Seen on Screen with Jacqueline Coley : Dean DeBlois on Reimagining a Modern Animated Classic for Live Action
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Seventeen years after launching one of animation’s most beloved franchises, Dean DeBlois returns to How to Train Your Dragon for a bold new chapter: a live-action adaptation that’s bigger, more immersive, and emotionally resonant. In this episode of Seen on the Screen, Jacqueline Coley sits down with the Oscar-nominated writer and director to discuss bringing the world of Hiccup and Toothless into live action.
Candid and full of gems, Dean reflects on a career that’s taken him from animation desks to directing large-scale practical effects—including the massive animatronic Toothless used in flight sequences. He explains how The Empire Strikes Back influenced How to Train Your Dragon 2, how Mulan helped shape Hiccup’s emotional arc, and what it was like casting a new generation of actors, including Mason Thames and Nico Parker.
Looking back on his journey—from early creative struggles to seeing the Isle of Berk turned into a theme park—Dean reflects on the risks he’s taken, the lessons he’s learned, and the power of storytelling that keeps evolving, no matter the medium. How to Train Your Dragon hits theaters and IMAX on June 13.
Candid and full of gems, Dean reflects on a career that’s taken him from animation desks to directing large-scale practical effects—including the massive animatronic Toothless used in flight sequences. He explains how The Empire Strikes Back influenced How to Train Your Dragon 2, how Mulan helped shape Hiccup’s emotional arc, and what it was like casting a new generation of actors, including Mason Thames and Nico Parker.
Looking back on his journey—from early creative struggles to seeing the Isle of Berk turned into a theme park—Dean reflects on the risks he’s taken, the lessons he’s learned, and the power of storytelling that keeps evolving, no matter the medium. How to Train Your Dragon hits theaters and IMAX on June 13.
Seen on Screen with Jacqueline Coley
"Seen on Screen" is your ticket to the personal narratives behind the scenes at Universal. Hosted by Jacqueline Coley, Awards Editor at Rotten Tomatoes, each episode invites you into lively conversations with NBCUniversal employees. Together, we explore how the magic of filmed entertainment impacts their lives.
With a blend of games and questions, Jacqueline guides us through a journey of cinematic discovery, asking guests to reflect on the films that have rocked their world, changed them forever, or even scared the daylights out of them.
At Universal, we believe that behind every film, campaign, and award lies a human story waiting to be told. "Make It Universal" isn’t just a mantra – it’s a commitment to celebrating the diversity, individuality, and collective experiences that make us truly universal. From the directors to the executives, from the famous faces to the unsung heroes, every voice matters.
So, join us as we Make It Universal on "Seen on Screen," where every story is meaningful, every experience is relatable, and every moment is filled with magic. Because when art and entertainment connect with people on a human level, that's when the real magic happens.
With a blend of games and questions, Jacqueline guides us through a journey of cinematic discovery, asking guests to reflect on the films that have rocked their world, changed them forever, or even scared the daylights out of them.
At Universal, we believe that behind every film, campaign, and award lies a human story waiting to be told. "Make It Universal" isn’t just a mantra – it’s a commitment to celebrating the diversity, individuality, and collective experiences that make us truly universal. From the directors to the executives, from the famous faces to the unsung heroes, every voice matters.
So, join us as we Make It Universal on "Seen on Screen," where every story is meaningful, every experience is relatable, and every moment is filled with magic. Because when art and entertainment connect with people on a human level, that's when the real magic happens.
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