John Powell wrote the musical score for the 2010 film How to Train Your Dragon.
Powell’s score combines orchestral writing with Celtic-influenced colors and energetic themes for flight, friendship, and Viking life. Its music helps distinguish Hiccup’s emotional growth from the larger action sequences involving dragons and aerial battles.
The soundtrack includes the recurring theme “Test Drive,” which accompanies Hiccup and Toothless learning to fly together. The score became one of the most recognized elements of the film and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Score.
Powell also composed the music for the two animated sequels, creating musical continuity across the trilogy. Hans Zimmer, Alan Silvestri, and Michael Giacchino are prominent film composers, but they did not write the score for the first How to Train Your Dragon film.