How to Train Your Dragon 2
Updated: 5/24/2026, 7:32:18 PM Wikipedia source
How to Train Your Dragon 2 is a 2014 American animated fantasy film written and directed by Dean DeBlois, based on the book series by Cressida Cowell. Produced by DreamWorks Animation, it is the sequel to How to Train Your Dragon (2010) and the second installment in the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy. Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Kristen Wiig and T . Miller reprise their roles from the first film, with Cate Blanchett, Djimon Hounsou and Kit Harington joining the cast. Set five years after the events of the first film, it follows 20-year-old Hiccup and his friends as they encounter Valka, Hiccup's long-lost mother, and Drago Bludvist, a madman who wants to conquer the world by use of a dragon army. A sequel to How to Train Your Dragon was announced in April 2010, with the outline first drafted in February. DeBlois, who co-directed the first film, agreed to return on the condition he would be allowed to make a trilogy. He cited The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and My Neighbor Totoro (1988) as his main inspirations, with the expanded scope of the former being particularly influential. DeBlois and his creative team visited Svalbard to look for inspirations for the setting. Composer John Powell returned to score the film. It was DreamWorks' first film to use scalable multi-core processing and the studio's new animation and lighting software. How to Train Your Dragon 2 premiered at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival on May 16, 2014, and was released in the United States on June 13 by 20th Century Fox. Like its predecessor, it received critical acclaim, with praise for its animation, characters, writing, voice acting, score, action sequences, emotional depth and darker, more serious tone. It grossed $622 million, becoming the 12th-highest-grossing film of 2014. The film won the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature and six Annie Awards, including Best Animated Feature, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. The final installment in the trilogy, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, was released in 2019. A live-action remake is scheduled for release in 2027.
Infobox
Directed by
Dean DeBlois
Written by
Dean DeBlois
Based on
How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell
Produced by
Bonnie Arnold
Starring
Jay Baruchel America Ferrera Cate Blanchett Gerard Butler Craig Ferguson Jonah Hill Christopher Mintz-Plasse Kristen Wiig T . Miller Djimon Hounsou Kit Harington
Edited by
John K. Carr
Music by
John Powell
Production company
DreamWorks Animation
Distributed by
20th Century Fox
Release dates
May 16, 2014 (2014-05-16) (Cannes) June 13, 2014 (2014-06-13) (United States)
Running time
102 minutes
Country
United States
Language
English
Budget
$145 million
Box office
$622 million
Tables
Accolades received by How to Train Your Dragon 2 · Reception › Accolades
3D Creative Arts Awards
3D Creative Arts Awards
Award
3D Creative Arts Awards
Date of ceremony
January 28, 2015
Category
Best Feature Film – Animation
Recipient(s)
How to Train Your Dragon 2
Result
Nominated
Best Stereoscopic Feature Film – Animation
Best Stereoscopic Feature Film – Animation
Award
Best Stereoscopic Feature Film – Animation
Date of ceremony
Won
Academy Awards
Academy Awards
Award
Academy Awards
Date of ceremony
February 22, 2015
Category
Best Animated Feature
Recipient(s)
Dean DeBlois and Bonnie Arnold
Result
Nominated
Annie Awards
Annie Awards
Award
Annie Awards
Date of ceremony
January 31, 2015
Category
How to Train Your Dragon 2
Recipient(s)
Won
Outstanding Achievement for Animated Effects in an Animated Production
Outstanding Achievement for Animated Effects in an Animated Production
Award
Outstanding Achievement for Animated Effects in an Animated Production
Date of ceremony
James Jackson, Lucas Janin, Tobin Jones, Baptiste Van Opstal, and Jason Mayer
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in a Feature Production
Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in a Feature Production
Award
Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in a Feature Production
Date of ceremony
Fabio Lignini
Category
Won
Steven Hornby
Steven Hornby
Award
Steven Hornby
Date of ceremony
Nominated
Thomas Grummt
Thomas Grummt
Award
Thomas Grummt
Date of ceremony
Nominated
Outstanding Achievement for Directing in a Feature Production
Outstanding Achievement for Directing in a Feature Production
Award
Outstanding Achievement for Directing in a Feature Production
Date of ceremony
Dean DeBlois
Category
Won
Outstanding Achievement for Music in a Feature Production
Outstanding Achievement for Music in a Feature Production
Award
Outstanding Achievement for Music in a Feature Production
Date of ceremony
John Powell and Jónsi
Category
Won
Outstanding Achievement for Storyboarding in a Feature Production
Outstanding Achievement for Storyboarding in a Feature Production
Award
Outstanding Achievement for Storyboarding in a Feature Production
Date of ceremony
Truong Son Mai
Category
Won
Outstanding Achievement for Writing in an Animated Feature Production
Outstanding Achievement for Writing in an Animated Feature Production
Award
Outstanding Achievement for Writing in an Animated Feature Production
Date of ceremony
Dean DeBlois
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Achievement for Editorial in an Animated Feature Production
Outstanding Achievement for Editorial in an Animated Feature Production
Award
Outstanding Achievement for Editorial in an Animated Feature Production
Date of ceremony
John K. Carr
Category
Won
ASCAP Awards
ASCAP Awards
Award
ASCAP Awards
Date of ceremony
March 9, 2015
Category
Top Box Office Films
Recipient(s)
John Powell
Result
Won
British Academy Children's Awards
British Academy Children's Awards
Award
British Academy Children's Awards
Date of ceremony
November 23, 2014
Category
Kid's Vote — Film
Recipient(s)
How to Train Your Dragon 2
Result
Nominated
Feature Film
Feature Film
Award
Feature Film
Date of ceremony
Nominated
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
Award
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
Date of ceremony
December 15, 2014
Category
Best Animated Film
Recipient(s)
Nominated
Cinema Audio Society Awards
Cinema Audio Society Awards
Award
Cinema Audio Society Awards
Date of ceremony
February 14, 2015
Category
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Motion Picture – Animated
Recipient(s)
Tighe Sheldon, Randy Thom, Shawn Murphy, Brandon Proctor, and Corey Tyler
Result
Nominated
Critics' Choice Movie Awards
Critics' Choice Movie Awards
Award
Critics' Choice Movie Awards
Date of ceremony
January 15, 2015
Category
Best Animated Feature
Recipient(s)
How to Train Your Dragon 2
Result
Nominated
Florida Film Critics Circle Awards
Florida Film Critics Circle Awards
Award
Florida Film Critics Circle Awards
Date of ceremony
December 19, 2014
Category
Best Animated Film
Recipient(s)
Nominated
Georgia Film Critics Association Awards
Georgia Film Critics Association Awards
Award
Georgia Film Critics Association Awards
Date of ceremony
January 9, 2015
Category
Nominated
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards
Award
Golden Globe Awards
Date of ceremony
January 11, 2015
Category
Best Animated Feature Film
Recipient(s)
Won
Golden Reel Awards
Golden Reel Awards
Award
Golden Reel Awards
Date of ceremony
February 15, 2015
Category
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Sound Effects, Foley, Dialogue and ADR for Animated Feature Film
Recipient(s)
Randy Thom, Michael Silvers, Al Nelson, Brian Chumney, Sean England, Robin Harlan, Mac Smith, Jeremy Bowker, Pascal Garneau, and Sue Fox
Result
Nominated
Golden Trailer Awards
Golden Trailer Awards
Award
Golden Trailer Awards
Date of ceremony
May 30, 2014
Category
Best Animation/Family
Recipient(s)
"Master" (Aspect Ratio)
Result
Nominated
Hollywood Film Awards
Hollywood Film Awards
Award
Hollywood Film Awards
Date of ceremony
November 14, 2014
Category
Hollywood Animation Award
Recipient(s)
How to Train Your Dragon 2
Result
Nominated
Hollywood Music in Media Awards
Hollywood Music in Media Awards
Award
Hollywood Music in Media Awards
Date of ceremony
November 4, 2014
Category
Original Score – Animated Film
Recipient(s)
John Powell
Result
Won
Original Song – Animated Film
Original Song – Animated Film
Award
Original Song – Animated Film
Date of ceremony
John Powell and Jónsi for "Where No One Goes"
Category
Nominated
Houston Film Critics Society Awards
Houston Film Critics Society Awards
Award
Houston Film Critics Society Awards
Date of ceremony
January 10, 2015
Category
Best Animated Film
Recipient(s)
How to Train Your Dragon 2
Result
Nominated
International Cinephile Society Awards
International Cinephile Society Awards
Award
International Cinephile Society Awards
Date of ceremony
February 20, 2015
Category
Nominated
International Film Music Critics Association Awards
International Film Music Critics Association Awards
Award
International Film Music Critics Association Awards
Date of ceremony
February 19, 2015
Category
Film Score of the Year
Recipient(s)
John Powell
Result
Nominated
Best Original Score for an Animated Film
Best Original Score for an Animated Film
Award
Best Original Score for an Animated Film
Date of ceremony
Won
Film Music Composition of the Year
Film Music Composition of the Year
Award
Film Music Composition of the Year
Date of ceremony
John Powell for "Flying with Mother"
Category
Won
National Board of Review
National Board of Review
Award
National Board of Review
Date of ceremony
December 2, 2014
Category
Best Animated Film
Recipient(s)
How to Train Your Dragon 2
Result
Won
Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards
Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards
Award
Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards
Date of ceremony
March 28, 2015
Category
Favorite Animated Movie
Recipient(s)
Nominated
Online Film Critics Society Awards
Online Film Critics Society Awards
Award
Online Film Critics Society Awards
Date of ceremony
December 15, 2014
Category
Best Animated Film
Recipient(s)
Nominated
People's Choice Awards
People's Choice Awards
Award
People's Choice Awards
Date of ceremony
January 7, 2015
Category
Favorite Family Movie
Recipient(s)
Nominated
Producers Guild of America Awards
Producers Guild of America Awards
Award
Producers Guild of America Awards
Date of ceremony
January 24, 2015
Category
Best Animated Motion Picture
Recipient(s)
Nominated
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards
Award
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards
Date of ceremony
December 15, 2014
Category
Best Animated Film
Recipient(s)
Nominated
San Francisco Film Critics Circle Awards
San Francisco Film Critics Circle Awards
Award
San Francisco Film Critics Circle Awards
Date of ceremony
December 14, 2014
Category
Best Animated Feature
Recipient(s)
Nominated
Satellite Awards
Satellite Awards
Award
Satellite Awards
Date of ceremony
February 15, 2015
Category
Best Animated or Mixed Media Feature
Recipient(s)
Nominated
Saturn Awards
Saturn Awards
Award
Saturn Awards
Date of ceremony
June 25, 2015
Category
Best Animated Film
Recipient(s)
Nominated
Seattle International Film Festival Awards
Seattle International Film Festival Awards
Award
Seattle International Film Festival Awards
Date of ceremony
June 7, 2014
Category
Golden Space Needle Award – Best Film
Recipient(s)
Second runner-up
St. Louis Film Critics Association Awards
St. Louis Film Critics Association Awards
Award
St. Louis Film Critics Association Awards
Date of ceremony
December 15, 2014
Category
Best Animated Film
Recipient(s)
Nominated
Toronto Film Critics Association Awards
Toronto Film Critics Association Awards
Award
Toronto Film Critics Association Awards
Date of ceremony
Nominated
Visual Effects Society Awards
Visual Effects Society Awards
Award
Visual Effects Society Awards
Date of ceremony
February 4, 2015
Category
Outstanding Visual Effects in an Animated Feature
Recipient(s)
Bonnie Arnold, Dean DeBlois, Dave Walvoord, and Simon Otto
Result
Nominated
Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Feature
Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Feature
Award
Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Feature
Date of ceremony
Jakob Hjort Jensen, Fabio Lignini, Stephen Candell, and Hongseo Park for "Hiccup"
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Created Environment in an Animated Feature
Outstanding Created Environment in an Animated Feature
Award
Outstanding Created Environment in an Animated Feature
Date of ceremony
Sun Yoon, Liang-Yuan Wang, Ted Davis, and Shannon Thomas for "Oasis"
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Effects Simulations in an Animated Feature
Outstanding Effects Simulations in an Animated Feature
Award
Outstanding Effects Simulations in an Animated Feature
Date of ceremony
Spencer Knapp, Baptiste Van Opstal, Lucas Janin, and Jason Mayer for "The Battle"
Category
Nominated
Washington D . Area Film Critics Association Awards
Washington D . Area Film Critics Association Awards
Award
Washington D . Area Film Critics Association Awards
Date of ceremony
December 8, 2014
Category
Best Animated Feature
Recipient(s)
How to Train Your Dragon 2
Result
Nominated
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
| 3D Creative Arts Awards | January 28, 2015 | Best Feature Film – Animation | How to Train Your Dragon 2 | Nominated | |
| Best Stereoscopic Feature Film – Animation | Won | ||||
| Academy Awards | February 22, 2015 | Best Animated Feature | Dean DeBlois and Bonnie Arnold | Nominated | |
| Annie Awards | January 31, 2015 | How to Train Your Dragon 2 | Won | ||
| Outstanding Achievement for Animated Effects in an Animated Production | James Jackson, Lucas Janin, Tobin Jones, Baptiste Van Opstal, and Jason Mayer | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in a Feature Production | Fabio Lignini | Won | |||
| Steven Hornby | Nominated | ||||
| Thomas Grummt | Nominated | ||||
| Outstanding Achievement for Directing in a Feature Production | Dean DeBlois | Won | |||
| Outstanding Achievement for Music in a Feature Production | John Powell and Jónsi | Won | |||
| Outstanding Achievement for Storyboarding in a Feature Production | Truong Son Mai | Won | |||
| Outstanding Achievement for Writing in an Animated Feature Production | Dean DeBlois | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Achievement for Editorial in an Animated Feature Production | John K. Carr | Won | |||
| ASCAP Awards | March 9, 2015 | Top Box Office Films | John Powell | Won | |
| British Academy Children's Awards | November 23, 2014 | Kid's Vote — Film | How to Train Your Dragon 2 | Nominated | |
| Feature Film | Nominated | ||||
| Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | December 15, 2014 | Best Animated Film | Nominated | ||
| Cinema Audio Society Awards | February 14, 2015 | Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Motion Picture – Animated | Tighe Sheldon, Randy Thom, Shawn Murphy, Brandon Proctor, and Corey Tyler | Nominated | |
| Critics' Choice Movie Awards | January 15, 2015 | Best Animated Feature | How to Train Your Dragon 2 | Nominated | |
| Florida Film Critics Circle Awards | December 19, 2014 | Best Animated Film | Nominated | ||
| Georgia Film Critics Association Awards | January 9, 2015 | Nominated | |||
| Golden Globe Awards | January 11, 2015 | Best Animated Feature Film | Won | ||
| Golden Reel Awards | February 15, 2015 | Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Sound Effects, Foley, Dialogue and ADR for Animated Feature Film | Randy Thom, Michael Silvers, Al Nelson, Brian Chumney, Sean England, Robin Harlan, Mac Smith, Jeremy Bowker, Pascal Garneau, and Sue Fox | Nominated | |
| Golden Trailer Awards | May 30, 2014 | Best Animation/Family | "Master" (Aspect Ratio) | Nominated | |
| Hollywood Film Awards | November 14, 2014 | Hollywood Animation Award | How to Train Your Dragon 2 | Nominated | |
| Hollywood Music in Media Awards | November 4, 2014 | Original Score – Animated Film | John Powell | Won | |
| Original Song – Animated Film | John Powell and Jónsi for "Where No One Goes" | Nominated | |||
| Houston Film Critics Society Awards | January 10, 2015 | Best Animated Film | How to Train Your Dragon 2 | Nominated | |
| International Cinephile Society Awards | February 20, 2015 | Nominated | |||
| International Film Music Critics Association Awards | February 19, 2015 | Film Score of the Year | John Powell | Nominated | |
| Best Original Score for an Animated Film | Won | ||||
| Film Music Composition of the Year | John Powell for "Flying with Mother" | Won | |||
| National Board of Review | December 2, 2014 | Best Animated Film | How to Train Your Dragon 2 | Won | |
| Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards | March 28, 2015 | Favorite Animated Movie | Nominated | ||
| Online Film Critics Society Awards | December 15, 2014 | Best Animated Film | Nominated | ||
| People's Choice Awards | January 7, 2015 | Favorite Family Movie | Nominated | ||
| Producers Guild of America Awards | January 24, 2015 | Best Animated Motion Picture | Nominated | ||
| San Diego Film Critics Society Awards | December 15, 2014 | Best Animated Film | Nominated | ||
| San Francisco Film Critics Circle Awards | December 14, 2014 | Best Animated Feature | Nominated | ||
| Satellite Awards | February 15, 2015 | Best Animated or Mixed Media Feature | Nominated | ||
| Saturn Awards | June 25, 2015 | Best Animated Film | Nominated | ||
| Seattle International Film Festival Awards | June 7, 2014 | Golden Space Needle Award – Best Film | Second runner-up | ||
| St. Louis Film Critics Association Awards | December 15, 2014 | Best Animated Film | Nominated | ||
| Toronto Film Critics Association Awards | Nominated | ||||
| Visual Effects Society Awards | February 4, 2015 | Outstanding Visual Effects in an Animated Feature | Bonnie Arnold, Dean DeBlois, Dave Walvoord, and Simon Otto | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Feature | Jakob Hjort Jensen, Fabio Lignini, Stephen Candell, and Hongseo Park for "Hiccup" | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Created Environment in an Animated Feature | Sun Yoon, Liang-Yuan Wang, Ted Davis, and Shannon Thomas for "Oasis" | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Effects Simulations in an Animated Feature | Spencer Knapp, Baptiste Van Opstal, Lucas Janin, and Jason Mayer for "The Battle" | Nominated | |||
| Washington D . Area Film Critics Association Awards | December 8, 2014 | Best Animated Feature | How to Train Your Dragon 2 | Nominated |
References
- In 2018, the film's distribution rights were transferred from 20th Century Fox to Universal Pictures, following NBCUnive
- As depicted in How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
- Also for Rio 2 (2014)
- Attributed to multiple references:
- HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2https://web.archive.org/web/20200919032900/https://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/how-train-your-dragon-2-film-0
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/will-how-train-your-dragon-710946
- Box Office Mojohttps://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=howtotrainyourdragon2.htm
- Dragonshttps://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2013/12/15/cate-blanchett-how-to-train-your-dragon-2/3911613
- "'How to Train Your Dragon 2' director reveals how cat videos on YouTube inspire his dragons"http://www.hypable.com/2014/04/22/how-to-train-your-dragon-2-jay-baruchel-dean-deblois-interview/2/
- CinemaBlendhttps://www.cinemablend.com/new/Dreamworks-Animation-2013-Comic-Con-Panel-Live-Blog-38565.html
- How To Train Your Dragon 2https://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/07/18/cate-blanchett-joining-how-to-train-your-dragon-2-as-valka-the-vigilante-kit-harrington-and-djimon-honsou-in-too
- How to Train Your Dragon 2https://variety.com/2012/film/news/harington-joining-how-to-train-your-dragon-2-1118055744/
- Train Your Dragonhttps://web.archive.org/web/20110326023339/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/train-your-dragon-sequel-works-23042
- "DreamWorks Animation Reports First Quarter 2010 Financial Results"http://ir.dreamworksanimation.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=540662
- The Art of How to Train Your Dragon 2
- HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2https://collider.com/how-to-train-your-dragon-2-release-date/
- How to Train Your Dragonhttps://web.archive.org/web/20110208204358/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/details-dragon-sequal-revealed-97216
- How to Train Your Dragon 2https://variety.com/2013/film/news/deblois-arnold-talk-up-dwas-how-to-train-your-dragon-2-1200495206
- How to Train Your Dragon 2https://web.archive.org/web/20130910121306/http://blogs.indiewire.com/animationscoop/how-to-train-your-dragon-2-wows-comic-con
- How to Train Your Dragon 2https://web.archive.org/web/20130822055819/http://blogs.indiewire.com/animationscoop/deblois-struzan-talk-how-to-train-your-dragon-2