Keeping Score: The majestic music of 2010’s ‘How to Train Your Dragon’
I was 13 years old when the first How to Train Your Dragon movie came out. I saw it, I liked it, and I didn’t really think about it again. All these years later, as an adult with a slightly unhealthy obsession with animation, I still don’t really consider it anything more than a fairly decent kids film. You can imagine my surprise then when I discovered just how much people love this thing. At university, one of my friends genuinely hit me when I told them I thought the film was ‘just ok’.
I have since discovered that one of the main reasons people adore this movie, which was co-directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois, is its music. To be fair, they might have a point. English composer John Powell already had a strong relationship with DreamWorks, having previously worked on the likes of Kung Fu Panda, Chicken Run, and Shrek. This was the first time he had helmed an animated score on his own, however,
How to Train Your Dragon has a great all-round score, full of unexpected instruments that bring the vibrant island of Berk to life. However, it’s generally agreed that the highlight is ‘Test Drive’. The music plays when Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) goes on his first flight with his recently-domesticated dragon, Toothless. Hiccup has also put his engineering skills to the test, having constructed a new prosthetic tail for his injured friend.
‘Test Drive’ is everything you could want from a piece of flying music. It’s got soaring brass, gracious strings, and a litany of accompaniments to really sink your teeth into. Powell intentionally used instruments with Celtic roots to match the Scottish accents used by (most of) the cast. The penny whistle appears throughout the film and can be prominently heard during this piece.
As Hiccup and Toothless’ relationship is the cornerstone of the entire film, Powell dedicated the early portion of his work on the score to them. ‘Test Drive’ was actually the first piece he came up with for the movie. He then worked backwards to create the rest of the music. ““I just had an idea, and I put it down,” he recalled (via Craft Recordings). “It had heavy guitars in it and big drums, and it had a very simple tune.”
Powell was nominated for the Academy Award for ‘Best Original Score’ for his work on How to Train Your Dragon. ‘Test Drive’ specifically was recognised by the International Film Music Critics Association as one of the best pieces of the entire year, along with ‘Forbidden Friendship’, another Powell creation. The composer has since become intrinsically linked with the series, returning to score its two animated sequels and its pointless live-action remake.
I still may not fully understand the hype surrounding How to Train Your Dragon, but I can’t argue with the facts. The first film was a massive hit, finding fans in some very unlikely places, and its music is utterly stunning. Powell is now one of the most in-demand composers across all of Hollywood, but has always found time for animation. In 2026, he provided the score for Minions & Monsters and is set to return to DreamWorks for Shrek 5 when it hits screens in 2027.
