This is a great ‘Art of’ book from Newmarket Press and as such, it is light on the text and heavy on the art work.
It features a wealth of designs from rough drawings to final illustrations of all the major characters, creatures and locations seen in ‘How to train your Dragon’.
The main chapters of the book are Dragons, Vikings, The Dragon World and The Viking World. Which feature pencil sketches and various other techniques used to work to the final designs. I found the parts on background design and prop design particularly inspiring as they really go to show the thoroughness that goes on behind the scenes.
Speaking of behind the scenes, the final chapter of the book ‘Bringing the Worlds together’ goes into detail on story and storyboarding as well as showing test renders, effects and other aspects which lead to the final film.