A young man forms a bond with a supposedly ferocious beast in Director Dean DeBlois’ fantasy adventure, How to Train Your Dragon.

In the live action remake of his animated hit, How to Train Your Dragon, DeBlois’ film takes us back to the mythical isle of Berk where an inventive young Viking named Hiccup must face a test and fight his village’s deadly enemy, a dragon. But instead of battle, Hiccup engages in a friendship with a Night Fury dragon named Toothless that will become the key to forging a new future for both species as an ancient threat endangers them all.

On June 22, after the DGA membership screening in Los Angeles, DeBlois discussed the making of How to Train Your Dragon during a Q&A moderated by Director Phil Lord (22 Jump Street).

During the conversation, DeBlois spoke about striving for images that are ‘Ridley Scott beautiful.’

“Part of what drove me into the film business is just I love to draw. I wanted to be a comic book artist, which led to animation, which led to live action. So, there is this natural attraction to silhouettes and shot design. I certainly can’t take credit for all of it, but I was mindful of it as we were making the movie. So, in talking to Bill Pope our cinematographer, or Lindsay Pugh our costume designer, or Dominic Watkins our production designer, it was always about how do we really present these silhouettes that are compelling. And as the camera moves around, they sort of change and give us a constant variety of beautiful single images. And every time we hit it I’d say, ‘Wow, that’s Ridley Scott beautiful!’ That’s always the aim. If you can get to ‘Ridley Scott beautiful’ then you’re doing something.”

In addition to his Academy Award-nominated animated features Lilo & Stitch, How to Train Your Dragon, How to Train Your Dragon 2 and How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, DeBlois’ other directorial credits include the live action documentaries Ten and Sigur Rós: Heima.

DeBlois became a DGA member in 2023.