How To Train Your Dragon 2 Toys

There is a lot more cute and interesting merchandise available for this movie. We lamented the failings from the toys for the first movie four years ago. Some of that was fixed as show merchandise came out, but it wasn’t until this movie that things really improved.

Plush toys:
The first movie’s toy line failed here, the plush toys didn’t look anything like the actual movie characters. Come on, stuffed dragons basically sell themselves unless they look ridiculous. And they looked really bad.

The official plush available everywhere are still really bad. Super low quality and mass produced, but at least they look more like the actual characters for this movie.

Small (8 in) and Large (14 in)
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This Toothless is from the show line, better but not great:
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There is now a plush pillow available, which has the best wings out there but the oddest face:
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The best by far for this movie is the Build a Bear Toothless:
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The wings are not permanently attached, Toothless wears them like a backpack and you can take them off to dress him up. Why they made this choice I will never know, they have other plush toys with permanently attached wings so it is disappointing but the toy still looks way better than other yet produced.

Unfortunately he is sold out on their website and in most stores, but you can sign up here to be notified when they get a new shipment.
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The basic figures are about the same, with new ones for the new dragons. I won’t show those because you can find them in all stores with merchandise for the film.

However, they do have some really cute mini figures for around $6 depending on what store you get them at:

Toothless
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Cloud Jumper

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Funko Pop also has cute collectible figures, which are for sale at Hot Topic and should be available where other Funko figures are sold.

Toothless
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Stormfly
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There is also a set of Mystery Mini figures from Funko which are smaller than their regular figure line and come in a closed box so you do not know which one you will get.

Two different versions of Toothless (of four different designs):
funko-how-to-train-your-dragon-2-mystery-mini-figure-toothless-gums-showing-new-3  funko-how-to-train-your-dragon-2-mystery-mini-figure-toothless-new-3
Hookfang
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Keep an eye out if you want to add to your How To Train Your Dragon collection, there is a lot of new merchandise worth looking into!

-Cola and Fizz

How To Train Your Dragon 2 – Review

If you enjoyed the movie How To Train Your Dragon, you need to see the sequel! How To Train Your Dragon 2 is exceptional!

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If you never saw the first movie, How To Train Your Dragon is the story of an island town of Vikings plagued by dragon attacks. However, it turns out dragons are much more than they appear. The main story revolves around a viking named Hiccup, the son of the town’s leader, who befriends a powerful and playful dragon which he names Toothless. Their friendship changes everything. It is a story of understanding, growth, friendship and family. Dreamworks did an excellent job on this movie with quality animation and story.

Toothless the Night Fury is simply irresistible, cute for a dragon, and just the right amount of attitude:
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The sequel continues that story with the same characters five years later.

Hiccup then and now:
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(source)

This movie has more mature themes than the first, but right in line with the aging of the main characters and what life can bring. The movie can make you laugh, cry, and feel triumphant. There are new dragon species in the movie, and the world really expands beyond the main Island of Berk. You can learn more and watch videos on the How To Train Your Dragon website.

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I was a bit unsure of what this movie would be, given that sequels are hardly ever as good. This was exceptional, just as good as (if not for some viewers even better than) the first. It was everything I could want from a sequel, especially given that it took 4 years to make. The animation is beautiful, I would say almost Pixar quality.The textures, lighting, scale, and landscapes seem even more real and very well done. The dragons appear as if they are flying, and the scale differences between them never seem unbelievable. If dragons are in scenes with humans talking front and center they will be doing interesting things in the background, a very nice touch. Toothless has even more personality and you learn even more about Night Furies. I loved the movie and went into not knowing too much so I don’t want to ruin any of the actual story, you will just have to see it to find out even more!

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I also wanted to note that I saw the movie twice, once on a regular screen and once on IMAX, both were 3D. It is worth it to see the movie on a larger screen! The 3D is also very nice, it adds to the perception of the landscapes, flights, and action rather than taking away from it or utilizing cheap gags to make it “worth” the experience.

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Go see How To Train Your Dragon 2, I don’t think you will be disappointed!

Our Review Score: 4.9/5 paws
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– Cola and Fizz

 

Never saw the first movie? You can buy it now on Amazon (DVD or Blu-ray):

A Missed Opportunity

Hello everybody! Sorry for the recent lack of posts, I have been on vacation (and still am). I found a bit of spare time to update!

Here is what I see as a missed opportunity that might be made up for in the future:

With the recent success of the movie How To Train Your Dragon, you would think that there would be a ton of cute stuffed animals of Toothless – the main dragon in the movie. This is not the case! The dragon is adorable, modeled after Stitch, but here are your stuffed toy options:

That is the large size plush! At least it is the right color. Not sure the character liked to stick its tongue out like that….

Here is the small one:

I must have missed something, because he is not that light blue color.

Who in the world designed these toys? They are both incredibly ugly and look nothing like the real thing:

There is so much potential here! I hope that someday they produce a much more high quality and cute plush toys. If Disney had made this movie, I feel this would not have happened.