Stories from the set

When Dean DeBlois was offered to direct the sequel, he agreed on the condition that he would be allowed to expand the franchise into a trilogy.

The main source of inspiration for Dean DeBlois when creating this film was Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980).

This is the first DreamWorks Animation film to use new animation and lighting software. The new programs, called Premo and Torch, allowed for improvements in facial animation, the feeling of fat, the feeling of wobbling flabby skin, and the movement of skin over muscles.

Chris Sanders, screenwriter and director of the film "How to Train Your Dragon" (2010), was only credited as an executive producer on this film. Sanders was unable to participate in this project as screenwriter and director due to his work on the film "The Croods" (2013).

The film's trailer used the music "Beyond the Clouds", written by the music production company Audiomachine.

Unlike the first film, the distributor for this one became 20th Century Fox, since in 2012 DreamWorks Animation ended its partnership with Paramount Pictures.

When drawing the islands of their fantasy world, the artists of How to Train Your Dragon 2 were inspired by the nature of Norway.