Inconsistencies Within the Franchise

The How to Train Your Dragon franchise carries with it unfortunate inconsistencies. While animation errors and what’s understood as "cartoon logic" are to be expected, there are many large continuity errors within the story itself as a result of inadequate research, therefore conflicting with the films themselves, the word of the creators themselves, or earlier installments with which writers could have easily referenced. This is a list of notable story inconsistencies within the franchise.

Legend of the Boneknapper Dragon

• Gobber is seen throughout most of the flashback sequence to have lost his arm, but still have both legs, even though clearly years had passed. However, in the first film, he tells of how he lost his leg less then a month after losing his arm.

Riders/Defenders of Berk

"Gem of a Different Color"

• The Changewing not having any drawings in the Dragon Manual is a major plot point of the episode. However, in the first film there is a full drawing of the species seen while Hiccup is reading it.

"How to Pick Your Dragon"

• When Hiccup asks Stoick how he and Gobber met, Stoick answers that it was after Gobber had said something disrespectful to his wife and Stoick fought him. However, in both the first and second films, it’s stated that Gobber and Stoick knew each other at least since they were teenagers. The second film’s Art Book also states that the two had known each other their entire lives. As Valka is ten years younger than Stoick is, they couldn’t have been already married by the time Stoick met Gobber.

"Twinsanity"

• Stoick and Gobber both mention that the Berkians had been at peace with the Berserkers for fifty years. This was retconned later in Dragonvine, where it was shown that Valka met Stoick while fighting Oswald and his men. Considering the characters ages, this battle would have taken place no more than 2 years before Hiccup's birth, or approximiately 17 years prior to this episode.
• A major plot focus is how Barf and Belch cannot fly with just one rider, or no riders at all. The idea that they cannot fly with just one rider is repeated in the episode "Zippleback Down". However, the dragon is seen flying without riders in Gift of the Night Fury, and they would have before the events of the first film as well. Both the second and third movies also show them flying with just one rider.

Dragons: Race to the Edge

• The entire series is based on the six main Dragon Riders moving away from Berk for over a year. However, in commentary, Dean DeBlois has said that they all lived on Berk between the first two films. The second film’s Art Book elaborates on this saying that they all had responsibilities on Berk which prevented them from leaving.
• The series also focuses on the six main Dragon Riders exploring lands outside the Archipelago together, while both Dean and the second film’s Art Book state that only Hiccup and Astrid ventured outside the Archipelago as they were the ones drawing up Hiccup's map. The other four stayed much closer to Berk.
• Numerous other "dragon riders" are introduced throughout the series, when the second and third films themselves stress how Berk is the only community who rides dragons. Dean elaborated on this during a convention panel explaining that that’s why Eret and Drago were so alarmed when seeing Vikings riding on dragons, and why Eret assumed Valka was one of them.
• In an interview with the series creators Art Brown and Douglas Sloan, it was mentioned that the show was originally meant to have 4 seasons, spread out over the span of a year and a half, leading up to the second film. Following the many clues and mentions regarding the passage of time within the story, the last 7 episodes of season 4 were supposed to have happened during the same summer as the film. However, when seasons 5 and 6 were ordered into production, the show writers had to carry on with the timeline they had set up, which inevitably lead to the series continuing into negative time; going past the second film.
• The majority of film characters are portrayed severely out-of-character in the series compared to the films and film-verse media; most arguably Hiccup and Astrid. Aside from having similar appearance and even voices, their personalities and behaviors in the series portray them as drastically different people than their film counterparts.

"Gone Gustav Gone"

• Gustav’s age is mentioned to be 16 in the episode, and yet he’s said to be "too young" to be an official Dragon Rider. However, all six of the main Dragon Riders were younger than him at ages 14 and 15 in the first film and the majority of Riders/Defenders.
  • Likewise, in an interview with Art and Doug, they confirmed Gustav is 12 in Riders/Defenders, and since it's been only three years since those events took place, he should be 15 by the start of Race to the Edge, not 16.

"Have Dragon Will Travel, Part 1"

• Heather is revealed to ride a dragon, and continues to do so throughout the series, when the second and third films stress that only Berkians ride dragons.

"Have Dragon Will Travel, Part 2"

• Astrid says she and Hiccup are “just friends”, when a statement made by Dean DeBlois during a panel at San Diego International Comic Con in 2014 confirms that she and Hiccup have been romantically involved since the end of the first film. The second film’s Art Book reinforces this by listing “getting the girl” as one of the achievements Hiccup made in the first film.

"The Zippleback Experience"

• Hiccup punches Snotlout in the face resulting in him losing some teeth, presumably explaining a tooth seen missing in the second film. However, Snotlout is already seen to be missing that tooth in both the first film and in Riders/Defenders.

"Crash Course"

• The Riders/Defenders episode "Race to Fireworm Island" is referenced a number of times, including Astrid remembering how to escape the Fireworm cave, when in the earlier episode, Astrid never even entered the cave.

"A Grim Retreat"

• A major scene in the episode features the twins eating fish, while in both the first and second films, Ruffnut is only seen to eat chicken. In the third film she reveals the reason for that is that she's alergic to fish.

"Family on the Edge"

• Dagur the Deranged is given a dragon to ride, and continues to do so throughout the series, when the second and third films stress that only Berkians ride dragons.

"Dire Straits"

• Toothless, Stormfly, and Hookfang breathe fire underwater, even though it had been established in the first film that dragons cannot light their fire if their heads are wet.

"Blindsided"

• Hiccup and Astrid are supposed to have started their romantic relationship in this episode, which takes place only a month or two before the events of the second film pick up. However, Dean DeBlois in commentary has stated that they had been together since the ending of the first film, and it can clearly be seen that they were already romantically involved by the events of Gift of the Night Fury. The second film’s Art Book reinforces the statement that Hiccup "got the girl" in the first film.

"Shell Shocked, Part 2"

• Dagur acquires a second dragon, and rides him through the remainder of the series, when the second and third films stress that only Berkians ride dragons.

"Sandbusted"

• Tuffnut is shown to be triggered by the word "tear" when he says the word himself later in the season during the episode "No Dragon Left Behind". He also said it himself back in the episode "Breakneck Bog", and was in earshot of other people saying it in the episodes "The Flight Stuff", "Dragon Eye of the Beholder, Part 2", and "Have Dragon Will Travel, Part 1", yet he was never affected.
• Snotlout is shown unable to carry or even lift Viggo's sword, seemingly for comedic purposes. However he is the strongest of all the Dragon Riders, and Viggo himself is said to not be very strong physically in the episode "Maces and Talons, Part 2".

"Snotlout's Angels"

• Heather explains how she had met Windshear as a blind hatchling, and that she had raised her herself, while in the earlier episode "Have Dragon Will Travel, Part 1", Heather says she met Windshear heavily injured after a fight with a Typhoomerang, and they bonded because she nursed her back to health.
• The Wingmaidens are introduced using baby Razorwhips to carry them in flight, when the second and third film stress that only Berkians have mastered flying with dragons.

"A Matter of Perspective"

• Hiccup suggests the way to get past the Sentinel dragons on Vanaheim is to leave on foot rather than flying on their dragons, even though Vanaheim is an island and entirely surrounded by the sea. In multiple occurances previously and since, Hiccup and the other Riders are intelligent enough to know that the only way on or off an island is either by flying, boat, or swimming.
• The Bewilderbeast skeleton on Vanaheim is much more massive than should be possible since the two Bewilderbeasts in the second film are confirmed to be Titan Wings by the official website, crew members’ dragon reference guide, and commentary by crew members themselves, and therefore the film's Bewilderbeasts should be as big as a Bewilderbeast should get. Since the film released before the idea of Vanaheim was conceived and was available to reference, this is an error of the series production crew.

"Dawn of Destruction"

• The Dragon Flyers are introduced, suggesting an entire army of dragon fighters fly on Singetail dragons, when both the second and third films stress that only Berkians fly dragons.

"The Wings of War, Part 1"

• Krogan mentions that it’s been one month since the Edge’s volcano’s first eruption, while in the earlier episode "Living on the Edge", Fishlegs had said that it’s been three months since the last eruption.
• In the flashback of Viggo falling into the volcano, he’s seen holding the Dragon Eye, explaining how he retrieved it so easily. When in "Shell Shocked, Part 2", Hiccup had thrown the Dragon Eye into the volcano minutes before Viggo fell in.
• Drago is shown to have been riding a dragon for over 20 years, when the second and third films stress that only Berkians ride dragons.

"Searching for Oswald... and Chicken"

• Oswald's letter to Dagur and his drawing on the wall suggest that when he disappeared, Heather was still on Berserker Island with Dagur. Given Oswald last visited Berk to sign a peace treaty the year before "Twinsanity" took place, Heather would have been about 14 when he disappeared. But in the earlier episode "Have Dragon Will Travel, Part 2", Heather explains how she was so young when she last saw Oswald that she barely remembers him, and she was set "adrift" by Dagur at that very young age and adopted by her adoptive parents.

"A Gruff Separation"

• The twins use shed Changewing skin over themselves as an "invisibility cloak" when, as biological material, it should lose its ability to camouflage after it’s shed from the living organism. This goes against Dean’s very strict rule to not allow any "magic" or "super powers" of any kind in the franchise.

"Family Matters"

• Meatlug carries a Singetail many times larger than herself in flight, while in the Riders/Defenders episode "Viking for Hire" Meatlug couldn’t fly with a heavy saddle. And in the episode "Have Dragon Will Travel, Part 1", Meatlug couldn’t fly with saddle bags full of rocks.

"King of Dragons, Part 1"

• Barf and Belch carry a Titan Wing Dramillion much larger than they are in flight, when in the earlier Riders/Defenders episode "A Tale of Two Dragons", they couldn’t take off with the weight of Toothless, who is much smaller than they are.

"King of Dragons, Part 2"

• Bing, Bam, and Boom are seen again, and though four years have passed, they’re still babies.
• Hiccup loses his shield down the Berserker Bewilderbeast's hole, supposedly explaining why he doesn’t have it in the second film. However in the graphic novel Dragonvine co-written by Dean DeBlois, Hiccup still has his shield after the events of the second film.
• Drago is suggested to not have his Bewilderbeast yet, while in multiple sources including the second film’s Art Book, the official website, and many companion books it’s mentioned that he acquired his Bewilderbeast as a hatchling during one of his "earliest conquests".
• The egg that Valka acquires is suggested to be her Bewilderbeast, who’s not yet hatched. While in multiple other sources including the second film’s Art Book, the official website, and the film’s companion books it’s mentioned that her dragon is older than Drago’s Bewilderbeast, and as stated on the official website and the movie crew's dragon species guide, his is a Titan Wing, making Valka's a Titan Wing as well. In the film itself, Valka mentions how she’s lived with the Bewilderbeast since her abduction 20 years earlier.

How to Train Your Dragon 2

• The official website and many companion books explain the reason Fishlegs and Snotlout are competing for Ruffnut’s affections is because she’s the only eligible woman left on Berk. However, many background characters in both the second and third films appear to be of similar age to the Riders. And many children seen in Gift of the Night Fury would have also been of an appropriate age to court by the events of the second film.

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

• In flashbacks, Stoick is shown to be a very doting and loving father. However, in the first film he’s stated as resenting Hiccup for being different “since he can crawl”, and even in a deleted scene from Gift of the Night Fury it’s shown they always shared a very awkward and strained relationship.
• While Snotlout and the twins had positive arcs in the previous films and specials, their characters were reverted back to shallow comic relief characters.
• Berk's sheep are disguised as dragons to fool the dragons into not eating them. However, in the first film, only the Red Death ate sheep, and in the second film sheep were only used as game pieces. In Gift of the Night Fury, sheep are shown to be living peacefully with the dragons. And in the Riders of Berk episode "Animal House", Hiccup specifically states that the dragons don't eat livestock; only fish.

Homecoming

• The epilogue of the third film specifies that the dragons are hiding in the Hidden World, did not leave any trace of themselves in the world above when they left, and do not come out for any reason whatsoever until humans can live in peace, which hasn't happened yet even in modern times. Yet the Night Light hatchlings, Toothless, and the Light Fury all leave the Hidden World.
• Dean stated at a convention that the kids are "8 and 5" in the special, while the script he wrote for the film says they’re "5 and 3". What's more, the special is supposed to take place before the epilogue of the third film.
• Toothless is seen drawing Hiccup, when in an interview Dean had explained that Toothless had now been in the Hidden World longer than he had been living with Hiccup, so he rarely ever thinks of his former life anymore, and is reminded only upon their reunion.
• Zephyr is seen reading what's supposedly the Dragon Manual, but it's less than half the size it is in the first film or Riders/Defenders.
  • She also only sees the violence even after Hiccup and Fishlegs had spent years adding kinder information on the dragons throughout both TV series.
  • She also mentions the Dragon Manual was Stoick’s, when it only ever belonged to Gobber and the Dragon Riders.
• Zephyr is seen meeting Toothless face to face in the special, while in interviews it was stated and even the film itself suggests the epilogue was the very first time she and Nuffink had ever seen a dragon in person.

Dragons: The Nine Realms

• The series is stated on every official source to be taking place "1,300 years" after How to Train Your Dragon 3. John Telligan confirmed in a tweet the series takes place in modern times, suggesting the films took place in the early 8th century. However, the year 1010 AD was revealed in the Racing For The Gold shorts preluding the first film. The second film’s Art Book further confirms the placement in the 11th century by saying the films took place a "millennia" ago, and so does the companion book DreamWorks Dragons: To Berk and Beyond! (released in 2015), by saying the films, specifically the 2nd film, took place "ten centuries" ago.
• A recurring theme in the series is Viking artifacts being found in the Hidden World which goes against the finishing theme of the third film including Hiccup's realization that humans do not belong in the Hidden World, and out of respect will not intrude on the dragons' territory again. The film also stresses how dragons and humans do not under any circumstances interact again until mankind can "live in peace", which hasn't happened yet. Dean DeBlois also mentioned in an interview that no humans ever enter the Hidden World again after the events of the third film. But the series introduced numerous evidence of former Berkian inhabitants including the arrowhead displaying the Berk Dragon Training Academy symbol in "Follow the Lightning, Part 2", a shield in "Ride or Die", a capsule bearing the Dragon Training Academy symbol in "The Sky Torcher", a book of dragons containing drawings of the legacy Dragon Riders in "Uncharted Territory", a Viking home in "The Night Lights, Part 2" complete with a painting of Hiccup and his family, runes carved into a tree trunk in "Barrel of Vine Tails", and Valka's Staff in "How to Train Jörmungandr".
  • Furthermore, in "How to Train Jörmungandr", it is shown that Hiccup ventured into the Hidden World and trapped Jörmungandr in a cage made out of Gronckle Iron, despite the third film stressing that he never entered the Hidden World again after he and Toothless separated.

Miscellaneous

• The historical place of Vinland is mentioned a couple times in the franchise (prevalently in the video games), usually in the context of certain Berkians or other inhabitants of the Barbaric Archipelago travelling there at some point in their lifetimes. Such mentions include the travels of Leif Erikson, during which he became familiar with the concept of Thanksgiving and bringing the tradition back to the Isle of Berk, and the journeys of Bork the Bold, where he was stalked and followed back to Berk by a curious Featherhide. In an interview with voice actor Jay Baruchel, he revealed that he likes to daydream about Hiccup's life after the seperation from dragons, and that he imagines Hiccup as having been there at the conquest of Vinland.
  • Real life studies and carbon dating of wood from a known Viking settlement in Newfoundland found that it was established approximiately in the year 1021 AD. The franchise is implied to happen in the 1010's, therefore the conquests would have taken place at most half a decade after the departure of dragons, and shortly prior to the birth of Hiccup's children. However, as Leif Erikson and Hiccup would have been contemporaries, Bork the Bold's visit to Vinland is highly improbable to have happened, as he lived more than a century prior to the discovery of said territories.