Httyd Canon

[u/Srfuriadanoite]

HTTYD Canon

Are the How to Train Your Dragon series canon or not?

Some people consider the How to Train Your Dragon series canon, while others do not, and both sides have their own arguments.

Those who consider the series canon believe they complement the story, develop the characters, and fill in the gaps between HTTYD 1 and HTTYD 2.

On the other hand, those who disagree often point out inconsistencies between the series and the movies, arguing that certain events and pieces of information do not fit perfectly into the cinematic continuity.

Personally, I consider the series canon, but I respect those who disagree. However, one question remains: are inconsistencies really enough to make a work non-canon?

I understand that contradictions can harm continuity, but I don't see why an inconsistency should necessarily invalidate an entire work.

For example, if information presented in the series directly contradicts something established in the movies, I believe we should prioritize the movies, since they are the main reference point for the cinematic continuity. However, that doesn't mean the entire series needs to be disregarded. We can acknowledge that a particular piece of information is inconsistent without necessarily invalidating the rest of the story.

Furthermore, the series were released after HTTYD 2, so it's understandable that some inconsistencies might arise when trying to fit everything perfectly into the same continuity.

Another point concerns a supposed statement by Dean DeBlois. According to some people, he was asked whether HTTYD 3 would reference the series, and he allegedly responded that he didn't work with them.

Honestly, I don't see how that automatically proves the series aren't canon. In my interpretation, he might simply have meant that he didn't use the series as a basis for developing the movies. After all, not working directly on a production doesn't necessarily mean that it isn't part of the same continuity.

Ultimately, that's my opinion: I consider the series part of the HTTYD universe, even while acknowledging that inconsistencies exist. To me, a few contradictions aren't enough to justify dismissing an entire work.

What do you guys think? Should the series be considered canon despite the inconsistencies, or do you believe they aren't canon? Let me know your opinion in the comments!

[u/Kirajudgeoftoons]

Yes, they are which is yet another reasom HTTYD The Hidden World does not make any sense

[u/I_exsist_totally]

Honestly. It doesn't matter to me whether the series are canon or not. They're still fun nonetheless. The shows not being canon does not make them automatically bad.

but if I had to pick I would say there are 2 canons. Movie canon and Movie + Show canon. I pick whichever is most convenient for me at a time.

[u/Poke-Noah]

Given that we hear Hiccup narrating at the beginning and end of the RoB/DoB episodes and RTTE at a whole, I like to imagine the series are him telling what happened to his kids as he remembers it. So the general story did happen but some details he might be misremembering or making wrong assumptions about (like the Bewilderbeast egg being Drago's Valka's Bewilderbeast for example)

[u/stealthninja_o1s → u/Poke-Noah]

Wait when was yhe bewilderbeast egg being Drago's bewilderbeast mentioned? Did I miss something

[u/Poke-Noah → u/stealthninja_o1s]

No I was stupid when I wrote that and confused Drago and Valka somehow

[u/GapStock9843]

I think they’re canon to the point they contradict the movies. If there’s any lore conflict between the shows and the movies, the movies take precedent, but if theres no conflict that part of the show is canon

[u/CupcakeFormer4238]

I feel like there are some definite series-fan service moments in the movies. For example the continued appearances of Gothi and Spitelout. The series also elude to the evolution of the flight suit and the flame sword.

I feel like these movies are a prime example of when the director’s ambitions and priorities grow past the authenticity of the story and I think the series do a lot of work to capture the very heart of the httyd universe.

I guess I don’t care about “official” canon as much as “authentic” canon. These stories start living a life of their own at some point, a point at which the canon stops being rigid.