4 Environmental Lessons from "How to Train Your Dragon"

DreamWorks' "How to Train Your Dragon" may be a fantasy adventure about Vikings and mythical creatures, but beneath its surface lies a profound environmental message. Through Hiccup's journey from dragon hunter to dragon ally, the story offers valuable insights about humanity's relationship with the natural world.

Here are four environmental lessons we learned from EMA Green Seal for Sustainable Production recipient "How to Train Your Dragon".

Animals Act in Self-Defense

In the beginning, the Vikings of Berk viewed dragons as ruthless monsters that attacked their village out of pure malice. However, Hiccup discovers that the dragons are not inherently violent but are acting under duress, forced to steal food and livestock to feed the Red Death dragon that threatens to devour them if they fail to do so. Their apparent aggression comes from a place of self-preservation, rather than hostility toward humans.

This dynamic mirrors countless real-world situations where animals labeled as "dangerous" or "aggressive" are simply responding to human encroachment on their territory or threats to their survival. When coyotes venture into suburban neighborhoods, when bears raid campsites, or when sharks approach popular beaches, these animals are typically following natural behaviors related to finding food, protecting their young, or navigating habitat loss caused by human development. Wildlife biologists consistently emphasize that most animal attacks on humans occur when animals feel cornered, threatened, or are protecting their offspring. Rather than blaming animals for these attacks, we should instead ask what human behavior provoked the animal to act aggressively.

Animals Possess Intelligence

One of the most compelling aspects of Hiccup's relationship with Toothless is witnessing the dragon's remarkable problem-solving abilities and capacity to learn. After Toothless loses part of his tail fin, Hiccup creates a prosthetic replacement and teaches Toothless to fly cooperatively with him. The dragon demonstrates sophisticated understanding of mechanics, timing, and trust as he adapts to this new flying technique, showing intelligence far beyond what the Vikings initially recognized.

Universal Pictures - © 2024 Universal Studios.

Modern science has revealed extraordinary intelligence across the animal kingdom that parallels Toothless's cognitive abilities. Chimpanzees use tools, solve complex puzzles, and demonstrate self-awareness in mirror tests. Pigs can learn their names, play video games using joysticks, and show remarkable problem-solving skills that often surpass those of dogs. Octopuses display incredible intelligence through their ability to solve mazes, open jars from the inside, and use tools like coconut shells for shelter. Crows are as smart as 7-year-old children, with the ability to solve problems using tools, recognize human faces, and understand abstract concepts. These discoveries have revealed that intelligence exists in many species that deserve our respect and ethical consideration.

Animals Can Feel Emotions

The emotional bond between Hiccup and Toothless forms the heart of the film as they build a relationship of mutual trust, loyalty, and care. Toothless displays curiosity when he first meets Hiccup, joy during their flying adventures, and protective devotion when his human friend is threatened. The dragon's emotional intelligence challenges the Vikings’ assumption that dragons are merely mindless beasts driven by violent instinct.

Science shows that many animals experience complex emotions similar to those portrayed in the film. Cows form strong friendships and show signs of depression when separated from their companions, while also demonstrating excitement and playfulness when reunited. Dogs exhibit jealousy, empathy, and even guilt, forming deep emotional attachments not only to humans but to other animals as well. Elephants mourn their dead, returning to visit the bones of deceased family members and showing signs of grief that can last for years.

Even smaller animals like rats show empathy, often freeing trapped companions even when offered food rewards for ignoring their distressed peers. These findings suggest that emotional complexity in animals is far deeper than previously understood, urging us to reconsider how we interact with and treat other species.

Humans and Animals Can Peacefully Coexist

Berk society is entirely transformed by the end of the film, with Vikings and dragons working together as peaceful partners rather than adversaries. Dragons help with construction, transportation, and protection, while humans provide care, shelter, and companionship. This partnership is mutually beneficial, creating a thriving community where both species coexist and flourish together, rather than depleting each other's resources through conflict.

Indigenous communities around the world have long demonstrated that humans can live in sustainable harmony with their natural environment, offering real-world models for the coexistence depicted in the film. The Maasai people of East Africa have traditionally shared grazing lands with wildlife, developing practices that allow both livestock and wild animals to thrive in the same ecosystems. Many Indigenous tribes around the world employ sustainable hunting and fishing methods that preserve animal populations while meeting human needs, viewing themselves as integral to the natural community rather than separate from it. When humans learn to coexist with animals and the natural world in a peaceful manner, everybody benefits.

"How to Train Your Dragon" is an excellent example of environmental storytelling in popular media. We can't wait to celebrate such movies and TV shows at the upcoming EMA Awards this October!