who are more unstable have fewer fps and are more janky and unsettlingly animated

- Maybe use slight colour filters on certain scenes to symbolise relevance to books/dragon time prophecy eg book 5 - orange, book 2 - navy

- Use sound for symbolism or themes for dragon time prophecy anytime it is mentioned/ foreshadowed

- Either make movies or seasons/series ? - if series maybe join two books together until like 10 ?

- Could have 4 trilogies/sagas 1-2-3, 4-5-6, 7-8-9, 10-11-12 ? Be named different things , could play on word for the prophecy ?

- 1st - training your dragon / httyd?

- 2nd - the quest

- 3rd - the prophecy

- 4th - the dragon jewel

- Or have two 6 part seasons ?

This is all quite rough right now but I just wanted to put it out there in case anyone else is interested ?

I would like to seperate it a but from the movies so I was thinking of the name Becoming a Hero the Hard Way as that’s quite relevant throughout the books.

And I thought a more 2D animation style would work, I said above maybe something like spider verse or even just hand drawn, I’m not completely sure, I’ll have to do more research.

So yeah please tell me what you think !

A little late for dinner over here, but nonetheless finished!

These books, guys... This poor wet Viking, and the broken world he loves...

The song is "My lovely isle of Innisfree" and this version (which is my favorite) is sung by Joe Miller of The Irish Rovers. And the rest of the song fits Hiccup really well, but I didn't feel like doing the whole thing. I may yet, someday :]

I have determined that I am done with this for now :o)