Tag: DreamWorks Animation

The Art of How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, Advance orders available!

The Art of How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World Book Cover

Fans can have The Art of How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World arrive at their home days after seeing the movie. This work is being offered at outlets like Amazon months in advance, and anticipation is high for the film which will cap off the series. This hardcover book promises to feature exclusive commentary and never-before-seen art from the creation of DreamWorks Animation‘s upcoming movie, set to arrive in theatres March 1, 2019. It will no doubt complement the previous tomes, as writers  Linda Sunshine and illustrator Iain Morris are listed as the principal team who are putting together this work for Dark Horse Comics.

This 184-page book will hit shelves on March 5, 2019, and will offer plenty of original art from the studio detailing from proof of concept to final product. Director Dean DeBlois will offer added commentary, and we at Otakunoculture.com will report previews as it becomes available.

This 184-page volume retails for $39.99.

Season Three of Trollhunters is Not an End but a New Beginning

TrollhuntersBy Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Sadly, all good Trolls must come to an end. No, the species are not going extinct in the finale of DreamWorks Trollhunters on Netflix but instead, Jim Lake Jr’s rite of passage into manhood is. Minimal spoilers will be revealed as this series has become a definitive hero’s journey for viewers of all ages to appreciate.

Most of the main characters are richly developed and Richard Hamilton’s books (The Way of the WizardTrollhunters takes place after “For the Glory of Merlin” and Welcome to the DarklandsTrollhunters in between seasons and two) fills in the blanks. The mythology takes a few cues from Arthurian tradition and this latest season does a triumphant job at exploring the virtues of what defines the knight. Traditionally, they should be on generosity, courtesy, chastity, chivalry and piety. This animation sees valour, justice and courage just as important.

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The Little Tears in Captain Underpants, A Movie Review

captain-underpants-new-posterBy Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

DreamWorks adaptation of Dav Pilkey‘s Captain Underpants, The First Epic Movie is deserving of one half juvenile delinquency at its finest and the other, I don’t get it. The humour can garner giggles to a very select crowd of young boys but for everyone else who are not familiar with the source material, this film is better off skipped.

I admire this studio’s original work and many adaptations because the writing teams often create a well-meaning tale about relationships. Whether that’s between unlikely personalities, family members or brothers in arms, the joy is in seeing how the bond becomes firm. Underpants is a tale about two mischief fourth graders, George Beard and Harold Hutchins, dealing with elementary school life. They try to brighten up life there because the place feels like it should belong in Pink Floyd’s The Wall, and they also fear where their friendship will go if the mean principal, Mr. Krupp, separates them.

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How to Train Your Dragon: Serpent’s Heir TPB Review

HTTYD Serpents HeirBy Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

* Mild spoiler alert

If I had to decide between which How to Train your Dragon (HTTYD) comic book series to follow, my vote is for Dark Horse Comics‘ official follow-up. Penned by Dean DeBlois, director and showrunner of DreamWorks’ series, and Richard Hamilton (Star Wars: Dark Times), I’m enjoying the continuing adventures which take place after the second movie as it puts Hiccup into new adventures before he can even get comfortable with his new crown.

The Serpent’s Heir begins with everyone from the village of Berk helping to rebuild. After a few mishaps, King Hiccup gets a visitor from another island tribe. Calder’s village is being racked with earthquakes and while he expected to meet Stoick the Vast, he only finds the boy king. This young leader certainly has learned a lot from his dad, and he knows never to turn his back to those in need. Both he and his Dragon Riders travel to the island of Nepenthe to assist and find treachery in the midst.

While this first graphic novel is an easy short read, I feel these trials are just one of many in a series of books to help cement Hiccup as King of the Archipelago. News about Stoick’s death has not spread far, but it soon will. Other Vikings will come to challenge Hiccup. Unlike other burly soldiers who are hard to push over, this matchstick shaped lad may seem easy to bend.

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How to Train your Dragon Fans Will Love Feb 15 and 17th!

dragonsracetotheedge

Fans of How to Train Your Dragon need not fret. Netflix has not abandoned Dragons: Race to the Edge. While they do not always explain how they schedule their programming, this streaming service may have decided to time the next releases of episodes on Feb 17th with Dark Horse Comics’ own book, The Serpent’s Heir by Dean DeBlois, due to hit shelves a few days prior, on Feb 15th.

The graphic novel can be a quick read, and while it is unlikely to tie into events in the television series, both chapters are worth following. DeBlois’ tale will tie in with the third and final film. For more detail, please look at a previous entry here, and we can all guess what’s to come next.

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The Vintage Tempest’s Picks of 2017 Animated Films to See

Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)
By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

2017 is upon us, and this year seems light in comparison to last year’s stellar line-up of animated movies and direct-to-video products to must-see. DreamWorks Animation (one of my favourite studios) had three titles, but sadly with The Croods 2 dropped, the remainder does not seem as exciting. Time will tell, however, until official trailers for The Boss Baby and Captain Underpants are released.

In the international front, Tad Jones: The Hero Returns might be fun, though this title ranks more in the honourable mention front. Also coming is Howard Lovecraft and the Underworld Kingdom. No official word has been made yet, but if Arcana Studios is sticking to schedule, we can expect this release in September.

In a holdover from last year’s releases in the film festival circuit, a few reports is suggesting The Red Turtle will get a wider distribution. This winner deserves to arrive at more shores, as it’s a powerful story about a man stranded on a deserted island, and how he connects with a particular turtle. Leading the pack of movies I must see is one that is making rounds at festivals:

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Window Horses
(Please check local listings, Q2 wide release)

Director: Ann Marie Fleming

This colourful animation caught my attention when the National Film Board of Canada reported about its West Coast première at the Vancouver International Film Festival. If only it was playing the same or next day when I was in Vancouver, I could have gone to see it. Thankfully it will be getting a wider distribution in the new year.

When considering it is about a young poet of mixed descent going to Iran to learn about her past, I feel she will discover that the world is interconnected in more ways than she realizes. The unique character designs is also another selling point, and I’ll be anxious to see where the plot goes.

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