Open Letter to Dreamworks

To start things off, yes, I know this is over a few months later since the announcement. But since then I've had projects and real life taking up my time. Finally, I have time to review and edit this and now it's posted for all to view.

Dear Dreamworks Animation (mainly Jeffery Katzenburg),

I know it’s been a few months since the announcement was made. But better late than ever I suppose. Anyway, onto the subject of this open letter. For starters, I have greatly enjoyed your latest animated feature, How to Train Your Dragon. Given to the near commercial praise, it has become one of the most successful films in spring of this year. I applaud you immensely for producing such a film of great quality. The animation was superb, the story was entertaining and engaging, and the characters are convincing and likeable.

However, in April of this year, I heard that you announced making not only a sequel for the movie, but also a live tour show and a television series. Now I have to ask—why are you making this announcement for a film that’s been released just this year? My only concern is that this is so sudden to even begin working on a sequel, a television series, and live tour show. Don’t get me wrong; I have nothing against a sequel for How to Train Your Dragon. But the major problem here is that it seems you as a company are rushing to start the next cash cow franchise since Shrek now has its final sequel supposedly.

If you are willing to do a sequel, make sure you can create the second film that’s just as good as the first movie. In other words, it’s quality. Quality in characterization and storytelling are what people keep coming back for more. Nowadays, it’s almost become a lost art since we have cheap remakes that don’t pay homage to the original films, hollow action movies with no bearing on plot, CGI fests that are lacking in substance, and endless sequels with no forethought other than squeezing out more of our money. After Shrek the Third, it already was wearing out its welcome and the fourth film so far has received mixed reviews. Do you want this to happen to How to Train Your Dragon? My advice for you is to wait awhile to flesh out the story for the second film. It worked with Pixar, so why not you?

As for the television series, I encourage you not to create it. What will it add to the film-verse How to Train Your Dragon? Will the original voice actors be back? Will it be every bit as engaging as the movie had? It the answer is pretentious and phony, please reconsider your decision to turn it into a television series. Grant it, Penguins of Madagascar is moderately received, but only because for Madagascar it worked. I can’t see How to Train Your Dragon working like that.

Finally, the live tour show, again if it works and is entertaining and engaging, go for it. If not, do not try if you are not going to stay true to the film, or the book it is based on.

Bottom line, all I am asking is to think about your decision to turn How to Train Your Dragon into the next big franchise after Shrek. I am speaking as a concerned moviegoer and animation fan. I want quality in my films, not a half baked attempt to cash in the apparent success of your movie. And also, if you’re going to do the sequel, keep the original staff who had previously worked on the film as well as voices. If not, you are alienating your audience expecting something grand and improved. Even if I’m just one person, I hope you get a chance to read this and think about what I am saying.

Sincerely,
Melanee Wood, a concerned fan and moviegoer