Monday, May 20, 2013

An older sexier Hiccup flies in on the back of Toothless in 2014 and brings us the coming of age dragon story we've always wanted

Coming in 2014, here is what you'll see...
Hiccup is growing up. I think he looks quite dashing on the back of Toothless here. Looks
maybe around sixteen or seventeen years old and the flaming sword is a nice touch. This is
a leaked photo taken by someone touring Dreamworks Studios, and I first saw it on Perez Hilton.
This image isn't from Perez Hilton's blog though. It's from HTTYD Tumblr. And the image is
all over the internet now so I doubt Dreamworks Studios can do any damage control at this
point. They're probably just going to count it as viral marketing.
This is a coloring pencil sketch that shows Hiccup's face better in the upcoming movie
"How To Train Your Dragon 2." It's done by artist Aty S. Behsam and you can find her
Deviant Art page HERE. HTTYD has "LEGIONS" of fans. Seriously. Not underestimating
this at all. It could quite possibly have an opening that joins Iron Man 3 or The Avengers.
Astrid has become a young Viking woman. I like the way her hair is done. Her dragon looks
pretty too with all of the vibrant colors. Image taken from HTTYD Tumblr. Has anyone read
the books that How To Train Your Dragon is based from? I've been told they have no
resemblance at all to the movie adaptation. Usually there's a "little" resemblance. But a
trusted source told me that the movies are 100% better than the books and that she wouldn't
recommend them at all. Interesting, eh?
Story and images courtesy of inhonoredglory's DeviantArt page located HERE.
Is it just me, or does the older Hiccup look like he could be the brother of Dreamworks'
"Jack Frost" from the movie Rise of the Guardians before he became the "cool" kid with the
white and silver looking hair? Maybe Dreamworks just knows what kind of guy white
 teen-aged girls will go "squee" over and aims at the models that could sing for "One Direction."
For the record, I own Dreamworks stock so I'm part of the problem. You white people
out there with your white kids need to go see more Dreamworks movies so my stock goes up!
Guys! An older sexier Hiccup flies in on the back of Toothless in 2014 and brings us the coming of age dragon story we've always wanted. I think as far as animated stories goes, How To Train Your Dragon was a home run for Dreamworks Animation Studios. I enjoyed it more than Shrek, The Croods, Rise of the Guardians, and Despicable Me, and a few other titles that are quite frankly...pretty forgettable. I think that's why I watch the television series on Cartoon Network, and I wonder if they are going to incorporate any of the stuff from the series into the sequel. For example, Gobber is now a dentist for the dragons, Hiccup is a dragon trainer at the newly opened "Dragon Academy" and there's a section of bad guy vikings that live on their own island exiled from the main tribe, and they are pretty horrible.
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to see as many Dreamworks
films as possible thereby increasing the stock so I get a payout. See how
that works? Disclaimer: Any raving I do about Dreamworks' projects is
not selfishly motivated in any way :).
I hope that there will be a seamless transition from the first movie to the second using stuff from the television series, but also striking out on its own with a plot that's even better than the first. They also need to hire the right musical composer to give us the soaring scores that have made How To Train Your Dragon iconic. I also would like to see some intense romance between Astrid and Hiccup that's clearly foreshadowed. If they do it right, this could be the next "billion dollar" franchise because the romance will appeal to all the YA addicted readers out there who might embrace Hiccup and Astrid in the same way that audiences hungered for Bella and Edward (sans vampires, werewolves, and a female protagonist) while appealing to boys who think dragons are cool and who identify with Hiccup's awkwardness (not to mention disability).

Maybe Hiccup will be the "boy band" equivalent in animation, culling the legions of fans that make One Direction such a huge hit.

MY OTHER POSTS ON HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON:
HTTYD in Gifs! How can you not like Gif stories?

***** 

Today is the Writers 4 Writers monthly marketing blitz for authors who have signed up on the list featured on the W4WS Facebook Page located HERE.

Please visit the following author blogs and send out the pre-fabricated sentences they have constructed and copy/paste and then tweet them to your following on twitter. I used to have the W4W's button in my sidebar linked to Stephen Tremp's blog, but that link is broken. I need to hunt down a new one for Stephen.

Anyway, it's as simple as that. Perhaps we can get them some viral marketing and witness sales soar through the roof! Wouldn't that be cool? Unrelated to W4WS, my friend Mimi Strong is experiencing stratospheric sales on her erotic book For You. I think she's probably nearing the 100,000 mark, but haven't spoken to her in a while (her real name is Tamara Paulin, but she also goes by Dalya Moon). I featured one of her YA novels called Practice Cake on my blog way back when (some of you old timers may remember it). Anyway, Mimi is kickin' some ass and may sell a million books before the end of the year. She's already been picked up by USA Today and raved about (another self-publishing success story, and this time from someone I knew when she was in the trenches!) For what it's worth to you, Mimi was ignored/brushed off by agents everywhere. She tried and tried. I know cause I was there comforting her on one of  her fourteen blogs (she has more blogs and more identities than Briane Pagel).

Lesson: It could happen to you!

You can also retweet other people's tweets by visiting #W4WS on twitter.


Let's take over the internet fellow Writers 4 Writers!

Have a great Monday.

29 comments:

  1. *Silent Scream* I love the older Hiccup and Astrid's hair looks amazing. Thank you for sharing this and I watch the show on Cartoon Network as well. How to Train Your Dragon is one of the best animated shows ever. I'm a Pixar girl but this Dreamwork's film knocked it out of the park. And yeah human Jack Frost looks like he's related to Hiccup. That would make for some crazy fan fiction.

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  2. Great info! Count me one those 'legions' of fans of HTTYD. I had no idea they were planning a sequel. I sure hope they give Astrid a cooler dragon though.

    I see Writers 4 Writers everywhere. I have *got* to check it out. Thx

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  3. Congrats to Mimi! I love it when this happens because some people..like trad publishers, agents and some readers still look down on self-publishing, and this is just MORE proof that it can work in big ways.

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  4. Don't know about the sexier part, but he does look a bit like Jack Frost. Minus the white hair of course.

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  5. I suppose this means I better finally get around to watching How to Train Your Dragon, huh? *crawlsawayinshame*

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  6. If they're going YA I think they'll have a love triangle. Possibly another dragon...

    mood

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  7. You just tickled my fancy, Michael. I cannot wait for this movie! :)

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  8. I'm so excited for the new HTTYD movie! But 2014 seems so long to wait. :)

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  9. I loved HTTYD, and I'm thrilled there's a second one. But I agree with Cherie. 2014 is too far away!

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  10. I read all the How to Train Your Dragon books with my son. Excited to hear about the movie!

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  11. Jack Frost was kinda nom nom :)
    Can't wait for HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON sequel, such a delightful movie it was! I'm also happy that EPIC, animated flick, is opening with great success around the world this week :)

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  12. Wouldn't I just love to sell 100,000 books! And I loved How to Train Your Dragon, such a fun movie - although I have to admit I liked Despicable Me a little better - but it's a close call!

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  13. I'm SO GLAD they're doing a second How To Train Your Dragon! I loved the first one!!!! And holy with Jack Frost... enjoyed that show too. I love that type of animation. It's so beautiful.

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  14. I don't recall ever wanting a coming-of-age dragon story.

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  15. I can't wait to see the new movie! Squee!

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  16. I have see How to Train your Dragon yet. :(

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  17. Very cool! I can't wait for this one. It's going to be SO GOOD! I'd like a great movie score for it too.

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  18. Yay for sexier and older. :) Was the Incredibles Pixar? I liked that one. And I saw Shrek. I think that's it.

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  19. Yay! I loved HTTYD! So glad they're making another movie. I love Astrid's hair too. First thing I noticed about her.

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  20. I really loved How to Train Your Dragon. With no deference for your stock, I hope it does do very well! I loved that Hiccup lost something to succeed. Crossing my fingers the next one is just as awesome. Thanks for the sneak peek. :)

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  21. Oops. Haven't seen How to Train Your Dragon... :)

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  22. I watched HTTYD not too long ago. It was a good movie. I'm not really into cartoons though.

    .....dhole

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  23. Congratulations to Mimi/Tamara. I'm both jealous (I want success like that!) and so happy for her because stories of break-out sales like hers are good news for all of us scribblers. I'm not surprised that she got nowhere with agents or with traditional publishers, so that means all the more profits for her as a self-published writer. What a happy ending!

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  24. I really have to watch How To Train Your Dragon! I have a few of the books and love them.

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  25. HTTYD is one of my perfect movies. One I look to when I think of the best in storytelling. And it sucks me in every time I stumble across it. I can watch it over and over and over...

    (Fingers crossed for the sequel. I have such high hopes.)

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  26. A little late to the party, but I have to say I AM EXCITED about a sequel to 'How to Train Your Dragon'. Love Hiccup! Love the new older look! Love that there will be a handicapped MC! Love it, love it, love it.

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  27. Oh man, I'm seriously excited about this movie! I loved the first film and can't wait to see where they take the second. And Hiccup does look sexy on the back of that dragon.

    Jai

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  28. Hi, Micheal! Sorry It's been so long. Crazy time.

    Yay for Laura and Marian! I love Writers 4 Writers.

    He looks more like Jack Frost to me.

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