How to Train Your Dragon is a MASTERCLASS in Theme Writing 

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Nothing gives me goosebumps like "Test Drive" the sheer feeling of adventure, freedom, and exploration it evokes is unmatched IMO.

That moment when Hickup just goes "Danger! Screw the Cheat Sheet!" And just runs off instinct, it gives me chills.

I'm a big soundtrack-listener, because I love the combination between the orchestral instruments and the very clear storytelling. The score of How to Train your Dragon was the reason I got into it all, mostly because of Forbidden Friendship. I remember seeing the movie for the first time, watching that scene, and thinking "wow, I wish I could listen to the film music separately, it's so beautiful." This was before I even knew the word soundtrack existed. Thanks for the analysis, it was great seeing my love for this music shared by you in this video.

In my sophomore year of high school, I was in marching band, and one of our scores that year was from HTTYD, and it's still my favorite performance the marching band has ever done to this day. We won 1st in every competition that year, plus every possible additional trophy. An absolute clean sweep. I still get goosebumps thinking about it

What makes the film's soundtrack even more underrated is the fact that John Powell is often regarded as someone who hasn't seen a lot of success/isn't skilled enough to be considered a great composer. Meanwhile he created one of the most brilliant scores in all of cinematic history and everyone overlooks it. This entire franchise is an underrated masterpiece in my opinion.

The fact that Hiccup's theme and Toothless's theme are used separately for most of the movie UNTIL that moment in Test Drive where it becomes ONE MELODY to show they have now bonded and gained each others trust is just musical brilliance! (Edit): Wow thanks for all the likes!

It doesn't matter how many times I hear Test Drive, it ALWAYS makes me cry. The most amazing piece of film score I have ever heard.

The fact that you planned, wrote for, and practiced for this video and you STILL showed so much excitement for Test Drive is a credit to the brilliance of the composition and orchestration and its destined fusion with the animation into possibly the highest point of the genre. Thank you so much!

I think another key aspect of what makes test drive so amazing is that they implicated toothless as the strings and hiccup as the brass. The reason the peak hits so hard is because BOTH instruments are playing the theme in unison for once.

I think it is safe to say "Test Drive" is one of THE BEST cinematic music compositions of all time. It both makes me feel hopeful and excited while making me nearly tear up when I'm not even sure why. It's just beautiful and perfectly wrote.

My absolute favorite part of Test Drive is the shift between themes based on control. Toothless' theme plays when he's in control, specifically at the beginning and end of the scene, where they're just gliding. It also plays when he's using his wings as a parachute. Hiccup is simply a passenger at these points, and has no control over the flying. But Hiccup's theme comes in whenever he takes control and starts flying along with Toothless. Finally, when Hiccup tosses the cheat sheet and decides to trust Toothless, you hear the triumphant side of his score as they fly through the rocks. It's an amazing piece of work, truly. This series as a whole is my favorite among all animated movie series.

I love the sheer joy on Charles' face throughout the entire time he was talking about Test Drive. The song just gets you feeling things

ALSO on the brilliance of John Powell, that “Test Drive” theme that combines toothless and hiccup’s motifs is played in several keys throughout the trilogy, mostly ranging from Db to E. But the VERY last track in the third movie (Once There Were Dragons) where Hiccup and Toothless meet each other’s families and fly off to a “future where one day dragons and humans can coexist together”, we hear the Test Drive theme rise up to F major, its highest key yet! I love the symbolism behind the highest key of the theme and Hiccup and Toothless rising to the highest point in their journey together before going their separate ways. SO good

After watching Phoebe's video, I don't agree that the second half of Hiccup's theme is actually a theme for Hiccup. I'm fairly certain that it's actually a theme for friendship/trust, one of the leading thematic drivers of the movie. The main evidence I have for this is that it's never played in the film around Hiccup alone, it's always in conjunction with another character. And, when it gets "minor-ized" on the boat scene, it's losing friendship/breaking trust, with BOTH Toothless and Stoic. What this means is that the emotional heart of the movie, Test Drive, is actually a blending of THREE themes, not just two, and they all resolve into one of the most memorable scenes in film. It's truly a marvel how well Powell understood the characters and shaped the franchise, because without the instantly recognizable score, the series would not be the same.

"Test Drive" is in my workout playlist. Whenever it comes on, it brings a goosebump-filled helping of epic motivation to finish the set, keep up the pace, or hold plank a little while longer.

Twelve years later, this film is still in my top ten. The animation is gorgeous, the story is wonderful, but the music is GOD TIER and I still cry at Test Drive 🥺🥺🥺

HTTYD is my favourite movie of all time, and that's in no small part thanks to the music. I've yet to come across another piece of music that moves me as HUGELY as HTTYD's does, be that due to nostalgia or something more.

Man, 10 years later and that scene still sends chills up my spine. Its gotta be one of the best animated scenes ever.

Can I just say the fact he plays with the score at 14:08 and at 16:46 together gives me goosebumps

There's a constant sort of brass or strings that makes it instantly recognizable as HTTYD. It's iconic. The music is just so itself that I appreciate.

When I was in marching band in high school, we as students came to the collective agreement that a how to train your dragon show would be insanely good and fun. It may have been the first time in history that more than 100 high schoolers agreed on anything, and we were all incredibly excited about it. Then our band director did “Hits from the 80’s” and I cried.

This is one of my favorite soundtracks and made me fall in love with John Powell as a composer. My wife and I had "from the dancing and dreaming" from HTTYD2 as our first dance in our wedding.

How everything came together in "Test Drive" made me cry. I sit and freak out about soundtracks often. It's nice to see someone be so excited about them. I was feeling rather hopeless today and this video and the sheer joy on Charles' face reminded me of how wonderful the gift of music is. I've watched several other videos now and it's brightened my week considerably. I hope someday Charles will do a video on the music from Final Fantasy. Some of those games have almost every genre you can imagine on one soundtrack - all composed by Nobuo Uematsu. It would be awesome to hear his opinion on some of those amazing tracks.

That "Test Drive" sequence never fails to give me chills and bring a slight tear to my eye... EVERY DAMN TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No matter how many times I've seen it!!!!!!!!!! EVERY... TIME!!!!!!!!!

The test drive scene makes me emotional, even when you’re talking over it. This film is amazing.

Did a college paper on Test Drive. I had no idea what I was getting into when I first started really looking into that song, I just knew I loved it. It was incredible to see how much care went into this music and for me every ounce of it resonated with me, still my favorite cinematic experience ever and the music plays an enormous part in making that so.

14:16 seeing the amount of chills and nostalgia and joy the song gives you while you play it brings back memories of when I learned to play my very first song at a decent level of complication and I wish I could experience that all over again :(((

One thing I’m not sure if you mentioned or not but in both “Wounded” and “Test Drive,” Hiccups theme starts on the same chord; D major. It’s the context of how Toothless is that influences the difference between the two pieces. “Wounded” goes to the flat II chord, and in that scene Toothless is injured. In “Test Drive,” the theme goes to the major IV chord, since toothless and hiccup are together

Also when you were talking about Wounded, I realized that Hiccup losing his WHOLE LEG is like the most serious consequence in an animated movie, but it makes it more impactful. Not only for the reflecting Toothless's injury but also how risking ACTUAL life and LIMB is sometime worth it even if you do lose the limb.

At 13:45 Charles's absolute joy is SO contagious! He really looks like he's the one riding the dragon, and I think that's just further proof of how amazing this music is.

I remember a 10 year old me... watching this movie every day after school... and excited for this very scene. Grabbing one of the couch pillows to pretend like I'm riding a dragon as well. This moment had such a huge impact on my childhood and the fact this scene is still praised even now in 2022 makes me happy... what a masterpiece!

16:45 It must be one of the most gloriously exhilarating feelings ever to play alongside that theme where Toothless and Hiccup regain control after plummeting out of the sky. Good gracious, I envy your knowledge and skill, Charles.

15:08 the way I had the realization that, the score is so immaculately placed where it is that once Hiccup throws away the cheat sheet toothless and hiccups theme work together just like they do in the movie. It might sound weird but when I say I started vocally sobbing I did… this movie is literally everything to me and the score is something that when I hear it, it just brings me back to my childhood in a way that nothing else can do. So to have an adult also feel so strongly about the score like I do was a whole different feeling of community and confirmation. This movie is so freaking amazing and I wish everyone could see it from my perspective.

Whenever I hear "Test Drive" I cry. Every. Single. Time. Including during your breakdown. Thanks for helping me understand why this has had such a big emotional impact

Frankly, the most interesting use of Toothless' theme in the movie, at least to me, is at the very moment after Hiccup discovered his crash site and cut him loose, where Toothless pins down Hiccup for a second and you get a good look at his eyes. Because at that moment, the music isn't instantly recognizable as Toothless' theme, among other things due to it being in minor key and because it uses very different instruments, namely bagpipes instead of the usual strings. At this moment it really helps drive home the point that Toothless is something unknown and that Hiccup is literally the first person to get a good look at him.

i dont think i will ever get tired of videos where people explain and appreciate the masterpiece that is how to train your dragon and its soundtrack

I LOVE how you are literally left emotionally and physically breathless at 13:30 - and you've probably seen it a hundred times by now... It absolutely looks like you are flying with them! 🙌

14:04 I've genuinely never seen Charles have so much fun before playing the piano

Ignore me adding these time stamps just for myself

I can't tell you how many times I've heard test drive and it still gives me chills every time.

Test Drive is one of the most cohesive and well thought out scores I've heard, particularly with regards to the way it bounces between the themes of the two main characters while keeping everything in harmony to show the pair working together. The strong brass section also lets the audience into the grandeur that Hiccup feels while flying, while Toothless' theme stays in the strings as a far more natural undertone (flying is what he does, after all). I'd really like it if you took a look at the Forbidden Friendship score for this film too, as it has an almost delicate way of interweaving the characters' themes again, especially through the use of different instruments to indicate the fragility of the forming bonds.

The first movie is definitely the best not only cinematic wise but the music is phenomenal! My absolutely favorite childhood movie. Thanks Charles!

All the feelings this movie gave us wouldn't hit this hard if it wasn't for the amazing music. A few years back when I was going through a tough time, I listened to this music, every single night before sleep. It made me go through an emotional rollercoster of trying, failing and succeeding before setting my mind into a relaxed state that felt wholesome and happy. Forever grateful for this piece

"Coming back around" is my one favorite use of these themes it is such a good concussion.

Finally he did it. Greatest soundtrack of all time

I also love that in „Avatar: The last Airbender“ (the show obviously) the fire nation motif comes around so often but also often in different moods, like when fire benders are made fun of the motif is also played in a goofy way.

16:15 I’ve never thought of this before!!! This just made me appreciate this soundtrack x100 times more, and love it EVEN more if that’s possible

I never realized how this piece merged both Toothless and Hiccup’s themes but I always knew it was such an amazing and impactful score because every time I listen to it, I get goosebumps and it’s tenfold when watching the scene

Easily the music that had the most impact on my life and shaped my music taste. The sole reason I've started to learn how to write music, I just love it soooo much!

I'm barely two minutes into this video and I already have chills... Forbidden Friendship is my favorite song on the score and it makes me tear up everytime I listen to it... which is often because I listen to film scores while I work/write... lol! edited to fix the title of the song...

Rube, DreamWorks Dragons is one of my favorite series of ALL time and John Powell did an absolutely amazing job with the scores for all 3 movies the motifs and usages of various ethnic worldly instruments really touches my heart. Great video, Charles

Best part about test drive is not only at the end you see them coming back together, but also you hear both of their themes overlaping. In my local full symphony we played the soundtrack for the tenth anniversary for this movie and us strings played toothless' theme while the brass and wind instruments played Hiccup's theme over the top. It's truly surreal, and you wouldn't notice it's toothless' theme underneath unless you were playing it and/of listening really carefully.

I am an adult man who's not afraid to admit that this movie, and this song, _always_ make me cry! Every time, without fail! I can always count on them when I need an emotional release.

This is one of my favorite soundtracks and really shows John Powell's master work. But what I think is even better is when two masterminds combine. The kung fu panda soundtrack was cowritten by Hans Zimmer and John Powell and they way they work together is amazing, even switching midway through tracks.

This whole soundtrack makes my heart race. It gives me goosebumps. My whole childhood comes flooding back and I just can't help but feel like I'm remembering something so epic. Like I remember watching the movie and just being so amazed. Eyes wide, mouth open. Just shocked. All of that comes flooding back. It's truly incredible. I am a music theory major. And I've been studying for over 5 years. I STILL can't comprehend how iconic and great composers, like Powell, just create these masterpieces. It just, comes to them! They just create it! It's insane

Brought me to tears and gave me even more appreciation for this masterpiece. A few years after the film came out, I remember my 7th grade band teacher showing us the opening to the film and then handing out sheet music. I was SO excited. All the way through 8th grade, every so often when the director would say "I have a surprise!" one of the students might say "How to Train Your Dragon?" To this day it was one of my favorite pieces we ever played, and it's one of my favorite movies of all time.

Definitely the best soundtrack I listen to. I freaking love John Powell, but HTTYD is clearly one step above anything else. And the writing on the second and third movie, I don’t know if that’s masterclass, but it is just absolutely marvellous. Thanks for that video.

On top of the music, the first How to Train Your Dragon was co-directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois, who also co-directed the brilliant Lilo & Stitch. That's why Toothless' personality is very similar to Stitch. So by combining the brilliance of Sanders and DeBlois with the musical talent of John Powell, you've got yourself a masterpiece

Words alone cannot explain how much this movie and composition mean to me- how it sends chills throughout my whole body, my heart races, and I feel like IM riding Toothless, as if it's through my own body I'm experiencing this scene, not only my ears

Unfortunately you didn't talk about how Toothless's theme comes in at the very end of Test Drive to be the "end" of Hiccup's theme, but Phoebe-Kate covered that so it's understandable.

The way that this movie brings joy even YEARS after its release just points to what a mastercraft of a movie it is. So overjoyed that you covered this, you brought me even more appreciation for my favorite movie ever. Was smiling the whole time!

Fun fact: As far as I know the story is a perfect representation of the Hero's Journey from Joseph Campbell and the music supports it extremely well. In the intro every single motif is presented except for Toothless'. Hiccup leaves the known world where a problem presented itself and enters the "Unknown" in the journey where in time he learns how to work with the unknown (Toothless and his theme) and returns to the known world where he solves the issue with his new found knowledge of the unknown. Test Drive is the moment when he learns how to handle the unknown and gets "in sync" :)

I'll never forget the first time I saw this in theaters. I was in utter shock, not just from the incredible animation, but the way the musical themes tied so beautifully into the emotional and visual themes. I'm a professional musician, so I was aware of what was going on (in the musical theory sense) and the way the musical motifs were being thrown around and tossed back and forth was a complete delight for my brain as well as my heart. WHAT A RIDE!

Toothless’ roar during test drive fits perfectly into the music, I hardly ever notice that it’s not an instrument sometimes

The RU-vid Channel Sideways also does a great breakdown of the How to Train Your Dragon opening theme along with other great music breakdowns. Also, if you want to do more soundtrack breakdowns, the instrumentals music of Rocky from Bill Conte is so good and under represented on RU-vid, especially since any attention tends to sit with the Eye of the Tiger type songs.

So many favorite musical moments from that film. The sequence of "Forbidden Friendship", where Hiccup hits a bit of a brick wall with Toothless and is drawing idly in the dirt with a stick, and Toothless grabs a tree branch and tries to copy him... the music searches for a melody, with off-key plunks and missteps, and when everything goes almost silent and Hiccup averts his eyes and reaches out his hand and Toothless gives him a nose bump. The first moment of trust. Ah, bliss.

forbidden friendship just… idk it’s like my soul blooms every time I hear it. The gentleness and sweetness of it. Pure innocence.

Test Drive has to be the best score ever made. I listen to this occasionally just to feel that feeling again

For a while now, my passion for music was dead due to personal circumstances. After watching your take on my favourite Dreamworks movie, I feel that my passion for music is close to being reborn. You have no idea what this means to me. All I can say is thank you

I'm glad I'm not the only one obsessed with this score, it's so special to me. Thanks for the awesome breakdown Charles!

The power the brass instruments holds in an orchestra is unmatched!

i get chills and tear up every time i hear test drive and/or watch the scene. it embodies the feelings of passion, hope, and freedom more than any other piece i’ve heard

Charles's enthusiasm when teaching and educating never fails short which makes his content so much more enjoyable to watch!

I don't think I've ever felt such a connection to any RU-vidr as to you with your genuine and childlike excitement whilst listening to Test Drive, I'm crying every time I hear it 😭😭

I’m so glad this franchise is gradually getting more appreciation as the years pass. It’s a true masterpiece.

Just HEARING themes of Hiccup and Toothless makes me smile. I LOVE the music in this movie and this movie as a whole

So he FINALLY does this one. I’m ngl, I hate to say I haven’t been watching Charles’ videos lately, but when I saw this video pop up, there was no hesitation in clicking it. Thank you Charles!

The test drive when their themes become one new unique one is one of my fav score moments in any movie but very close is in Astrid’s first flight when her theme melds with theirs as well. Such a beautiful piece

Dude, I’ve been trying to tell people this for years and get no traction. I freaking love this soundtrack for all the reasons you illustrate so well in your video. Please keep up the good work!!! I finally have a video I can show my musician friends that gets their attention.

The How to Train Your Dragon series remains as my favorite animated movie series to exist. And it's difficult for me to have a favorite due to how indecisive I am. The music scores I believe played a huge part into it's amazingness. Every single time I hear the scores from this film I get chills and goosebumps and depending on which scene, I'll tear up slightly. This movie was also the first movie that caused me to add it's scores into my music playlist. It's absolutely phenomenal and I'm so sad it remains so underrated. The movies, character arcs, characters, bonds, etc. are amazing. The scenes, visuals, and music scores are breathtaking.

damn, this analysis really got me tearing up all over again about this scene. i don't think i was quite this emotional even when i first saw the movie. the way you describe how their themes work together really brings a different level to the beauty of the scene.

I love how this guy explains and unveils how one of my favorite childhood movies used this amazing concept. Thanks Charles, this really was a blast to the past.

This tune has me in tears. Tears of joy and excitement. And it's even more incredible how toothless and hiccups themes meld almost into this pure love that is between them. It shows how much the two themes trust each other. Absolutely my favorite score of all time

Yeah I love this entire soundtrack. One of the absolute bests. And I love how Romantic Flight and Forbidden Friendship also have some thematic similarities.

As soon as he played the second part of Hiccup's theme, I teared up. The OST is a brilliant masterpiece

I was so hyped listening to you describe how the music was developing through the scene, I threw my hands in the air when Hiccup and Toothless finally “clicked,” and I punched a hanging ceiling light. (Whoops!) This movie and music are so important to me. Thank you for helping me appreciate it even more.

No matter how many times I hear or watch the Test Drive scene, I always get chills when it gets to the key change!

My favourite is ‘This is Berk’ I can’t believe nobody else loves this!!

I had literal tears watching this. I've always loved this soundtrack (and this movie) and it's truly amazing seeing someone talking about it so passionately

The first how to train your dragon is probably my favourite animated movie, absolute masterpiece

In my opinion, best film score correlation to visual, in any scene 'ever'. Thanks for showing us how and why.

I really love your interpretation here of what Hiccup's theme is and how it connects in Test Drive, but this is actually the "flying theme". Hiccup's theme is best demonstrated in the track "See You Tomorrow." The flying theme actually shows up in that track for just a brief moment while the camera fakes you out into thinking him and Toothless are flying. Either way, thank you for this video! I love hearing the passion other people also have for this incredible soundtrack :)

Powell's work on the film is, quite frankly, unrivalled.

If you haven't watched How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World yet, it's totally with it. I feel like John Powell yet again kicked it up a notch in that one in all aspects, but his harmonic work especially is positively incredible

everytime he played the songs it gave me goosebumps holy cow. httyd is such a good movie in every way

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!! The PUREEE joy in his face. That is EPICCCC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Theres just something so majestic and wild about the score that I cant explain, but always manages to take me for a nostalgic rollercoaster no matter how many times I watch the movie

YES! I love this movie so much, was the perfect story I needed as a kid and the music just elevates it so much, John Powell really outdid himself.

I got goosebumps and felt so much nostalgia when he played Hiccups and TT's music. Gosh I love HTTYD