Her credits stretch fromDances With Wolves, The Last Station, Toy StoryandOver The Hedge.
It has been, but Im not tired of it at all.
I love it, I love my team, I love the story.
I liked the world and I felt like I hadnt seen it in animation.
I really loved Hiccup too, I have to say.
Well, after all youve been through I can believe it.
Its been what… five, six years?
I started working on it around 2006.
But it doesnt seem like a long time to me.
I feel like the second film stands on the shoulders of the first but it is its own movie.
you could watch this film and you dont need to have seen the first one to understand it.
Why do people think that way about animation?
I dont know, but I do wish we could rid them of that prejudice.
The greatest compliment that people can give to me is when they say they forget theyre watching animation.
They get so wrapped up on the storytelling and then theyre just watching a good movie.
Thats the highest complement to me on the success of the film.
But I love it because its animation and I love the craftsmanship in the animation.
I think that animation is just another way to paint a picture.
Its a tool for storytelling.
Toothless in particular has always been incredibly expressive.
I have to give a lot of that credit to Randy Thom, our sound designer.
He particularly worked hard on creating the voice of Toothless.
Randy would have a go at create sound design that would convey that and feel emotional.
Maybe people dont understand the amount of work and thought that go into the sounds hes making.
Theres a lot of thought, particularly with someone like Randy.
Hes one of the best, and a great collaborator.
He also worked with us on movie one, and hell be working with us on movie three.
The people that I work with is what makes my job great.
I love working with Dean, we have a great relationship and mutual respect.
We just have some great people.
Who hired this team?
Or were they originally chosen by Chris and Dean?
Well, to be honest I did have a lot to do with it.
I cant get too waylaid by details, I must pay attention to the end game.
Its challenging, sometimes.
And I dont do the same thing every day.
I can only speak for myself.
I have to say that I think he has a lot of trust in me.
The studio helps us as we go along but we have some freedom.
The great thing about Dreamworks is that there isnt a certain style of movie we do.
Different filmmakers at Dreamworks have different styles and the studio supports that.
Jeffrey told me yesterday that there are thirty six different languages spoken at the studio.
We really have an international crew, literally from all over the world.
We really have the gamut of different nationalities and voices.
All of those different cultures to draw on.
Put all of that together in the recipe for the cake.
Like I say, we do get support and guidance at Dreamworks, but also freedom.
Whats your duty at this time?
Well, I definitely get a little bit of a break.
And were also doing lot of planning for movie three.
We definitely have a release date, June 2017, and theres a lot to do.
On the DVD theres a great commentary with myself, Dean, Simon Otto, Pierre Olivier Vincent.
Its a fun piece.
Thats a good chunk.
A lot of the time you see behind the scenes stuff on animated DVDs but this all Deans story.
A directors eye view.
Of certain milestones in the making of the movie.
Im also planning the art book for the third movie.
I should hope so too.
Those books are very good.
Im just setting up little things that were going to need once we get going.
When do you start casting for the new characters?
That will have to wait for the script.
You must have some ideas already?
Well be waiting for Dean to get on that once he gets done with the script.
Casting must be one of the more exciting parts.
Definitely, but it has to take place in Deans mind.
Im holding back for now.
Sometimes I have an idea but he has a more definite idea.
For example, he specifically wrote the Valka part for Cate Blanchett.
I cant imagine who else it would be.
And he didnt want to hear anything else I might say.
He told me specifically Im writing this for her, lets attempt to get her.
Fortunately for us, it worked out.
So how did you end up being the keeper of the dragons?
Did Jeffrey put you on this?
At that time we were a lot smaller studio and we didnt have that many projects.
I knew about this because the producers regularly meet, a development group where were looking for material.
Have you thought about what you want to do next?
I said Im not sure.
Well, you tell me.
Whatever you want to do, youll let me know.
Ill be honest, I love that book we optioned,How To Train Your Dragon.
I love the world, theres something about the main character, I think theres a good movie there.
I know you want to move forward right away and Im unavailable for probably six months.
Well, thats okay.
If thats the one you want to do, well wait for you.
Then you chose Chris and Dean?
Yes, I did.
We were looking for the right directors.
We tried some different avenues.
We wanted something with broader appeal.
We found the right match for the material.
Was it then considered a complete no-brainer to keep you and Dean on the sequel?
It sounded interesting and different.
And we were already creating a whole new pipeline because we had this new software.
So, just so I totally understand, why couldnt you do it that away?
Why wasnt this a way that Dreamworks could do things?
Honestly, we felt like it was… well, you know, I dont have all the answers.
Then we had to get started because we had a release date.
We thought it was more important to see to it the second movie could stand on its own.
It was more of a creative choice.
Is there something in there, something small or subtle, that we should keep our eyes peeled for?
Or maybe you could appreciate all the different dragons.
Yes, a modular system.
Those are always fun to watch.
Thankfully, Ive got a pretty big TV set.
Ill go take a good, close look.
Thank you, Bonnie Arnold.
How To Train Your Dragon 2 is out now on DVD, Blu-ray and Digital HD.
