The iconic animated film How to Train Your Dragon hit the big screen 15 years ago, yet it still remains relevant today. And much of its lasting appeal is thanks to the main character —Toothless, the Night Fury. But did you know what animals inspired this beloved character? Let us tell you!
How was Toothless created?
The creation of Toothless, the key character in How to Train Your Dragon, went through several stages and changes before it gained its iconic look.
Initially, during the development of the film, Toothless was created according to its description in the book and was even animated. However, this model was later reworked and used for another dragon — Grimmel’s dragon.
The animation team then worked on Toothless, combining features from various animals to create the final version. Toothless shares traits with wolves, horses, Japanese salamanders, kittens, and even miniature Chihuahuas! It was this little dog that became the prototype for the Night Fury!
Moreover, it's hard not to notice the similarities between Toothless and... Stitch. Both characters were created by the same animation team, and the result is fantastic!
Technical challenges
During the film’s production, the animation team faced numerous technical challenges. For instance, they used their own developed rigging system for animating characters — Rig.
This system, based on human facial anatomy, was slightly modified and worked wonders for the dragons' facial expressions. Instead of using blend shapes, the Rig system controlled facial animation through hundreds of sliders connected to facial muscles.
Thanks to the meticulous work of the designers and animators, Toothless became not only visually striking but also emotionally expressive, allowing audiences to form a deep emotional connection with the character.
