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Welcome back to Almost Classic Movies with Jon and Donald! In this episode, the guys take to the skies with the 2010 animated hit How to Train Your Dragon—and things get personal fast. From Viking dad issues to dragon-sized feels, they unpack why this film hits harder than your average “kids movie.”

🔥 Highlights from the episode:

• Jon and Donald reflect on the movie’s rich emotional depth and character arcs—especially that gut-punch of a father-son moment with Stoick.
• A breakdown of how Toothless is basically a cat... with jet fuel.
• Thoughts on how HTTYD balances action, comedy, and heart—and what still leaves them wanting more.
• A deep dive into DreamWorks’ surprisingly strong run of animated hits (Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, Prince of Egypt... are they the real GOATs?)
• Speculation on the upcoming live-action adaptation: Will the CGI hold up? Should they even try to recreate THAT dragon’s nest?

🎬 Rating Rundown:
Both hosts hover between an 8 and a 9—calling it “a high 8, low 9” depending on the day. Their biggest critique? Wishing it was 30 minutes longer to really let the world and character arcs breathe.

📚 Bonus Trivia:

• Toothless was originally a small green-and-red dragon in the book—and the name came from losing a literal tooth!
• That iconic hesitation before Toothless lets Hiccup touch him? Total animation accident that they decided to keep.
• There’s allegedly a Flux Capacitor hidden in Hiccup’s notes—Back to the Future fans, assemble.

👶 Plus: Jon drops news about his soon-to-arrive baby (congrats!), Donald nearly adopts a pit bull named Chuck, and somehow Trump as the Pope gets a mention. So yeah... classic ACM chaos.

👉 Got thoughts, questions, or favorite dragon facts? DM us on Instagram or email the show. We love hearing from you!

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Contact:
Email: almostclassicmovies@gmail.com
Instagram: @almostclassicmovies

Co-Hosts:
Jon K.
Donald S.

Podcast Production:
Wayfare Recording Co.

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