What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedDragons: Dawn of the Dragon Racers
Elaine Bogan · Film · 2014
If you loved Dragons: Dawn of the Dragon Racers, start with How to Train Your Dragon (Dean DeBlois, 2025) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 books, 2 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Dragons: Dawn of the Dragon Racers across media.
What hooked you in Dragons: Dawn of the Dragon Racers was the exhilarating joy of bonding with creatures through spirited competition.
Start with the source
The source
How to Train Your Dragon
Dean DeBlois · Film · 2025
Adaptation
Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury
Tom Owens · Film · 2011
Adaptation
DreamWorks Dragons
Chris Sanders · Series · 2012
Books on the same thread
Dragons Love Tacos
Adam Rubin, Daniel Salmieri · Book · 2012
Shares a thread with Dragons: Dawn of the Dragon Racers: Friendship.
If you enjoyed the playful humor found in Dragons: Dawn of the Dragon Racers, this silly story captures the same lighthearted spirit of interacting with unpredictable, hungry dragons.
Dragon Masters
Tracey West · Book
Shares a thread with Dragons: Dawn of the Dragon Racers: coming of age.
Much like the training dynamics in Dragons: Dawn of the Dragon Racers, this series focuses on the rewarding journey of a young protagonist learning to bond with dragons.
A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire)
George R. R. Martin · Book · 2011
Explores: Political Intrigue, War and Conquest, Moral Ambiguity.
While Dragons: Dawn of the Dragon Racers keeps things fun, this epic series explores the complex political consequences of dragon ownership on a much larger, more serious scale.
The Dragonet Prophecy
Zena Sutherland · Book · 2013
Explores: prophecy, warfare, loyalty.
If the competitive stakes in Dragons: Dawn of the Dragon Racers captivated you, you will appreciate how this story forces young dragon riders to unite for survival.
Series on the same thread
Dragons: Race to the Edge
Series · 2015
Shares 2 threads with Dragons: Dawn of the Dragon Racers: Friendship, Teamwork.
This series expands on the exact teamwork and dragon riding thrills established in Dragons: Dawn of the Dragon Racers, pushing Hiccup and his friends toward greater adventures.
DreamWorks Dragons
Chris Sanders · Series · 2012
Shares 2 threads with Dragons: Dawn of the Dragon Racers: Coming of Age, Teamwork.
This show deepens the connection between human and dragon established in Dragons: Dawn of the Dragon Racers, offering more screen time for your favorite characters and their creatures.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Adventure Zone
The McElroys · Podcast · 2026
Explores: improvised storytelling, group dynamics, high fantasy satire.
The camaraderie found in Dragons: Dawn of the Dragon Racers translates perfectly to this tabletop adventure, where group dynamics and improvised humor drive the excitement of the journey.
Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
Team Coco & Earwolf · Podcast · 2026
Explores: parasocial relationships, professional intimacy, self-deprecating humor.
While it lacks the literal dragons of Dragons: Dawn of the Dragon Racers, this podcast mirrors the conversational chemistry and genuine friendship displayed by the riders of Berk.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Dragons: Dawn of the Dragon Racers part of the DreamWorks Dragons television series?
Dragons: Dawn of the Dragon Racers is a standalone short film released in 2014. While it features the same characters and setting as the DreamWorks Dragons television series that began in 2012, it is a separate production rather than a direct episode of the show.
Should I watch Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury before Dragons: Dawn of the Dragon Racers?
You can watch these in any order as they are both short films set in the same universe. Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury was released in 2011, while Dragons: Dawn of the Dragon Racers followed in 2014, but neither requires knowledge of the other to understand the plot.
How does the plot of Dragons: Dawn of the Dragon Racers relate to the How to Train Your Dragon movie?
Dragons: Dawn of the Dragon Racers takes place within the world established by the franchise. It focuses on a competition to become the first Dragon Racing champion of Berk, whereas the How to Train Your Dragon films typically follow the broader narrative arc of Hiccup and his adventures.
What is the premise of Dragons: Dawn of the Dragon Racers?
The story follows Hiccup and his friends as a simple hunt for a lost sheep evolves into a high-stakes competition. The characters race to determine who will be crowned the first Dragon Racing champion of Berk, highlighting their skills and the bond they share with their dragons.