VFX/CFX Puppet Makers
Stitches and Glue provided physical Puppet representations of Toothless and several other key dragon characters. based on designs from Framestore, the primary visual effects company for the film.
The puppetry team was led by Tom Wilton, known for his work creature work on screen and in the stage play "War Horse”.
The live action How to Train Your Dragon brings its mythical creatures to life with stunning realism, using practical puppets on set.
A meticulously crafted Toothless puppet, created in a modular fashion to offer a series of rigging solutions and to give actors a physical, emotionally expressive dragon to interact with. Featuring an articulated jaw, ears, and other subtle mechanisms that allowed for lifelike movement and rich, reactive performances.
Far more than stand-ins, the puppets became vital storytelling tools, grounding fantasy in tangible reality. Their presence elevated both the performances and the on-screen connection between humans and dragons, showcasing the enduring power of practical effects.
The Stiches and Glue team also designed and built sophisticated mobile practical rigs to allow suspension of the large-scale Dragon Heads to further interact with the cast and offer accurate eyeline reference. As well as articulated handheld Terrible terror Dragon puppets.
The live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon, based on the animated film and Cressida Cowell's book series, was released on June 13, 2025
Director: Dean DeBlois
VFX Supervisor Christian Manz
Starring: The cast includes Mason Thames as Hiccup, Nico Parker as Astrid, Gerard Butler returning as Stoick the Vast, Nick Frost as Gobber, Julian Dennison as Fishlegs, Gabriel Howell as Snotlout, Bronwyn James as Ruffnut, Harry Trevaldwyn as Tuffnut, and Ruth Codd as Phlegma.
SFX Puppet Zippleback Rigs Puppeteerd by Ed Wood and Jack Parker.
