Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Movie-inspired show has strong relationships, role models.
Parents Need to Know
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Dragons: Riders of Berk
What's the Story?
DRAGONS: RIDERS OF BERK is the continuing story of Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel) and the Vikings of the island of Berk, where a newfound peace with the dragons has changed the face of the village and the lives of its inhabitants. Here Vikings and dragons work and play together, and the job of training the creatures falls to young Hiccup and his pals Astrid (America Ferrera), Fishlegs (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), Ruffnut (Julie Marcus), Tuffnut (T.J. Miller), and Snotlout (Zack Pearlman). The trouble is, it seems there are far more dragons out there than the Vikings ever imagined, and training all of them will take a massive team effort. Plus, even with a ceasefire in place, there are other threats to all of Berk's residents, and it's only through cooperation between the two groups that peace will win the day.
Is It Any Good?
This engaging series is a worthy successor to DreamWorks' well-received How to Train Your Dragon, and it's every bit as enjoyable on the small screen. All of the main characters return, bringing with them some complex relationships that are explored in more depth over the course of the series. In the case of Hiccup and his father, Stoick (Nolan North), this means viewers get to see them make further strides in seeing past their differences to find common ground -- and a new respect for each other. For Hiccup and Astrid, it translates to plenty more awkward instances of affection and a halting crush that reflects the uncertainty of relationships between tweens.
If you're used to seeing Toothless, Hiccup, and the rest of the cast in the movie's impressive 3-D format, then Dragons: Riders of Berk's flat animation might be a bit of a letdown, but happily the quality writing and lovely Nordic scenery will more than compensate. Plus, the promise of new characters -- both human and dragon -- should be enough to maintain kids' interest. As with the movie, it's worth taking a look first if your little kids are sensitive to scary creatures or perilous scenes, but for older kids, this is a terrific series centered on an unlikely hero who makes a name for himself by daring to be different.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what makes Hiccup unique in Dragons: Riders of Berk. Does he mind being different from the rest of the Vikings? How do his unique qualities become an asset to his village? How do they compensate for what sets him apart from most of the others?
Kids: Where do you notice strong relationships in this story? How do the characters communicate in a way that improves their relationships? How do the characters communicate with the dragons?
Why are there so few female characters in this series? Is Astrid a positive female role model? What do you think are her strongest qualities? How does her character differ from girls and women in other series you've seen?
How do the characters in Dragons: Riders of Berk demonstrate courage and perseverance? What about integrity and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?
TV Details
- Premiere date : August 7, 2012
- Cast : America Ferrera , Jay Baruchel , T.J. Miller
- Network : Cartoon Network
- Genre : Kids' Animation
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Courage , Integrity , Perseverance , Teamwork
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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