The Complete How To Train Your Dragon TV Series Timeline: From Berk To The Nine Realms (And What’s Next In 2025)
The How to Train Your Dragon franchise has captivated audiences for over a decade, not just with its blockbuster films but also with a sprawling, canonical television universe that deepens the mythology of Vikings and dragons. As of late December 2025, the last major animated series, Dragons: The Nine Realms, has concluded its run, firmly closing the book on the animated TV world—for now. This shift in focus is a major turning point, moving the franchise's spotlight toward its next massive undertaking: a highly anticipated live-action film.
The TV series served a vital role, bridging narrative gaps and introducing essential characters, technologies, and dragon species that were later crucial to the films. Understanding the television chronology is key to appreciating the full epic journey of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III and his loyal Night Fury, Toothless. From the early days on the Isle of Berk to a futuristic world 1300 years later, the saga is vast and detailed.
The Canonical How to Train Your Dragon TV Series Timeline
The How to Train Your Dragon television universe is meticulously structured, with the original series acting as a direct prequel to the second film. This section provides a complete, chronological breakdown of the animated shows, establishing the definitive timeline for the franchise’s history.
1. DreamWorks Dragons: Riders of Berk (2012–2013)
- Placement: Immediately following the events of the first film, How to Train Your Dragon (2010).
- Synopsis: This series is where the Dragon Riders of Berk—Hiccup, Astrid, Snotlout, Fishlegs, Ruffnut, and Tuffnut—learn to coexist with their dragons. The series focuses on establishing the Dragon Academy and dealing with the initial challenges of integrating dragons into Viking society.
- Key Entities: The introduction of the Dragon Academy, the discovery of new dragon species, and the ongoing conflict with rival tribes like the Outcasts, led by Alvin the Treacherous.
- Total Episodes: 20 (across two seasons, often grouped with Defenders of Berk).
2. DreamWorks Dragons: Defenders of Berk (2013–2014)
- Placement: A direct continuation of Riders of Berk, still set before the second film.
- Synopsis: As the Vikings and dragons settle into their new normal, the threats become more severe. Hiccup and the riders must actively defend Berk from powerful new enemies, including the scheming Dagur the Deranged and the cunning dragon hunter Ryker Grimborn.
- Key Entities: The introduction of the Screaming Death, the exploration of the wider archipelago, and the development of Hiccup’s inventive skills, which foreshadow his gear in the second movie.
- Total Episodes: 20.
3. DreamWorks Dragons: Race to the Edge (2015–2018)
- Placement: The final and longest bridge between the first and second films.
- Synopsis: The Dragon Riders leave the confines of Berk to explore the world, discovering the Dragon Eye—a mysterious artifact that reveals new lands and thousands of unknown dragon species. This series is pivotal, detailing the riders' evolution into seasoned explorers and warriors, directly setting up the events of How to Train Your Dragon 2.
- Key Entities: The Dragon Eye, the introduction of the Dragon Hunters (led by Viggo Grimborn), the discovery of Dragon's Edge (their new base), and the deeper development of Hiccup and Astrid’s romantic relationship.
- Total Episodes: 78 (across six seasons). This is the most substantial animated contribution to the original timeline.
4. Dragons: The Nine Realms (2021–2023)
- Placement: A spin-off set 1300 years after the events of How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.
- Synopsis: In a modern world where dragons are considered mythical, a group of kids discovers a massive fissure that opens into a hidden world of dragons. The main protagonist, Tom Kullersen, is a descendant of Hiccup. The series explores the legacy of the original Dragon Riders and the challenges of keeping the dragons' existence a secret in the 21st century.
- Key Entities: Tom Kullersen and his dragon, Thunder (a descendant of Toothless), the ICARIS research facility, and the nine distinct elemental realms where the modern dragons reside.
- Status: The series officially concluded with its eighth and final season on December 14, 2023, marking the end of the animated TV era for the franchise.
- Total Episodes: 52.
The End of the Animated Era and The Franchise’s Future
The conclusion of *Dragons: The Nine Realms* in late 2023 signaled a definitive shift. While the series offered a look into the far future of the dragon world, the lack of immediate announcements for a new animated series suggests DreamWorks is consolidating its focus on the next major theatrical release. This move is common for large franchises looking to generate maximum buzz for a tentpole film.
The next chapter in the How to Train Your Dragon saga will not be a TV show, but a return to the big screen in a completely new format: live-action. This project is the most current and significant development in the franchise’s history.
The Live-Action Film: A New Beginning in 2025
The live-action adaptation of the original 2010 film is currently in active production and is slated for release in 2025. This project is a complete re-imagining, not a continuation of the animated series, and is set to re-introduce the beloved characters to a new generation.
The casting choices have been a major topic of discussion, with several high-profile names attached to the project:
- Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III: Played by Mason Thames. Thames takes on the role of the awkward, inventive 16-year-old Viking who befriends the rarest dragon of all.
- Astrid Hofferson: Played by Nico Parker. Parker steps into the role of the fierce, ambitious, and highly skilled young warrior who eventually becomes Hiccup's partner.
- Stoick the Vast: Played by Gerard Butler. Butler, who voiced the character in the original animated trilogy, returns to play the live-action version of Hiccup’s father and the Chief of Berk. This continuity in casting has been widely praised by fans.
- Gobber the Belch: Played by Nick Frost. Frost will portray the one-handed, one-legged blacksmith and mentor to Hiccup.
The film is being directed and written by Dean DeBlois, the creative force behind the original animated trilogy. His involvement ensures that the new adaptation will maintain the spirit and emotional core that made the animated films so successful, providing a fresh yet familiar take on the classic story of a boy and his dragon.
Topical Authority: The Enduring Legacy of the TV Universe
Even with the live-action film on the horizon, the animated TV series remain indispensable parts of the HTTYD canon. They are far more than mere filler; they are the true middle chapter of the original trilogy. The shows provided the necessary time for key character development and world-building that the films simply couldn't accommodate.
For example, Race to the Edge introduced the Dragon Hunters, the concept of dragon-proof metal (Gronckle Iron), and the complexities of the wider Viking world, which were all critical plot points in How to Train Your Dragon 2. The series also fully developed the relationships between the secondary Dragon Riders—Snotlout, Fishlegs, Ruffnut, and Tuffnut—giving them individual story arcs and dragon-related discoveries.
The TV shows also explored the moral complexities of Hiccup's world, forcing him to confront ethical dilemmas surrounding dragon protection, resource management, and warfare. These narrative layers are why the TV series are essential viewing for anyone who wants to fully understand the journey from the small, isolated village of Berk to the vast, multi-tribal world of the final film, The Hidden World.
The overall continuity of the franchise—from the early days of dragon riding to the eventual separation of Vikings and dragons, and finally, to the rediscovery of dragons in the modern era—is one of the most complete and satisfying timelines in modern animation. As the franchise prepares for its live-action debut in 2025, the legacy of the animated television series ensures that the deep, rich history of Hiccup, Toothless, and the entire Dragon Rider crew will continue to inform the saga for years to come.
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