Dragons: Riders of Berk

The How To Train Your Dragon spinoff series too hot for Nick (But not too hot for Cartoon Network)

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1925544/news/1925544/comic-con-2012-dreamworks-emdragons-riders-of-berkem-panel/

There are three things that this show needs in order to succeed in my opinion.

1) The producers and creators have all stated the the general feel of the show will be akin to the movie, so it won't be silly and gag based like Penguins of Madagascar or Kung Fu Panda. I seriously hope they keep their word with this.

2) Please, I beg of them, NOT TO FLANDERIZE ANYONE. I can totally see Snotlout and Fishlegs becoming complete butt monkeys, and Astrid becoming essentially Helga from Hey Arnold.

3) On going story lines like in Avatar The Last Airbender, or even something like Teen Titans where there are running stories but not every episode has to connect.

Aside from that, I'm just happy this movie got so much fanbase.

I guess it wouldn't hurt to use the series to connect the movies(though not in an overly reliant fashion). One of the examples which come to mind is Aladdin; the sequels were alright, but the TV series managed to maintain a sense of adventure, and continue the story.

They ran the preview episode today, and I gotta say, I'm oddly impressed. The animation is alright for a T.V. adaption, they got almost all the V.O's from the movie to come back, the characters don't seem to have drifted from their movie personality...good.

Wait, already?

Seems pretty good.

Yes, it seems a lot of DVR schedules missed it. Mine listed it as "to be announced" even as it was airing.

Just saw a clip; I'm surprised that they managed to get the voices back, and the animation quality is almost on par with the films (the only noticeable difference being the environments and the formerly fuzzy vests). They're even using the same soundtrack!

The animation is being done in-house at Dreamworks rather then outsourced like Panda and Penguins.

Not all of them, but more than you think: Hiccup, Astrid, Fishlegs, and Tuffnut all kept their movie voice actors.

Just caught the first ep on youtube. Not bad. It a quintessential first episode, too. If that makes any sense.

edited 7th Aug '12 10:45:47 PM by KnownUnknown

It makes perfect sense. Anybody wanna slip me a Youtube link before it gets pulled?

I also get the feeling we'll be getting some Idiosyncratic Episode Naming.

edited 7th Aug '12 11:33:31 PM by KnownUnknown

I am pleasantly surprised at how many of the original VAs they rehired for this show.

Actually the second episode was "Viking for Hire", so I think that was just that one episode.

Yeah the VA thing was one of the saving graces. And the VA s for Stoic and Gobber aren't too shabby either.

I had a couple of problems in terms of how much I enjoyed the first two episodes but they could easily be solved with the course the show may take. I guess I should start with the fact that I think the best part of the movie was the development Hiccup had from a loser to a hero, how he brings honor to his dad while being true to himself, and the dynamic between humans and dragons and the way that Hiccup brought peace between them. Obviously the movie did a good job at that and finished that business so I feel that as a show, Riders of Berk didn't have much of a gripping introduction especially in terms of characters since everything was already packaged and ready to go courtesy of the movie. However, this may seem contradicting, but as non-gripping as it was it was also very interesting. It brings up problems and adresses some-what realistic ones too that may result as a form of the new lifestyle they have in Berk, such as Dragon's behavior immediately after the movie (It can't be all happily ever after) and the jobs that are needed to accommodate it, to which I give them props because its an approach I don't think I've seen before. And it does feel like a direct continuation of the movie, too, so that's good. I just feel like the contents of the episode themselves were kinda meh, but I do feel like they were necessary for whatever road they may take later with the show.

As for the animation I am indeed impressed. The teens all look really great, especially Hiccup. His hair looks like hair! Not that floppy stuff. I guess Stoic's beard suffered a bit but hey, that was definitely expected. I guess the only two main problems in terms of animation are that the day time shots look a little funny because grass is too green and the sky is too blue, if you know what I mean, and that the fast moving shots look pretty crappy, lol. It makes complete sense because the illusion of motion blur makes it so that you don't focus on the environment, but everything comes across as extremely flat and completely lacks texture and color variation. One shot comes in mind when they were flying/running through grass and it looked like play-doh or something. For what it was the show does look extremely good especially the characters, the environments are okay. I can deal, it was still pretty good.

I look forward to more.

edited 8th Aug '12 6:36:27 AM by HidingGames

I'm very impressed, this show looks better than any movie-to-cartoon show has before. Plus, it is actually funny! (Favorite line: "I don't have a heart! I'm not a girl!" ) About the only joke I didn't like was the use of dragon poop. Though even that had its purpose later on. Clever.

Ironically, the one thing I didn't like much was Hiccup himself. First, why didn't his father trust him from the start? Hasn't he already proven himself and his unusual tactics? That was the whole point of the movie! Plus, I just don't like his voice, he sounds like he's always mumbling.

But, those are peeves; overall I like the show, especially how it feels smarter than your average TV fare, not watered down from the film. Looking forward to it.

Actually, my biggest problem was the animation. I guess you can't really compare a blockbuster animation to it's TV show, but at times I felt the quality was on par with a Barbie film.

The writing and humor, however, is amazing. The voice acting is pretty awesome too. I thoroughly enjoyed these first two episodes.

^^ Actually, a think Hiccup continuing to prove himself is a big theme in this show, particularly as the responsibilities Stoick is giving him in this show aren't the type where just because he killed a giant dragon that means he could always be considered right about everythings. Particularly as Stoick knows that he isn't always right about everything.

Not giving Hiccup, or anyone else really, a free pass just because he was successful in one situation seems very in character for Stoick. He's skeptical of everything and very harsh but fair in his decisions.

But he's actually listening to Hiccup now, that's the important part.

^ Some of the faces in particular occasionally hit the Uncanny Valley. Astrid's is one I noted.

edited 8th Aug '12 3:58:24 PM by KnownUnknown

I'm just a little concerned that Hiccup hasn't got much more development left. Pretty much all his real faults were ironed out over the course of the first film.

It'd be cool if they developed the rest of the cast.

edited 8th Aug '12 3:54:40 PM by RTaco

Like the twins? I would be so stoked if the twins got something to do besides comically bicker.

They still do that, right? I missed the preview, too. Or do they get pushed to the background like the other kids that aren't Hiccup and Astrid?

Yeah, I really hope the other kids get some spotlight. Hiccup and Astrid are great, but they seem to be all anyone really cares about. Regarding the fanbase, anyway.

edited 8th Aug '12 5:10:20 PM by MuuMiuMew

They do. In fact, the other four kids all get quite a bit of screen time.

Snotlout in particular seems to be a very mild Jerkass Butt-Monkey.

EPISODE WATCH GET!

I have to say, I quite like the writing in this so far. OK, shoehorned new villain is shoehorned (though he does seem like he'll provide some good comedy here and there), but it really does feel like a logical extension of the movie. I like seeing the other kids get more screentime, and their interactions with their dragons are nice. I'm developing a lot of affection for Fishlegs and Meatlump—Grockles always were pretty Ugly Cute.

That second episode. SO MANY FEELS. I just felt bad for Gobber throughout the whole thing! ...I do kind of hope he gets to make saddles again at some point, though. Just with less extraneous weaponry.

Favorite line so far: "Everything hurts. Even this!" *holds up prosthetic*

I don't think Mildew is going to be a villain, exactly. More like an ever-present annoyance who occasionally causes some trouble, but is mostly harmless.

This pleases me. Greatly.