Looking back
at the earliest years of childhood, there are certain things that we toddlers
can just take an instant liking to. As far back as I can remember, I was a boy
that loved Dinosaurs, reptiles and above all … I loved Dragons. They just seemed to combine all the coolest elements a mythical creature can poses. There like
Dinosaurs, but with wings and can breathe fire, so what’s not to like? To this
day, Dragons are my favorites fantasy creatures, and they come in such a wide
variety. They can be fearsome monsters, or they can be loyal companions.
Speaking personally, I always felt that the image of a dragon has always been
present through my child hood, and I preferred to view them as allies to a
brave knight. Although, they admittedly can make for cool villains too. So, for
this countdown, I’ll be ranking my own personal favorite Dragons that have
soared across the screen in either Movies or TV.
#10 King Ghidorah from the “Godzilla” franchise
What’s cooler than a regular fire breathing Dragon … well, how about a three
headed dragon from outer space that shoots lightning bolts from his jaw. Aside
from being such an awesome looking creature, he’s also credible for being
Godzilla’s arch foe. Obviously, Godzilla is no stranger to giant monsters, but King Ghidorah was in a whole other league, as his most powerful and reoccurring
adversary in his long running franchise. We also see Ghidorah take on various
forms and appearances through the franchise, which makes him all the more
unique, and an all-around awesome dragon.
#9 Eustace from
“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of
the Dawn Treader”
When three children embark on yet another adventure in
the mystical world of Narnia, one of the boys named Eustace gets greedy, and
tries stealing gold. For punishment, he’s transformed into a Dragon, and while
he’s no longer able to speak, his mind hasn’t changed beneath his scaly new
appearance. In a nice twist, it’s when the boy takes a new form that he finds
himself connecting to his traveling companions, whom he’d been neglectful of as
a human. His relation with the enchanted talking mouse is one of the humblest
aspects of his journey. Also, while it’s common place to encounter Dragons
during a fantasy adventure, it’s quite the rare twist to have someone actually
transform into one, and remain that way through the whole film. It’s actually
kind of cool, I mean, imagine getting back from the adventure, and getting the
privilege to brag about being a mighty fire breathing dragon … that’s awesome!
#8 Slifer
the Sky Dragon from the “Yu-Gi-Oh!”
series
The Heavens twist and thunder roars signaling the coming of this
ancient creature, and the dawning of true power. In the world of “Yu-Gi-Oh!”, kids play a card game
featuring a variety of monsters as the main characters. What the children don’t
realize is that the monsters on the cards connect to ancient, mythical beasts
that once threatened mankind. Now in modern times, the doormat souls of these fearsome
beasts have awakened, and seek guidance in the modern world. The mighty Dragon
of the Sky named Slifer stands as one of the most powerful creatures of them
all, to the point where he’s regarded as a God among both mortals and monsters
alike. What makes this dragon so unique is that it’s not inherently evil or
good, he’s just a mass of power that’s loyal to whomever commands it. His
design is awesome, he conveys a mighty presence, and his theme music is about
as epic as they get.
#7 Falkor the
Luck Dragon from “The Never-Ending Story”
franchise
A little luck can go a long way when you’re a young boy sent on a
quest to save a mystical world from destruction. Fortunately for the boy hero Atreyu,
he’s got a little more then just luck on his side … he has, well, a luck dragon.
This unique creature is named Falkor, and he serves as both friend and guide
for the young hero. He’s dignified, humble, and even has a personality that’s all
his own. He’s basically a Yoda equivalent, just in the form of a dragon that
looks like a cross between a dog and a furry snake. It’s certainly one of the most
distinct dragon designs I’ve ever seen, but he’s also an icon of 80’s fantasy
creatures.
#6 Gringotts
Dragon from “Harry Potter and the
Deathly Hallows Part 2”
During a mission to defeat their greatest enemy,
Harry Potter and his companions find themselves trapped in the underground
caverns of Gringotts wizard bank. It’s there the young heroes discover an
albino dragon forced to live as a slave in the underground mines, and is
subject to the whim of some rather cruel goblins. With no other means of
escaping, our hero’s release the dragon, and ride on his back to freedom. It’s
a short and simple sequence, but a refreshing treat to see hero’s aiding a dragon
as opposed to battling it like yet another obstacle. Both the digital effects
on this dragon and its design are top notch, but what I really love is its animal
behavior. When it breaks free, it doesn’t just fly off, it stops, looks around
and takes in it’s first breaths of freedom before ascending into the sky. While
the Harry Potter series has had its fare share of dragons, my personal favorite
is the one that our heroes showed the most compassion for.
#5 Smaug from
“The Hobbit” trilogy
He is fire …
he is death! While the fantasy genera is home to many dangerous creatures and
sinister foes, none are more evil or more lethal then the mighty dragon Smaug.
Ever sense his inception of the novel “The
Hobbit”, Smaug has had a secure slot as one of the most iconic dragons of
all time. Just the concept of an intelligent dragon guarding a giant
underground treasure chamber is classic in of itself. What really stands out is Smaug’s cinematic portrayal in the live action Hobbit movies. In this series, Smaug is voiced by the distinguished Benedict Cumberbatch, and to say that he
shines in the role would be a gross understatement. His chilling vocals,
matched with his motion captured body performance make Smaug feel more alive
then most other movie creatures. The effects are incredible, the voice is dominate
and Smaug himself lights up the screen with his epic presence.
#4 Earth Sea
Dragons from “Tales from Earth Sea”
Unlike most dragons of fantasy, the dragons from the enchanted land of Earth
Sea are peaceful creatures … that is except for when evil looms on the horizon and
throws nature off balance. It’s only then that the once majestic dragons become
savage monsters. Another thing that makes these dragons unique is that their
humble nature makes them as close to humans as creatures get, to the point
where they can even take both the form and life of a human. The 2006 anime “Tales from Earth Sea” has always been a
favorite of mine, and one that I feel deserves more attention. These dragons
are some of the most stunning ever put to film, brought to life through extraordinary
animation, and have their own mythos that make them so much more interesting then
your typical fantasy creature.
#3
Maleficent’s Dragon form from “Disney’s
Sleeping Beauty”
One of the most classic staples of the fairy-tale genera
is seeing a prince ride off to rescue a princess who’s locked in a tower,
guarded by a fire breathing Dragon. That is the classic formula, and this is
the classic final battle that set the template for sword wielding heroes and
monstrous foes. Maleficent was already a first-rate villain from Disney’s
gallery, and her final form as a deadly fire breathing dragon has always stood
out to me as the greatest evil dragon ever captured on film. She’s fast, she’s
deadly, her design is awesome, her green tinted flames are unique, and her
screen presence is unmatched. While this climax is admittedly very short by
today’s standards, it’s still quiet the spectacle for an animated movie dating
all the way back to 1959.
#2 The
Dragons: Drogon, Rhaegal and Viserion from “Game of Thrones”
Before I sour
with my Number One favorite Dragon, here are some Honorable Mentions …
Draco
from “Dragon-Heart”
Mushu from “Mulan”
Vermithrax Pejorative from “Dragonslayer”
Girl Dragon from “Shrek”
Guardian Dragon from “The Pagemaster”
#1 Toothless
from the “How to Train Your Dragon”
franchise
There have been some special Dragon companions on my list, but for
a young Viking named Hiccup, he’s got the greatest pet of all time, a fire
breathing dragon lovingly nicknamed toothless. Whether you’re a kid or a kid at
heart, you can’t help but wish for a special connection of your own with a
creature as awesome and as lovable as this. It may seem odd to call a dragon
cute, but honestly, there’s so much more to Toothless then just an adorable
mug. This dragon is simply brimming with
personality, charismatic traits, and a loving bond with his master that allows
him to just warm our hearts. His lovable nature alone earns him a spot on my
list, but the fact that such a playful personality comes from a monstrous
dragon like this makes him so much more special and personally, to call him my
favorite dragon would be underselling it … I think he’s one of the absolute
cutest, and greatest animated characters of all time.
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