Berk's Grapevine

Interview: Concept Artist Nicolas Weis


Check out this amazing interview and dragon concept art collection from Nicolas Weis! In the interview, he talks about working with Pierre-Olivier Vincent and what it was like building off the designs of the first film.

Unlike The Croods, Dragons 2 was a production oriented more on the "mechanical," whether it be war machines or for all new buildings and other stools or accessories invented by the local Leonardo da Vinci, Hiccup.

It was really a pleasure to imagine relatively seriously how to integrate enomrous flying reptiles into a human population and to cater to their needs and to their daily interactions with the Vikings. I began by making a list of all daily activities, not at all glamorous or heroic, with which had to engage a dragon when we rode. 

He also designed war machines and dragon traps used by Drago's army in the second part of the film:


Originally Drago's army was divided into several factions who each had their "style" of combat. Some used sharp projectiles, some incapacitated, and others used nets. So I did a lot of research on the technique of military siege across time and cultures, then I started to sketch, make very simple 3D models, then further drawings to explain the concept before moving on to the final painting in Photoshop.

You can read the full interview on 3DVF.com (English translation)!

53 comments:

  1. These are really cool! :D I always love looking at concept art and designs. It's amazing how much detail and work goes into animated films like this.

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  2. Toothless the Dragon KingJuly 9, 2014 at 4:00 PM

    Im back god the net was gone forever
    i am second comment here

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  3. anyone notice that in the English translation he calls hiccup Harold several times?

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  4. That trap is pretty cool! :-)
    *makes blueprint for later occasions*

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  5. Nightshade, check your pm inbox on the forum. =)

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  6. No, you are just from the same place I am! Kinda.

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  7. Just about 7600km, yes! :D
    I'll come over tommorow ;P

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  8. Sila is from Iowa, you can contact her, she is really nice!
    I assume that you know her though :P

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  9. Orrr.. not.. =(


    I would still love to meet fellow dragon fans.. And I kinda know sila haven't talked to her that often, same with ghetto. Is Ghetto from Iowa too?

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  10. HiccupToothlessFan95July 9, 2014 at 7:26 PM

    Good luck :)

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  11. Toothless the Dragon KingJuly 9, 2014 at 8:07 PM

    Thank God Internet is back on

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  12. Toothless the Dragon KingJuly 9, 2014 at 8:08 PM

    fifa 2014 final
    Germany VS Argentina

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  13. TimbertheTimberjackJuly 9, 2014 at 9:47 PM

    Nothing we already know; its gonna be on netflix, 3rd season starts in spring, is prequel to httyd 2, yada yada yada

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  14. TimbertheTimberjackJuly 9, 2014 at 9:49 PM

    Am i seeing things or is that a pool full of lava

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  15. I don't think I have.. Plus my bf; he is a dragons fan too.

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  16. that means that there are a couple, I mean... look at me, northern sweden, I'm sitting there alone! D: xD

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  17. ❀ωαѕвσяи¢яαzу❀July 10, 2014 at 2:31 AM

    Depends. It's being aired on Netflix, but that's all I know.

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  18. I'm going to be an animator when I grow up so I can animate Toothless :)

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  19. Wow thats so great. I love the designs! ❤

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  20. i also found this http://lume.co.vu/image/84752582046

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  21. Toothless the Dragon KingJuly 10, 2014 at 9:33 AM

    Ive watched the movie 5th time

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  22. Toothless the Dragon KingJuly 10, 2014 at 9:34 AM

    can i record the movie on camera in teatere

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  23. Toothless the Dragon KingJuly 10, 2014 at 9:37 AM

    Berk's ghostvine on 4:00 till ¤◆◇

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  24. Toothless the Dragon KingJuly 10, 2014 at 9:54 AM

    the story how i find httyd
    1) In cartoon network arabic there was a new cartoon named dragon riders of berk.I thought it was like others.
    2) So i watched the first ep it was epic.
    3) I bolted away and open my laptop.
    4) In youtube I Typed Dragon Riders of Berk Full movie.It was how to train your dragon was the I saw the Movie i could say the was EPIC!!!! OMG

    And thats how i became a dragon trainer

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  25. Toothless the Dragon KingJuly 10, 2014 at 10:01 AM

    Who have Fibre Internet

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  26. Toothless the Dragon KingJuly 10, 2014 at 12:45 PM

    is anyone here

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  27. TimbertheTimberjackJuly 10, 2014 at 1:12 PM

    ME...so whats up?

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  28. When will Book 12 be released into the US? D: I want to get it so badly.

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  29. here is america's interview i like how she talks about the landing role process for astrid http://youtu.be/ZqPqpEPFQ1M dean landed the role well being hiccup's voice of reason

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  30. no idea but i might read them after i finish the animated franchise im curious about camicazi the most cuz shes basically astrid a badass viking and a good tsundere gf for hiccup i guess they are called hiccami i wonder how simillar hiccstrid is to it

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  31. Wait, they have the show in Arabic!?

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  32. It's sad how so many people don't comment anymore now the movie is out. But anywho, love the designs.

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  33. Toothless the Dragon KingJuly 10, 2014 at 7:05 PM

    yes

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  34. they should comment about the new riders of berk comics

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  35. I hope this prequel could explain a lot of things...and when a say a lot of thing I mean about relationships (you know who am talking about) , and...the stoick and gobber new dragons, am I right?

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  36. I really like how there are more cultures than just Vikings: Slavs, Gaels, etc. It really makes you feel like Hiccup is actually exploring faraway places.

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  37. I'm really wanting to see how Hiccstrid really began to spark and I want to see how Snotlout and Fishlegs begin to like Ruff

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  38. What ever happened to the second part of the behind the scenes of the tv show. They posted the first part on here and said they would get part 2 up but never did :/ does anyone know where to find the 2nd part?

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  39. yep (you're right itchyarmpitisland, there's a new dynamic in the group that took time, was a process and must be an "inflection" at some point of their relationship: for Hiccstrid and snotlout realising his failure andd the new focus on Ruff) , and also how Hiccup started to create his flying stuff, the idea and the testing of it XD
    you know what? I think this new Masters of dragons is gonna be awesome!

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  40. I think people are angry about all the spamming that was going on.

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  41. Must.. have.. this.. toy..

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  42. Sadly I clicked the link and the top comment asks where he got it and he replies that it is custom made, the only one in the world like it.

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  43. Things I am hoping/expecting will be explained are (slight spoilers if you didn't pay attention to the film or didn't see it yet):


    A) Hiccups flight suite; how it was invented, what all the gadgets do. One looks like a home made pencil with maybe sap or something for ink, sharpened by a knife with each use... which he has in a different belt slot. Another looks like a compass. Also I'd like to see how he figured out Toothlesss's saliva could be used as glue.


    B) His new foot. Very brief scene that showed he has a switch to switch it from a flight foot to a walking foot. I'd like to see how he invented it and what else it can do, if anything.


    C) Of course, how Hiccup went from shy and crushing on Astrid to having the courage to casually kiss her, being almost like a boyfriend to her.


    D) "That's my future daughter in law!" By Stoick. I would like to see if Hiccup proposed in the series, or hinted that they would be married soon, or if this is just some assumption by his dad during their "talk."


    F) I would like to see the "big talk" Stoick gives Hiccup, though this will probably be at the end of the series. This would likely involve becoming Chief, and possibly being pressured to marry someone soon (Astrid, duh)


    G) No one picked up on this but me, I think, but during the clip when Hiccup is reuniting with his mother, just as she goes to draw in the snow, he mentions another girl he met, though it is hard to hear through the music. I can't find a clip of it, but if you happen to see the movie again listen closely when Hiccup is talking to his mother. He mentions "Meeting a girl on dragon island" Though this could refer to Heather.

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  44. Did anyone else pick up on what Hiccup was casually telling his mother when the music played and right near the scene where they were drawing in the snow. He said something like


    "There's the time I met a valkyian girl on dragon island"
    (I think its valkyian can't remember)


    This could refer to Heather. I picked up on it the first time I saw it, but you have to listen closely cuz it's kinda hard to hear over the music. If you're too focused on the music or the clips, you could easily miss it.


    Anyone else notice this line.. at all?

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  45. just saying but about your C): if you checked out the official site of httyd 2, you'll notice that Astrid-in fact- is described as Hiccup's longtime girlfriend, And for those who already watched it, is obvious that they have a relationship.
    But besides that I don't understand a lot of things like for example why Snotlout or/& fishlegs never talked or exchange any opinion or anything with hiccup? is like they were so far to each other mmm

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  46. idk im wondering about that to and i know fans have gripes with the show but i like it for what it is

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  47. I know.. I feel your pain. =(

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  48. For C) Yes they are long term boy friend and girl friend. BUT they do have a very, very different relationship in the first movie & series compared to the 2nd film.


    But what I meant by that was how his feelings grew stronger from puppy love to the point of love.


    Before you bite my head off, it actually is just puppy love in the first film. They are about 15 years old in the first film, and just starting out with emotional attachments. Every teenager goes through this; the shy point of not knowing what love is to really falling in love.


    When first starting out a relationship, people often don't admit I love you until months or even years into the relationship. People get butterflies at first, which then fade as they become comfortable, which some mistake as falling out of love. But this is the point you are actually starting to fall in love, because now you have complete trust in your partner and know how they are feeling, what they are thinking, etc, just by looking at them.


    When they are teenagers, in the first film and series, it is very much a shy relationship. Hiccup never kisses Astrid, he's always to shy to. Most of the time Astrid was crushing on him, but he remained her friend for the moment, with feelings for her deep down. By the time we get to the 2nd movie he is casually kissing her cheek and passionately kissing her by the end.


    There obviously had to be some building romance and bonding to get to that point. Cuz in HTTYD 1 their relationship was young and innocent, a form called puppy love. In HTTYD 2 that is love, true love, having blossomed to the point where they have fallen for each other.


    What I meant was I would like to see the actual falling in love happen. In HTTYD 1 and the series we didn't see that, and by HTTYD 2 they were obviously already in love. If you have experienced the difference between crushing as a teenager to loving someone when you are older, you'll know what I am talking about.

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  49. I actually found something like this!

    http://www.kmart.com/dreamworks-dragons-defenders-of-berk-real-flying/p-004W006700893001P

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