10 Best Animated Movies Like How to Train Your Dragon

One of DreamWorks’ most well-known series is Movies Like How to Train Your Dragon. Beautiful animation and strong writing drew people into the story of a young Viking who meets a dragon even though the two animals used to be enemies. Fans of the show will be able to see a live-action version of the first movie in March 2025.

There are a lot of other great fantasy movies that you can watch while you wait. The franchise’s themes, such as getting past prejudice, finding your hidden skills, and the power of working together, are universal, which means they can be shown in a lot of different ways.

Top Fantasy Movies Like How to Train Your Dragon:

1.Pete’s Dragon (1977)

Pete (Sean Marshall) and his dragon friend Elliot (Charlie Callas) come to Passamaquoddy to get away from a foster family that is abusing them. The lighthouse keeper sees Elliot by chance, while his daughter likes Pete. On the other hand, Pete’s bad guardians and a neighborhood con artist who wants Elliot cause trouble.

People liked Pete’s Dragon when it came out, but now it’s seen as one of Disney’s less successful movies. The movie has a lot of great things, from the catchy songs to the groundbreaking ways it used live-action and hand-drawn figures. The friendship between Pete and Elliot works well as a metaphor for growing up as well.

2. Brave (2012)

Disney’s Brave takes place in Scotland in the 10th century and is full of interesting Scottish folklore and customs. It’s the story of Merida, the daughter of Queen Elinor and King Fergus who wields a bow and arrow. She decides on the spur of the moment to go on an adventure that will test all of her courage because she wants to make her own way and break the rules. She gets to know her mother better through this journey, and in the end, it shows her kingdom that women can be just as strong and independent as men.

3. Dragonslayer’ (1981)

In order to make the dragon Vermithrax happy, the kingdom of Urland feeds the dragon two maidens every year. A young woman named Valerian (Caitlin Clarke), who is dressed as a guy, asks the sorcerer Ulrich (Ralph Richardson) for help to get out of there. He turns to his student, Galen (Peter MacNicol), when he is killed.

Dragonslayer is a mix of a standard coming-of-age story and the tough fantasy movies of the 1980s. A lot of human characters show their worth in strange ways, like Galen’s refusal to give up and Valerian’s decision to hide who she is. Vermithrax is the best part of the movie. Thanks to groundbreaking special effects, he is still one of the best dragons in movie history.

4. Onward (2020)

Ian and Barley, two teenage elves, go on a quest to find a special gem that will let them spend 24 hours with their dead father. Because they don’t want to miss their chance, they work together to get past problems, like their mom’s centaur cop boyfriend. They don’t realize until much later that their father was with them the whole time, even though he was only half of him. Ian and Barley grow closer as brothers and learn to deal with things they can’t change.

5. The Flight of Dragons (1982)

As magic gives way to technology, Carolinus, the green wizard played by Harry Morgan, calls on his three brothers to build a magical safe haven. It’s agreed upon by the blue and gold wizards, but not by the red wizard Ommadon (James Earl Jones), who says that technology makes him stronger. Since wizards can’t fight each other, Carolinus calls a game creator from the future who is crazy about dragons to stop Ommadon and bring science and magic together.

This fantasy movie isn’t as pretty as some of Rankin/Bass’s other ones, but the writing makes up for it. Fantasy tropes are fun to see in the characters, and the main character’s wide-eyed excitement makes him stand out. The movie does a great job of trying to show how a magical world works, especially when it comes to dragons, but it leaves some things open to interpretation.

6. Raya and the Last Dragon (2021)

Five hundred years ago, dragons gave their lives to protect what was left of the fantasy world of Kumandra by making the Druun, which are destructive bad spirits, stay away from it. The lands are in danger again, and the people are more split than ever. The daughter of Chief Benja, Raya, sets out to find Sisu, the famous last dragon, so she can save her people from the Druun. She has faith and courage, which help her bring the split people of Kumandra back together. She also brings back peace for the dragons and the people who were turned to stone, including her father. This story is beautiful to look at and full of interesting culture details.

7. The Last Unicorn (1982)

An immortal horse played by Mia Farrow learns that she might be the last of her kind and leaves her home in the forest to find out more. She finds out that King Haggard (Sir Christopher Lee) locked the unicorns up with his evil Red Bull. Along her way to Haggard’s house, she meets two strange people: a magician who makes mistakes and the wife of a bandit.

Having the unicorn as the main character in The Last Unicorn lets the story explore some interesting ideas. Some of these are how important sorrow is and what it means to live forever. The different ways that magical and human characters deal with these issues are interesting and help both of them grow in ways they never thought possible.

8. Wish Dragon (2020)

Wish Dragon does have a lot in common with Disney’s Aladdin, but its touching story still manages to surprise. It’s about a poor boy named Din who wants to see an old friend again. When Din finds a magic teapot, he lets out a wise dragon. The dragon and Din go on a trip together that teaches them both that relationships with family and friends and loving yourself are more important than money.

9. Dragonheart (1996)

The mother of prince Einon (David Thewlis), who is killed in a rebellion, begs a dragon (Sean Connery) to save him. Dashiell decides to let Einon have half of his heart, but the boy turns out to be mean and cruel as an adult. Sir Bowen, his master (Dennis Quaid), says he will get even with the dragon for how he acts and promises to do so.

Even when Dragonheart first came out, the effects didn’t look very good. However, the people in the movie are great. The way Bowen’s connection with Draco, the dragon, changes from being enemies to trusted friends is very well done. It also talks about forgiveness and the idea that as long as there is hope, anything is possible.

10. Dragon Rider (2020)

Dragon Rider is based on Cornelia Funke’s best-selling book of the same name from the 1990s. It’s about two people who don’t normally get along but work together to find a safe place for dragons who are afraid that humans will invade their lands. They don’t realize it at first, but as they travel to find the mythical Rim of Heaven, they meet magical animals and face challenges that test their courage. Their friendship grows stronger over time.

Conclusion:

While we wait for the live-action How to Train Your Dragon movie in 2025, these movies are a great way to enjoy magic, friendship, and long adventures. Each fantasy movie has something unique to offer, whether it’s the touching friendship in Pete’s Dragon, the thrilling journey in Dragonheart, or the deep themes in The Last Unicorn.

These movies have the same magic and adventure that made How to Train Your Dragon a hit, with strong dragons and epic tasks. So, get some popcorn and get ready for your next magical journey!

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