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Published: 2011-09-17 05:04:31 +0000 UTC; Views: 12726; Favourites: 419; Downloads: 88
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My interpretation of Future!Astrid, and a way to rant about my views about her.I've really wanted to get this across in my fic because it's quite prominent, being that Astrid is feminine. Seriously. She's not some butch chick about to go slay some dragon ass and be chief of Berk and the one wearing the pants in the relationship ALL the time. Really, I'm a total history freak going to major in Anthropology with a minor in History so I really try to stick to the book as much as I can (as far as it goes, knowing that documentation wasn''t super accurate way back), and I enjoy it, so I do take it seriously. And, knowing what I do, women in Viking culture did have enormous amounts of respect in contrast to Indian women or Russian women, or any woman anywhere in deep history, but Viking men would never allow a woman to be a chief. Oh my god, never . I don't care about the ifs and the buts, but guise. And the thing about Hiccup not being chief really irks me too. I know he's still a wimpy noodle, but you saw the way he commanded the group when they arrived at the Green Death scene. He's born to be chief. It''s natural for him to be so, though he's grown up being a stupid, fumbling, always-messing-up dork.
Okay. About Astrid and the picture again. I see Astrid as a 'hidden' type of feminine. Like, she obviously doesn't want to show it because of the boys she's surrounded by and she doesn't want them to see her 'womanly' weaknesses, but she SO is such a girl still. Did you see she flicked her bangs or tucked her hair behind her ear? I mean, if she was the incredibly up front type of person that I see a lot, she would have outright kissed Hiccup instead of messing around and kissing his cheek. She was so blushing. It was soooooOOooo obvious.
This also ties in with her femininity and still wanting to be 'the best' and tough and shiz. I don't see her losing that at ALL. She wouldn't be Astrid if she didn't tussle in the mud and punched Snotlout all the time. Really. I love her to death. Maybe that's because I can relate to her just the same, but she's a good, somewhat rounded character though slightly undeveloped in the movie but enough for opinions.
And oh . I can't forget to mention this. Astrid is so perfect for Hiccup, not in every way, but pretty damn close. She pushes him around a lot and I could see him doing the same with his dinky ideas and stuttering, but they fit each other comfortably and nicely. She could be a bit tough and domineering, but she has a soft side too (relating back to the kissing cheek thing). She has many layers. Many... many layers. Oh dear Jesus, does she. But that is what also makes me love her to pieces. And besides, I don't see who else Hiccup could be with. I mean, I watched the movie, so I'm going to go with the freaking movie. I read only the first book and Camicazi wasn't introduced, so I don't really see her being 'with' Hiccup in anyway. I mean... Astrid is a spin-off from Camicazi, but, I don't know, from what I know about her... she doesn't seem to fit. Camicazi and Hiccup are definitely more friends than lovers, I know that.
Ah, anyway, so this pic is definitely set in the future. After I drew it, I wanted it to be about after the time she marries Hiccup but her hair is supposed to be up, so just ignore that. Ugh. And do I just love Astrid in that gray-blue, holy mother. It's so lovelyyyyy on her.
And man oh man do I need to get to those full-body things. Fack. I'm so out of ideas for everything. I can't write, I can't draw. This is really quite old, this drawing. I've had it on my computer, and I'm bored enough on a Friday night to get to drawing and update something. BUT, I did update my fic yesterday. Go reeeeead, homies. OHHH, and you see that necklace? Yeah, Hiccup gave that to her on his adventurez. IN MAH FIC.
NOTE: I do not intend to hate on your opinions and nor will I ever. I respect what you believe as long as you respect mine. I really could give two shits if you think this or that. RESPECT, bros
P.S: Totes go ahead and let me know what you think about anything I've said or about the pic!
I think I'm a bit too obsessed with HTTYD
--
Jammed out to You Are a Tourist by Death Cab For Cutie whilst coloring!
Astrid (c) DreamWorks, art (c) me
Officially end rant.
Related content
Comments: 78
Dragonbow117 [2015-08-14 01:24:42 +0000 UTC]
People say Astrid is a 2-dimenstional character. And yeah, they're wrong.
Astrid does have a feminine side, and she has her tough side, I'd say it's less about the boys around her and more to do with the fact that she is a fighter at heart. She is a warrior and all the shizznit that comes with it (not to menion an overacheiver). But of course, as we see, she has a softer side. So yeah, I agree with 99% of that rant
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princessarien [2014-07-16 18:14:47 +0000 UTC]
I couldn't agree more. Astrid has a whole lot of hidden depths and character traits, one of the many reasons why I love her so much as a character. As tough as she is, there's always been that softer side to her as well as girly. She can be both, because that's what she is, she wrestles in the mud and punches Snotlout, but then she's also tender or soft and caring (mostly and primarily with/to Hiccup).
Anyways, this picture looks really good, you did an absolutely amazing job with Astrid, she looks so pretty, and really just alive. Very good job
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flamer000 [2013-09-28 16:58:14 +0000 UTC]
WHAT THE FUUUUUUDDDDDGGGGGEEEEEEE... Aww she looks so cute in that dress
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inhonoredglory [2013-07-29 23:06:48 +0000 UTC]
Old thoughts but still ringing true. All agree. Awesome picture and looks like they still kept that femininity in Astrid in the sequel images!
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EggiMoon [2013-05-29 15:41:37 +0000 UTC]
I agree with absolutely everything you just said. Astrid is an important, feminine, deeper character that is important to the franchise. She is the perfect match for Hiccup who will soften over time but still kick ass if need be. Thank you for drawing her the way that I envisioned she'd grow up to be. You are a lovely artist.
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doctordragon12345 [2013-03-16 07:11:54 +0000 UTC]
XD! Your whole rant how she was adorable made me laugh! But i agree with you just cuz girls don't show their fimanin side doesn't mean they don't have one. Good art by the way! ;D
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mouthoflemons21 [2012-11-02 22:31:20 +0000 UTC]
I love this, she looks so pretty! What kind of utensils do you use for coloring?
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halfnote In reply to mouthoflemons21 [2012-11-03 17:23:10 +0000 UTC]
I use PaintTool SAI to color but I put the textures on in Photoshop CS5
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AdorkablePeanut314 [2012-07-18 22:39:29 +0000 UTC]
OMG I drew a picture of my friend when she's older and there are a lot of similarites between my drawing and her. Sadly I didn't post it up on deviantART. Xc
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DuchessAliana [2012-05-05 06:20:00 +0000 UTC]
This is gorgeous and I totally agree with everything you said.
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rainbowmirrors [2012-01-03 21:11:28 +0000 UTC]
As a bit of a history nut myself, YAY! This. I would QFT if I could.
And on Hiccup, you're absolutely right. Hiccup may not be physically leadership-y, but mentally? Very much so. All he needed was confidence, and the movie did a very good job of showing his ability to stand up for himself and take command of his peers in the end. A leader is being able to recognize and utilize the strengths of individuals to make a whole, and Hiccup was clearly capable of that in the end. Just because he's physically weak NOW doesn't mean he isn't suited to being chief...
It's not as if women are supposed to be uber feminine or dominated in the HTTYD world. The Elder, a very respected and wise figure in the village, was female. And clearly both genders are warriors in Berk. But a woman can be strong without being abrasive or dominating, and a girl can fight without giving up her femininity.
So.... Yeah. /ahem/
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halfnote In reply to rainbowmirrors [2012-01-03 21:33:16 +0000 UTC]
I have a .gif on my computer that would more accurately show my response than these emoticons dA has
But in any case, very nicely worded! I cannot agree more than what you have said.
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LordoftheWolfDale [2011-11-17 04:09:38 +0000 UTC]
i love seeing her like this, im not a fan of the lady warriors
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Klowdes [2011-10-10 03:27:55 +0000 UTC]
Oh my god, I love how you've drawn and described Astrid.
Personally, I think you've nailed her personality. There's definitely hints of her girly side in the movie, while still showing her as a tough girl.
Amazing~!
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BenRG [2011-09-25 20:06:08 +0000 UTC]
Given the way the Vikings of Berk value tradition and continuity, logic suggests that Astrid has been trained to be a wife as well as to be a warrior. I'm sure that she has nice dresses for festivals or formal occasions. She... just doesn't wear them much. I also imagine that she has probably got the boys to the point where they're scared to say if she looks nice.
Nice job on this, BTW - You've captured the essence of Astrid and transferred it to this picture. She's recognisable (you'd be surprised the number of fan-artists who can't do that). You can even see the story in her body language. She's asking Hiccup what he thinks of her festival dress and hoping, really, really hoping that "slack jawed imbecility" means that he likes it.
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halfnote In reply to BenRG [2011-09-26 00:19:54 +0000 UTC]
Thank you so much! I try really hard to keep the characters looking like themselves so they ARE recognizable! And hahahaha, I love the Hiccup description; that would totally fit him
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GossamerWing [2011-09-24 04:41:35 +0000 UTC]
I. Love. This I've been a bit disappointed that many people portray her as being so overtly tough ALL the time. I think this depiction of her really sums up the side of her character that gets overlooked even when it's plainly there for all to see (i.e, hair flipping/neatly braided, able to listen to reason, caring, etc.). Plus your written review of her rocks. Seriously, you summed up my own view of her completely! Bravo Oh, and I'm super excited to finally see that lovely necklace Hiccup gave her
....Just saying.
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halfnote In reply to GossamerWing [2011-09-24 16:21:58 +0000 UTC]
Thank you! I'm so glad you see what I see in her, too. She is a really complicated character and I've tried so hard to make her make SOME sense. And that necklace definitely is going to be drawn more--in better detail, haha
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GossamerWing In reply to halfnote [2011-09-26 21:09:59 +0000 UTC]
No problem I'm so glad YOU see her that way. I love when people can discuss characters on a deeper level, or at least look at the material presented about the character and draw good conclusions about them. It's a shame many people seem unable to quite do this with Astrid. Really? I'd love to see a close-up of the necklace, or at least see it featured again sometime^^
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halfnote In reply to GossamerWing [2011-09-26 22:20:30 +0000 UTC]
Me too! I love discussing the dynamics of characters, so I'm openly willing to debate on Astrid's conception with the limited facts we do have about her. But, I'm glad you see her in the way I do, too! And thank you for the idea for drawing a close-up of Astrid's necklace! I've been in a HUGE art/writing block since school started, so any ideas are definitely helpful!
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GossamerWing In reply to halfnote [2011-09-28 23:30:40 +0000 UTC]
That is so cool I found that after watching the movie twice I was able to see many bits and pieces of Astrid and hints to her character that I didn't the first time around; lots of little gestures and things that can get lost in the "big picture" of the movie. What did you think of Astrid the firs time you saw the movie vs. the second?
Really? Wow, you're very welcome Hmm...I got this idea (after seeing the necklace) of Astrid somehow losing the necklace (while subsequently freaking out about it and looking everywhere for it, but also trying to keep her "fough face" up a little bit), looking for it, and eventually running into Hiccup (who guesses her situation from the look on her face). Just as she's about to confess that she lost the necklace he pulls it out of his pocket/vest, holds it out to her and says, "Looking for this? ^-^"
...Not sure if that gels or not, but I couldn't get the idea out of my head
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halfnote In reply to GossamerWing [2011-09-29 20:10:39 +0000 UTC]
Yeah, I felt the same way, too. The first time watching the movie, I was mostly gushing about Hiccup and his adorable cuteness and how I thought he was ridiculously funny (seriously... I have never laughed harder. Jay Baruchel just compels me that way, so I have a smokin' hot crush for him, lolol ) But, yeah, the next few times I watched it, I was slowly noticing more and more of Astrid and her antics and how she did this or that, and she was growing on me. I admit that she didn't pop out to me at first but after I watched the movie hundreds more a couple more times, I started to get more of an understanding of her though she's incredibly under-developed compared to Hiccup.
And yeah, I could see that situation happening where Astrid loses the necklace and she flips and stuff, haha. Kind of gels, lol I love the input! It's always good to get some ideas floating around when I can't write/draw for crap, BUT I did get around to drawing the 'featuring' of the necklace, so be on the lookout for that for the next couple of days
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GossamerWing In reply to halfnote [2011-09-30 19:55:50 +0000 UTC]
Your description of when you watched the movie just made my day The first time I saw the movie I was blown away by pretty much everything, but especially by Hiccup. I
him! His dialogue/Jay Baruchel's line reading kept me in stitches the whole time. Plus, the second I saw him walking around at the beginning of the movie doodling in a SKETCHBOOK
I knew I was going to fall in love with him a little bit (...or more, seriously I could go on about how much I adore Hiccup)
At the same time, I actually liked Astrid a lot right off the bat. I realized she was indeed quite undeveloped in comparison to Hiccup, but still really liked her. I loved that she (unlike the other Viking teens) really took her job as a Viking seriously and always went at things 100%. (I always admire people with a good work ethic.) At the same time, I liked that while she was tough, she clearly wasn't mean-spirited (as shown by that little expression she makes after Snotlout disses Hiccup after the opening scene and when she makes a point of telling Hiccup to get down during their Nadder training session). Her sensibility was awesome too; not only is she good at coming up with strategies (albeit battle-related ones), but when Hiccup and Toothless take her for a spin, she knew it was time to open her eyes. She wasn't so stubborn/hard-headed that she couldn't open her eyes to the truth. (Even if it took kidnapping her and going through a few aerial loops to do it
)
Cool, I'm glad you didn't think I was way out of left field I shall definitely keep an eye out for the necklace "featuring"
P.S - I just read the latest chapter of "Hands on Sunshine" and I LIKE I love the group swimming shenanigans at the end. Tuffnut getting hurt was hilarious
And I'm rather interested to see what's going on with Ruffnut and Fishlegs
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halfnote In reply to GossamerWing [2011-10-01 04:42:43 +0000 UTC]
Whoop! Dang, we're just rolling on a tangent! I agree with a lot of what you said about Astrid because she is really tough and orientated to the Viking lifestyle, but she doesn't have her head so far up her ass that she couldn't see the value that Hiccup showed her. She's a stubborn piece of work, though, that's clearly obvious to me, considering how she railed on Hiccup after the Nadder destruction scene in the Ring.
And yayyy! I'm glad you liked the last chapter! Didja review?
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GossamerWing In reply to halfnote [2011-10-02 00:47:06 +0000 UTC]
Tangent roll yay!
I must admit, I love how Astrid is a stubborn piece of work. What she said to Hiccup at the Nadder scene in the Ring really stuck with me. All I could think was, "Whoa! Don't mess with her"
Sadly I don't have the ability to review because I don't have a Fanfiction.Net account
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AwsomeSauce72 [2011-09-23 13:10:00 +0000 UTC]
it's interesting how you left the hands like that!!! i'm so bad at hands I normaly just don't draw them but you pulled off the not finish but still there look really well!!! I love it!!!!!
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halfnote In reply to AwsomeSauce72 [2011-09-24 16:19:47 +0000 UTC]
Hahahaha, I'm surprised you think the hands are 'good' for being unfinished. I usually finish hands or whatever, but I really didn't want to with this piece. I couldn't get them right!!
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AwsomeSauce72 In reply to halfnote [2011-09-24 19:54:54 +0000 UTC]
Ya I know what you mean!!! like it looks good in an unfinished kind of way you know!!!!
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AvannaK [2011-09-18 23:38:56 +0000 UTC]
Well this is certainly refreshing to see
I can't tell you how long I've been against the angry/butch/raaar thing. Because it's not even the girl we were introduced to - it's simply not. Bang-flicking, hip-swinging, bashful body movements when faced with hormone-raising situations are al things I've had to argue for before. And I swear she has some kind of eye-makeup going on in some of those pictures.
Anthropology was one of my favorite subjects in college and I can't help but soak up culture and behavior patterns. It's one thing to take characters and conform them to today's ideals, but I feel like it's so much more respectful to keep them in their elements. I too have this thing about historical-accuracy and taking into account their time-period and meshing it with the movie. Astrid was a very practical girl, if a little rigid, and seemed to take their tradition and culture very seriously. Rising to the expectations of her peers and elders was her personal duty--(one of her few consistent personality traits)--and I think marriage, legacy, and, ultimately, taking responsibility to the keys of her own home were just as important to her as dragon killing (back when it was cool, that is).
Also in agreement with the Hiccup-as-chief thing. It's not so much the Astird-is-a-girl thing (which is a very fair point) but leadership qualities. Hiccup is a natural delegator and he's someone willing to see what needs to be done regardless of public opinion. Astrid is a great soldier and very good at following orders to a T.
The only thing I'd disagree on is the Astrid--near-perfect-for-Hiccup thing since (while possible) the character we were given in the movie still needs a bit of development before I think she'd be able to fit the bill. We have to give her layers to explain the personality shift; otherwise she would be seen as shallow and unrefined characterization. But there is a lack of thought to her behavior and actions - one that, realistically, happened because they had to squeeze this female action star into the romantic role prematurely (and it really was premature, I think many can agree on that). What this did was give almost too much wiggle room in deciphering her reasons behind this. So we have people who think she's crazy butch, people who think she's secretly been in love with him, people who think she was always looking for a man to sweep her off her feet and was only working so hard to impress her abusive father or what not... and no one can be completely wrong in their personal theories because we just don't have the facts.
Sorry if none of that made much sense; I'm not entirely eloquent with words
...We don't see so much fighting over Hiccup's behavior because he was fleshed out properly. If anything, I think Hiccup would be more perfect for her and that she should have her own journey in realizing it. I've read the books and having done so I can see Camicazi filling the role of a love so much smoothly; they already have the dynamic there. Hiccup has an admiration for Camicazi's prowess and Camicazi repeatedly refers to Hiccup being the only boy worth respecting (despite his physical failings), which is just adorable given her culture. Bear in mind, I have no illusions that Hiccup will end up with anyone else (it's a kids movie!) and I have no expectations for Camicazi to make an appearance, I just think Camicazi would be exactly what Hiccup needs in a difficult time of change. While Astrid was supposedly the expy of Camicazi, the girls really have nothing in common except for a competence in battle. Hiccup needs humans willing to befriend and listen to him, to help him like himself before he can like other people, and Camicazi comes off as the girl for that.
But that's all besides the point. Lovely Astrid is lovely, and it's nice to see her with her hair down, so to speak. Just like I don't think we'll see Camicazi, I don't think Dreamworks is going to show this side of Astrid (that I'm sure many of us, including myself, would like to exist). However, it would be magnificent if they did and I'm really hoping they give us a little more to Astrid's character in the following films.
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halfnote In reply to AvannaK [2011-09-20 02:32:53 +0000 UTC]
No, I totally understand you! Haha I agree a lot with what you said about Astrid not being entirely developed to really get a solid understanding of her like we have with Hiccup, and I'm not saying that I'm right or anybody is, I've just really tried to understand her and make her more 'human' to write about, if that makes sense. And of course, she's not perfect for Hiccup, nobody's perfect, but in my beliefs I feel like they fit each other pretty well though they're very different from each other--kind of like a yin and a yang, though not that separated or different. And, yeah, I understand that HTTYD is a fictional universe and making it too real makes it all weird, so I'm trying to still have it be... unreal, for lack of a better word. Eh. I'm not that great with words either, hahaha. There's still some stuff floating in my head that I can't quite put into words.
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AvannaK In reply to halfnote [2011-09-20 03:02:38 +0000 UTC]
Oh I got that - it all comes down to our personal preferences...and usually that is influenced by what we want for the character who is developed. Hiccup's kind of like our sounding board when it comes to directing Astrid. Some people take Astrid's movie behavior at face value and opt to get rid of her as the love-interest, others reason it out and choose to see her as very suitable for Hiccup, and then there are those who need to work her up to that point from where the movie left off. I'm of that last group, and I had to have her grow up a bit in front of the readers before I felt she had a solid enough character, because I think asking people to sympathize with her right from the movie is a bit hard. I totally get humanizing her; she's a tough girl to get into having so little to work with (and what we did have was a bit all over the place), but it's absolutely necessary if you plan on doing her justice.
Words are such trixy things! But I understand the real/unreal dilemma - I try and I try in Hitchups but at the end of the day I'm still working with a dragon-ridden world.
Doesn't mean we can't try!
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Calico321 [2011-09-18 17:50:29 +0000 UTC]
I know I've squeed about your work before, but I do really adore how you portray her. I mostly hate the idea of making her chief over Hiccup because it completely ignores the journey he took in the movie. Just as you mention, he took charge during the rescue at the nest, and I just think he'd bring a very grounded, diplomatic tone to the chiefdom It takes away from his character to deny him that. But yeah I think Astrid would chafe being forced into a strictly "female" role, but that doesn't mean she doesn't enjoy being a girl or wouldn't take being a wife seriously.
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halfnote In reply to Calico321 [2011-09-20 02:37:08 +0000 UTC]
Thank you so much! And if you go here to Cafcow's picture: [link] it really explains a lot, and she says stuff that I can't quite put into words! And of course Astrid wouldn't fit the perfect mold of a homely housewife. That's completely silly to think she would. To me, I imagine her being neat and being able to sew quite well, so I think she would keep a clean house, but she can't cook the greatest, of course. There has to be something to keep her character intact because she's not absolutely perfect.
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FluffySundae [2011-09-18 13:28:34 +0000 UTC]
The smile is gorgeous, loving the hair, and I want those frills... I as well keep my feminine locked away. Most of it. >>; I know how Astrid feels.
I think she's smiliing out to Hiccup who is probably departing from Berk. Eee'yep. ^^
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halfnote In reply to FluffySundae [2011-09-20 02:38:09 +0000 UTC]
Thank you so much! Lol, I do too! I tend to act like nothing scares me or whatever, but bugs still care the crap out of me, haha. And I hate when my bangs get all messed up... hahaha
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TheRedPenofDoom87 [2011-09-18 01:06:27 +0000 UTC]
aw! this is so cute! And I find a lot of your points about Astrid's character to be very true at least for me. She's a nice foil for Hiccup; they can bring out the best in each other. BTWs, respect for Death Cab for Cutie...favorite band.
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halfnote In reply to TheRedPenofDoom87 [2011-09-18 05:01:48 +0000 UTC]
Thank you! I'm glad you think that too! And heeellz yeeee. Death Cab has been my fav band since freshman year. whooop!
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Sannom [2011-09-17 21:45:54 +0000 UTC]
I think you're perhaps trying too hard to link the fictional Vikings of Berk to real-life Vikings, but I agree with you, Astrid is feminine. I think it hit me when I realized she's the only person in that village who wear colors, take care of her hair and don't wear a helmet. She's sensitive to beauty and takes care of her appearance, as opposed to everyone else in the village who wear the same color brown in their clothing.
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halfnote In reply to Sannom [2011-09-18 05:04:21 +0000 UTC]
I don't know, maybe I am trying a lot harder than a bunch of other people, it's just... history is awesome for me, and like I said, I do take it seriously, lolol. But I'm also trying to be lighthearted about it because I want to stick to the intention of the movie-makers. Eh. And yeah, I've always kinda wondered why she didn't wear a helmet, but I'm glad you pointed that out to me. That makes sense! Haha.
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