How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
As Hiccup fulfills his dream of creating a peaceful dragon utopia, Toothless' discovery of an untamed, elusive mate draws the Night Fury away. When danger mounts at home and Hiccup's reign as village chief is tested, both dragon and rider must make impossible decisions to save their kind.
Despite a substantial budget of $129.0M, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World became a solid performer, earning $540.0M worldwide—a 319% return.
Nominated for 1 Oscar. 7 wins & 66 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019) demonstrates precise story structure, characteristic of Dean DeBlois's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 44 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Hiccup narrates over aerial shots of Berk, now a thriving dragon utopia where Vikings and dragons live in harmony. He and Toothless soar together, free and joyful.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Grimmel infiltrates Hiccup's house, revealing he's hunted all Night Furies. He demands Toothless's surrender, threatening Berk's destruction. The peaceful status quo is shattered.. At 11% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 25 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Hiccup makes the active choice to evacuate Berk and search for the Hidden World. The ships set sail, leaving their ancestral home behind. A new journey begins., moving from reaction to action.
At 52 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Toothless and the Light Fury fly together using the automatic tail. He flies free without Hiccup for the first time. False victory: it seems Toothless can have both worlds - freedom and Hiccup. But this independence will be tested., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 76 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Grimmel's army attacks New Berk. All dragons are captured including Toothless. Hiccup is completely defeated - his dragon, his people's dragons, and his dream of coexistence are all lost. The "death" of the dream., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 83 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Hiccup synthesizes his understanding: "We've been brought up to be dragon fighters. It's time we learned to get along without them." He commits to the rescue and the sacrifice. The old tail (connection) will save them one last time., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World against these established plot points, we can identify how Dean DeBlois utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World within the animation genre.
Dean DeBlois's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Dean DeBlois films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.4, reflecting strong command of classical structure. How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World exemplifies the director's characteristic narrative technique. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Dean DeBlois filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional animation films include The Bad Guys, The Quintessential Quintuplets Movie and Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel I. Presage Flower. For more Dean DeBlois analyses, see How to Train Your Dragon 2.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Hiccup narrates over aerial shots of Berk, now a thriving dragon utopia where Vikings and dragons live in harmony. He and Toothless soar together, free and joyful.
Theme
Stoick's voice from flashback: "With love comes loss. It's part of the deal. Sometimes it hurts, but in the end, it's all worth it. There's no greater gift than love." The theme of letting go what you love is established.
Worldbuilding
Dragon rescue mission shows Berk is overcrowded. Hiccup struggles with leadership and expectations. Astrid pushes him toward marriage. Berk's dragon population is unsustainable.
Disruption
Grimmel infiltrates Hiccup's house, revealing he's hunted all Night Furies. He demands Toothless's surrender, threatening Berk's destruction. The peaceful status quo is shattered.
Resistance
Hiccup debates what to do. He proposes finding the Hidden World, the legendary dragon sanctuary his father told him about. The village debates evacuation versus fighting. Hiccup struggles with the decision to leave Berk.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Hiccup makes the active choice to evacuate Berk and search for the Hidden World. The ships set sail, leaving their ancestral home behind. A new journey begins.
Mirror World
The Light Fury appears - a female Night Fury who represents the wild, natural dragon world. She is wary of humans, embodying the theme: dragons might be better off without humans.
Premise
Toothless falls for the Light Fury; Hiccup tries to help him woo her with comic results. The fleet searches for the Hidden World. Grimmel pursues. Hiccup gives Toothless an automatic tail so he can fly independently. The romantic subplot parallels Hiccup and Astrid.
Midpoint
Toothless and the Light Fury fly together using the automatic tail. He flies free without Hiccup for the first time. False victory: it seems Toothless can have both worlds - freedom and Hiccup. But this independence will be tested.
Opposition
The Light Fury leads Toothless to the Hidden World; Hiccup follows uninvited. Toothless chooses the Light Fury over Hiccup briefly. Grimmel captures Toothless using the Light Fury as bait. Ruffnut is captured and unknowingly leads Grimmel to New Berk. The enemy closes in.
Collapse
Grimmel's army attacks New Berk. All dragons are captured including Toothless. Hiccup is completely defeated - his dragon, his people's dragons, and his dream of coexistence are all lost. The "death" of the dream.
Crisis
Hiccup despairs and admits defeat. Astrid gives him a pep talk, reminding him he gave Toothless freedom. Hiccup processes the loss and realizes what he must do: save the dragons, then let them go.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Hiccup synthesizes his understanding: "We've been brought up to be dragon fighters. It's time we learned to get along without them." He commits to the rescue and the sacrifice. The old tail (connection) will save them one last time.
Synthesis
The final battle. Vikings in wingsuits rescue the dragons. Hiccup reconnects with Toothless using the old tail. They defeat Grimmel. Hiccup makes the ultimate sacrifice: leading all dragons to the Hidden World and saying goodbye to Toothless forever.
Transformation
Epilogue: Years later, Hiccup and Astrid have children. They sail to the edge of the Hidden World where Toothless emerges with his own family. Bittersweet reunion shows growth: love means letting go. Hiccup has matured into a leader who put his dragon's needs first.