How To Train Your Dragon Timeline: A Complete Guide

The How To Train Your Dragon (HTTYD) franchise spans more than a decade of movies, TV series, and books. Whether you’re a first‑time viewer or a longtime fan, understanding the chronological order helps you follow Hiccup, Toothless, and the 107 dragon species as their stories unfold. This guide outlines the official timeline, highlights key character arcs, and suggests the best viewing order.

Why a Timeline Matters

HTTYD began as a 2010 animated film and grew into a multi‑medium saga that includes three feature films, two television series, and several short specials. The narrative is not released strictly in chronological order; flashbacks and spin‑offs fill gaps in the main storyline. A clear timeline ensures you experience the growth of Hiccup’s character and the evolution of his bond with Toothless without missing crucial plot points.

Chronological Order of the Franchise

  1. How to Train Your Dragon (2010) – Introduces Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, a misfit Viking, and his first encounter with the Night Fury, Toothless. The film establishes Berk’s dragon‑training culture and the beginning of Hiccup’s leadership.
  2. How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014) – Set five years after the first film, Hiccup is now chief of Berk. New dragon species appear, and the plot expands to the hidden island of dragons.
  3. How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019) – Concludes the main trilogy. Hiccup and Toothless discover the secret dragon sanctuary, completing their character arcs and tying together storylines introduced in earlier installments.
  4. Dragons: Riders of Berk (2012‑2014) – A short‑form series that runs parallel to the first two movies, offering side adventures that deepen the bond between riders and dragons.
  5. Dragons: Defenders of Berk (2015‑2018) – Set after the second film, this series follows the crew as they protect Berk from new threats, bridging the gap to the final movie.
  6. Dragons: Race to the Edge (2015‑2018) – The longest series, it explores Hiccup’s quest for new dragon habitats, including the discovery of the hidden world that later becomes central to the third film.
  7. Dragons: Rescue Rider (2020‑2022) – A spin‑off focusing on the younger generation of riders, taking place after the events of “The Hidden World.”

Suggested Viewing Order

For a seamless narrative experience, many fans recommend watching the franchise in release order while inserting the series episodes at appropriate points: