Squids are sea animals mentioned in various media of the DreamWorks Dragons Franchise.
Description[]
Squid are invertebrates belonging to the Order Mollusca, despite not having a visible exterior shell like other mollusks. Instead, the tissue from which shells originate is internalized, forming a hard structure called the Gladius. This also holds true for other members of the Class Cephalopoda, such as Octopi. Also like Octopii, squid have a distinct "head" and eight distinct tentacles. Often one pair of tentacles are much larger than the rest. Squid also have a body area called the mantle.
Squid skin is covered with special cells called chromatophores. These cells contain pigment and reflect light, allowing squid to change colors to camouflage itself.
"Ink" is another defense mechanism of squid and other cephalopods. Squid have two ink sacs near their rectum that arises from tissue of the digestive system. Squid in is blue-black in color (as opposed to Octopii which have pure black ink) and is comprised almost entirely of melanin.
Function[]
Squids are wrestled by Vikings for ink in the DreamWorks Dragons Franchise, as heard in the TV episode "Dragon Flower when Trader Johann said that he wrested a giant squid himself to get squid ink for Hiccup. Other than this, squid is not specifically mentioned, though it might be inferred that they are eaten as well, and seems reasonable that dragons - at least Tidal Class dragons - eat squid, too.
In reality, squid are primarily used as a food source in a variety of cultures. Squid ink is also used to eat and as food coloring. Historically, squid ink has been used to write with, but not in modern times.
Appearances[]
Dragons: Riders of Berk[]
In the episode, "Dragon Flower", Trader Johann arrives at Berk with item to trade and items requested by the Hairy Hooligan Tribe. Hiccup had requested ink to write with.
| “ | Oh, that's pure squid ink, Hiccup. Wrestled from the colossal squid of the Northern Waters. | ” |
| — Johann in the "Dragon Flower" |
Dragons: Defenders of Berk[]
At the end of the episode, "Frozen", Trader Johann gives Hiccup a bottle of squid ink as a thank you for rescuing him.
| “ | Oh, before you go, I have something for you. A little token of my appreciation. Pure squid ink, wrestled from the colossal squid of the Northern Waters. ... Ten summers ago, deep under the currents of the Northern Waters, I was staring directly into the black eye... | ” |
| — Johann's story about he and the colossal squid in "Frozen" |
Dragons: Race to the Edge[]
Season 5[]
Squid ink mentioned as a metaphor for Ruffnut's eyes by Throk, as part of a poem in honor of her, in the episode, "Snuffnut". Squid are not actually seen in the Franchise.
| “ | Her eyes, like the ink of the giant squid I defeated handily eight moons past. | ” |
| — Throk |
Season 6[]
In "In Plain Sight", Johann arrived on Dragon's Edge in order to give Heather a bottle of squid ink, in order to make up for the ambush on her at the Northern Markets.
Games[]
Dragons: Rise of Berk[]
In this game, players can collect assorted items to complete "Collections". One such item is a bottle of ink, in a nod to the squid ink appearing in the TV series. A bottle of ink is available for the player to purchase from Trader Johann's Ship.
Trivia[]
- Krakens are mythological creatures resembling squids and octopuses, and thought to be based off sightings of Giant squids in the North Atlantic ocean. Krakens are mentioned once in "Gruff Around the Edges", and a Kraken-like creature is depicted in Dragons: Rise of Berk background during Gauntlet events.
Gallery[]
