How to Love a Franchise

The first time I forgot I was in a movie theater was when I was 10. A young boy, scrawny and weak, led with kindness and creativity. A dragon, black and sleek, learned trust and care. Together, they face off with the Green Death, seen through lightning clouds and silhouettes.

Cut to the chase. Literally. Toothless and Hiccup sink faster and faster, as I inch further off my seat. Through the clouds, the green beast follows close behind, opening its mouth as if promising that it will make a delicious meal of the two. I hold my breath. The theatre, my friends, the popcorn in my lap all disappear, and all that matters is that these two bonded friends survive.

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Step 1: Forget.

Forget where you are. Forget who you are. All that matters is this story, the bonds that have been made, and the growth that happens in each character. And when you forget, hold onto this story.

It's a movie. But it's never just a movie to you. Remember how one viking boy, Hiccup, just wanted to belong. Remember that when seeing a dragon, eye-to-eye, his resolve to kill him dissipates. He sees himself in them, both of them, scared.

Remember that he is the first to ride a dragon... to earn a dragon's trust.

It's never just a movie to you. Remember how one ferocious dragon managed to crawl his way into your heart. How the dragon refuses to go for the kill. How he acknowledges Hiccup's kindness, and recognizes him as a friend. Remember how he accepts his new name: Toothless.

It's never just a movie to you, never just an animation, never just fiction. Remember that it's never just something. And forget whatever anyone else might say about it.

Step 2: Sing.

Sing praises! The art, the story, the tension! The understanding between father and son, dragon and boy, and everything about it touches you to your core. Share with everyone, because if they haven't watched it yet, they have not been enlightened with such a masterpiece!

Hum the soundtrack. Listen to an upcoming sequel album, playing it again and again leading up to the release. And when it comes out, hearing the one song that has lyrics touches your heart with the amount of adoration between two adults.

Promise yourself that if you ever were to get married, you would dance to this song.

Step 3: Consume.

When a sequel comes out, realize that there could be more out there. Watch the sequel and deny that you cried in front of your friends. Then go to where you get your fandom content, go to your online internet friends, type in all caps: "WHO WATCHED THE SECOND MOVIE? WHO CRIED?"

(They were supposed to be a reunited, happy, together family T-T)

Engage with others, follow fandom blogs, and reblog all those wonderful fanart you stumble upon. Search on YouTube for all the behind the scenes you can. Learn that the directors of the film are the same directors of your first favorite movie.

They both grow bigger in your heart, as you appreciate the differences and similarities.

Watch all the TV shows, movies, and shorts. Notice how each piece of content develop the relationships and explain the characters just a little more, until you feel connected with each one. Until Hiccup gains the trust and respect of each one. Until the affections for their own dragons is just as powerful as the affection between Hiccup and Toothless.

Try your hand in collection. Get just one stuffed animal, a stuffed animal you get for your birthday from a friend who watched the second movie with you. Hug that little buddy with all you got. Even include him in your photoshoot!

Step 4: Analyze.

What did all of this mean? Search for all of the little, special nuggets of metaphors. Toothless allowed Hiccup to soar, to grow his own wings and "leave the nest" by creating his own vision.

Make connections to society, and realize that war movies about veterans returning with injuries were the trend of the time.

Look into the subtext, and theorize that a character might be queer. DreamWorks confirms this on the first of pride month.

Taking a class on the history of animation, you professor gives tidbits on what makes this movie so great. How animators study anything as a reference. Learn that Toothless was modeled after dogs, cats, and babies. That his smile was based on one animator's infant, imitating a parent's widening mouth with a toothless grin.

The third movie comes out, and appreciate the vast amount of skills it takes to tell a complex story like this. Each movie centers around a different type of conflict.

Man vs. Nature

Man vs. Man

and Man vs. Self.

Step 5: The End.

It's the end. You grew up with this franchise. Hiccup and Toothless, and everyone else all grew with you. It hurts, and you spend the night after watching the final movie crying. Every time you scroll past a still, fanfiction, fanart, commentary, you just break down again.

It's the end, and it hurts so much to say goodbye.

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.

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(Step 5.1: But it's Never Goodbye.)

But it's never goodbye. Rewatch. Talk to anyone you can. Recommend it to anyone who asks for a movie, a show, a series.

It doesn't have to be goodbye. Hug your little buddy a little closer, press play one more time, and know that there will always be another.

(And maybe, just maybe, write your first blog post on the franchise you fell in love with!)

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Engage with me!

• What franchises have you fallen in love with?

• When falling in love, did you follow this these steps? Where did you differ, and where do you relate?

• Loved "How to Train Your Dragon"? Recommend me a movie or show!

• Hated the movie? Participate in a word-duel with me on why this movie is (or is not) but definitely is a masterpiece.

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