#zippleback experience

[artlocke]

watching rtte while doodling, this is probably one of my fav episodes

might do more?

[ashleybenlove]

Barf and Belch blatantly cheating on Ruff and Tuff with Hiccup and Toothless.

[jackshiccup]

the zippleback experience truly a fantastic fucking episode like hiccup having to replace all his spare legs, barf and belch following him around, being affectionate, giving him dragon hugs and eventually saving his life, the twins dragging snotlout into their elaborate ‘endanger hiccup’ schemes to win their dragon back which gets his teeth knocked out by hiccup (in tuff’s words ‘we weren’t expecting thor’s mighty hammer to meet snotlout’s paper jaw’), snotlout flicking hiccup on the head, ruffnut and tuffnut chaotically, momentarily flying toothless and then cleverly saving barf and belch from drowning, snotlout tackling hiccup at the end like it was everything

[000marie198]

There is another artistically incredible thing I noticed abt the first Httyd movie.

The movie, it's from Hiccup's perspective. And it conveys his perspective throughout, in details both subtle and clear.

Like the Book of Dragons clip; Chilling and terrific with sound effects and feels induced exactly as Hiccup was imagining it. That scene alone gives me the shivers and the way it ends on Night Fury (I absolutely love the fear inducing Night Fury theme from the first movie). I've been noticing that every single piece of score fit the emotions and situation Hiccup was in, affirming his perspective, his experiences, conveyed through the movie as if they were the viewers' own. And that scene when Hiccup is listening to his father speak just before entering the arena to face Hookfang, the way the lighting and expressions and sound of Stoick's voice was set apart from everything and felt resonated, Hiccup's dread and anticipation and anxiety and worry and fear were palpable. He was planning to do the exact opposite of what his father, the one he's been trying to make proud his entire life, was hoping and oof that few seconds HURT!

And with how the background score and scenes were animated so splendidly, there's one very subtle but greatly well integrated detail I just have to mention

If we take a note of all the dragons throughout the movie, there's a gradual pattern. The movie starts and every dragon looks wild and dangerous and animalistic. Beastly and emotionless, except for displaying an urge to cause harm or look vicious.

Aside from Hookfang. Every other dragon didn't look nearly as expressive and clear in intention as Hookfang did. And if you notice, he was the only dragon in the beginning of the movie whom Hiccup made a direct encounter with and sassed at. We saw Hookfang being angry and vicious and even worried and scared when he ran out of firepower and got captured, he seemed to display emotions more clearly than any other dragon. But he was also the only dragon so far Hiccup had a direct communicative encounter with. The movie is from Hiccup's perspective and we saw Hookfang from Hiccup's perspective.

But! It gets better. If you notice or think about it, try to remember the details in the movie with respect to the dragons, all the dragons earlier on looked wild and deadly and nothing else. Just wild and dangerous and vicious, the opinion every viking has on them, the opinion Hiccup during those earlier moments had on them.

But then he met Toothless. And it all began to change. Notice how the dragons seem to become more and more expressive and emotionally intelligent or humanly as Hiccup and Toothless' friendship proceeds to grow. How the snappy Terrible Terrors would gradually start to look like small little dragons who are mischievous and naughty and silly little guys, how the quick and swift Deadly Nadder started to look like a playful and curious friend, how the once sneaky and scary Zippleback who seemed to set it's target on everyone and everything became expressive and displayed worry and fear, how the powerful and dangerous Gronkle gradually started to look more kind and friendly and sleepy etc.

This happened with literally every single dragon during the movie. The more Hiccup began to understand them and got closer to Toothless and realized they are living beings who have individual personalities and feelings and are misunderstood, the more these mighty creatures felt more alive and expressive to the viewers. And this was done without the slightest change in the dragons' models or designs. They conveyed Hiccup's perspective splendidly throughout the movie.

Point in case;

Httyd 1 is a cinematic masterpiece

[iamchickenhearmesquawk]

Barf and belch are so fucking adorable in the zippleback experience

Also it’s so funny that technically the first time hiccup meets ryker is this episode.

[jeyswitch]

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Race to the Edge, The Zippleback Experience

Some things are just better without context.

[ashleybenlove]

Hiccup would definitely think both of them are better than that.

I just had a thought: Hiccup punching Snotlout in public!

How impressed would Stoick and Gobber be? And how shocked would Spitelout be?

I feel like Gobber would sure as hell be impressed. Stoick might be shocked though, I think. I’m not sure what his reaction after the shock would be. But yeah, Gobber would definitely enjoy it.

Spitelout would be pissed. That’s a man whose ire I would not want to earn. I can see him getting mad at Stoick for “letting it happen”, even though it probably would have been Snotlout who had escalated the situation.

Honestly, punching Snotlout publicly would be a huge mess that Hiccup would try to avoid unless absolutely necessary. And, depending on when this takes place, Snotlout probably wouldn’t be worthy of a punch. He grew a lot as a character and a person throughout the series and learned to be better.

But Gobber’s little smile and laugh would be so funny.

[eemoo1o-tfrmoo]

If a Speed Stinger could speed speedily, softly swooping swiftly, how speedy is he really?

Never has the word “speed” looked so wrong, now.

The Next Big Sting (1x12) is a great episode for Snotlout, actually. Personally, I love it for Speedy and the taming of a species otherwise thought to be untrainable (cough, still waiting for the Changewing, cough cough), but Snotlout is so great here! And with Ruffnut, too? Oh, ho, we were spoiled.

Plus, it’s funny how this episode includes Snotlout trying to get rid of a dragon, but then is preceded by an episode where he’s trying to keep his dragon. Kind of ironic, actually.

Reasons why this episode is great include:

The important stuff (like Meatlug cuteness and Ruffnut & Snotlout centralism):

The first ones shown to give Hiccup “a look” when he presents the Dragon Fly One are Ruffnut and Snotlout. This is obviously foreshadowing.

Hiccup talking about how The Dragon Fly One will be handy if they and their dragons ever get separated. Sorry, Hiccup but I think this mostly only ever affects you. And Ruffnut and Snotlout that one time.

Actually, I don’t think it’s ever actually happened to Fishlegs and Meatlug other than when Scardian’s pack carried Fishlegs off in season two. Look out, Hiccup, looks like you could stand to learn a thing or two.

Additionally, Hiccup says it’s going to be so handy, and yet he’s built the heaviest looking thing imaginable. I know it’s a prototype but like, come on!

Snotlout asks if he could have Toothless after it all doesn’t work. Yeah, like you wouldn’t be in too much shock after the fact, Snotlout. That’s so cousin of you.

Hiccup: “I’ll be floating on a bed of air!” — Snotlout: “Or crashing on a bed of rock.” This man.

“I cannot believe that that hunk of junk actually worked.” It’s okay, Snotlout, neither can Isaac Newton.

Snotlout’s whole character this episode is remembering Frozen from Defenders of Berk. And rightfully so. But the other riders don’t acknowledge it at all until it happens to them (aka Ruffnut).

“Is he seriously going back?!” Snotlout is so real for that. — “Snotlout, meet Hiccup. Of course he’s going back.” Maybe someone should tell Astrid that when she’s grouching over the Dragon Fly One like she did earlier and inevitably will later.

The only one that doesn’t help wrangle the Stinger is Snotlout. And, honestly, who can blame him.

Part of Forbidden Friendship (a harmony with some sopranos) plays when Hiccup tames Speedy. I love the symbolism behind this sound effect because of what a righteous, monumental moment it’s supposed to be.

Ruffnut is fine around the Stinger until she gets stung. And then it’s all downhill from there. I love the natural progression (albeit a quick one) of her character through this episode. At least she and Snotlout can relate to one another now.

Speedy immediately goes for Snotlout because of how on edge he is. He also is able to dodge, punching the air, “Not even on your best day, pal.” He’s so extra here I love it. (Makes you think what his dad said to him after he got stung the first time.)

And of course Ruffnut immediately gets stung again but makes sure to cross her legs.

Tuffnut starts boxing the air, intensely mimicking Snotlout ready to I assume defend Ruffnut from anymore stings before he starts getting kicked. How cute-turned-cruel this is.

Barf gets stung and immediately Ruff calls out to him before crawling her way as quick as she can to I assume comfort him despite the difficulty it takes her. This is so sweet. I wish we had more episodes surrounding Barf & Belch and the twins, and not just the twins or whatever The Zippleback Experience was. (Also symbolism how it was Barf to get stung and not Belch. Barf and Ruffnut are great together <3)

Snotlout gets to basically say “I told you so” but no one listens except for Ruffnut (I assume she also wants to avenge her dragon, which is sweet). I wonder if this went in his book.

Snotlout and Ruffnut’s whole interaction as the sun’s rising is pure serotonin. They are BFFs. (Also both of their episodes together and Snotlout and Tuffnut’s in Maces and Talons Pt. 1 include Ruffnut riding Hookfang. And of course Tuffnut gets a spin in Snotlout’s Angels. Makes you wonder how much Hookfang actually tolerates and/or likes the twins.)

“There are other things I want to say, but none of them are very ladylike!” Between this and the leg crossing you can really tell that Ruffnut was experimenting with gender this episode.

Snotlout immediately grabs Ruffnut after she gets stung and starts falling off and as such takes his attention away from the air-sick and anxious Speedy. He cares so much!

Hookfang then gets stung and they crash land. The fact that he and Snotlout have both been stung is very poetic, much like Ruff and Barf! (Maybe I’m too obsessed with the “Dragon is a reflection of the rider’s soul” analogy.)

Speedy is calm once back on the ground and licks Snotlout as thanks for catching him! See, guys? He was only scared when up in the air, the poor thing.

Hookfang lights on fire to protect Snotlout from the no-longer-hostile Speedy. See? Now he’s cautious! Snotlout and Hookfang are paralleling one another.

“This is a new low even for you, Snotlout!” — “I was trying to save us!” :(

A sign that Speedy doesn’t belong in the pack (and is a teenager, obviously) is that he talks back to Toothless telling him off, whereas the others wouldn’t have done so! I like little bits like this. (And Toothless had Stormfly as back up. Like a mom and dad telling their kid off.)

Ruffnut and Hookfang have a semi-paralysed affiliation together now, both going around in a circle. And I love how they’re going it side by side, I wonder if they did it to support the other. At least Meatlug is here to defend them!

Ruffnut saying to Meatlug, “Hey, girl, thanks,” and fist-bumping her tail is really cute. Hookfang also gives an additional sound.

Speedy also realises that his old pack is hurting his new pack! Nurse/Big Sister/Favourite Aunt Meatlug getting hurt was the final straw for him.

Snotlout starts swinging with a stick and says he’s not leaving anyone behind (start of his heroism/selfless arc) but it’s obvious he’s still scared himself. Hiccup’s sass was not necessary! The nerve.

Snotlout using Speedy as his own Stinger feels like a thousand IQ move and I love him for it.

“Needle Butts” feels like the millennial term for Speed Stingers and we have Snotlout to thank for it. Alternative terms were probably “Deadly Dodos” and “Sneaky Sewing Machines”.

“Snotlout, Snotlout, oi oi oi!”

Snotlout accepting Speedy after he turns on his own to protect him.

“I’m never going to get you, dragon” Snotlout: confirmer of species’ and genuses everywhere! Also, why isn’t this dragon a dinosaur, again?

“But he hates me!” Snotlout’s delivery of this is great.

Kind of criminal that Speedy couldn’t have become Part Of The Gang™. It’s okay, Speedy, you’ll always be in our hearts. (Doesn’t this kind of make Speedy Snotlout’s Scauldy? I guess?) (Shame, too. I alway imagined he would have gotten along great with Smidvarg.)

I realised when Tuffnut lights a streak of gas on fire to ward off some Stingers and then he compliments a still-paralysed Barf that Barf looks kind of drunk. Now that you’ve noticed that, too, I order you all to laugh.

Oh, and then goes Belch.

And I think Tuffnut. See what I said about one not being able to go down without the other soon following? This. Is. Symbolic. (Or so I religiously believe.)

Hookfang is still seen as formidable by the Titan Wing Speed Stinger even with half his body still paralysed. I wonder if this could temporarily be seen as disabled rep — I wish we could have seen his development from being completely defenceless (Meatlug protecting him and Ruffnut) to him doing this.

It was probably to defend Snotlout.

And that’s great.

The Meatlug Cuteness Counter:

Fishlegs reminding Hiccup that their dragons can fly and Meatlug being cute about it. (Meatlug Cuteness Counter: 1.) (She’s the cutest.)

I love how Fishlegs tries hiding his arm’s paralysis by leaning on Meatlug only to get sabotaged when she goes to play with Speedy. (Meatlug Cuteness Counter: +1 point. 2.)

Nurse Meatlug encouraging Speedy through his physiotherapy is adorable. (Meatlug Cuteness Counter: +5 points. 7.)

When Snotlout is about to go off, we can see Meatlug and Fishlegs sleeping next to one another. (Meatlug Cuteness Counter: +4 points. 11.)

“Nurse Meatlug, if you would do the honours, please” and she does! She does do the honours! Oh, she’s such a good girl. (Meatlug Cuteness Counter: +10 points. 21.)

“Meatlug, quick! Stop him! Speed Stingers can’t swim!” And then she goes so determinedly. So cute. (Meatlug Cuteness Counter: +100 points! 121.)

Meatlug’s shocked face when she sees Speedy being able to skim the water. (Meatlug Cuteness Counter: +20 points. 141.)

Meatlug defends the defenceless (Ruffnut and Hookfang), only to immediately get stung. She tried! (Meatlug Cuteness Counter: +59 points. 200. Additionally, Meatlug Heroism Counter: 10 added points.)

It also takes us back to that scene in Frozen where she defended Fishlegs and so he couldn’t leave her. (Nostalgia Counter: 1. Meatlug Cuteness Counter: +30 points. 230. Additionally, Meatlug Heroism Counter: +15 added points. 25.)

Fishlegs stands by Meatlug after she gets frozen. (Fishlug/Meatlug Cuteness Counter: 10.)

Bonus (mostly non-Snotlout and Meatlug related things):

First thing Tuffnut thinks about is food and/or destruction in the morning.

Chicken was also woken up early to see all this. She is the best dragon rider.

“The chicken is not amused.” (She then leaves dramatically.)

Surely it would be more efficient in situations like this to employ either Stormfly or Hookfang to go after Hiccup instead of the one dragon that can’t fucking fly. Surely allowing the latter is just counter-intuitive.

Astrid goes “Ugh, boys” and Tuffnut is shown right next to her with this simple frown on his face as his eyes flick back to Hiccup! I don’t know why that’s so funny but it is. Shame how quick it was shown though.

“Okay, everyone. Dragon Fly One: maiden flight.” Foreshadowing. I think.

“You’re not actually thinking of trying to train it, are you?” Oh, Astrid. This is extremely ironic for when you coerce Hiccup into letting you bring Garff along on a rescue mission.

In conclusion: Meatlug is cute, Snotlout is great, Barfruff supremacy, Hiccup sabotaged having a pet Speed Stinger on the Edge, and Chicken is the supreme leader.

[ziggityzigg]

Basically the zippleback experience.

Snotlout: “Tuffnut, here he comes.”

*Slaps hiccup.*

“Take that, good sir!”

“Behold, a grown man, wheeping like a—“

Hiccup: *Punches Snotlout in the face.*

Snotlout: “Agh.. ahg.”

Tuffnut: “That?! That was your plan?!”

“— are.. are you crying?”

Snotlout: “Yes, i’m crying! He punched me in the face!”

[httydtroublemaker]

Could anyone please explain this?

I was watching httyd rtte today before school started (don't ask...) I noticed a cave like thing... In the mountain... Is it just my tv or something? Idk, do you guys have any ideas on what it could be?

Episode: Rtte Zippleback experience. (If you guys wanna check)

[sboochi]

What was ur fav episode of rtte if any?

I'm terrible at remembering episodes names so bear with me for a sec, but here's a few I can think of! (in no particular order)

The Zippleback Experience: a fun classic

that episode where Hiccup gets kidnapped like three times in a row at the beginning. lol.

any episode with Viggo tbh

same with Dagur

and Heather!!

the episode where they have to keep singing to the baby dragon!!! I'd pay money to hear Jay Baruchel sing more

the episode near the end of s6 (I think??) where Hiccup and Astrid are trying to keep their relationship a secret but they're Bad at It

Darkest Night! The what if scenarios start as hilarious and end as interesting. 100/10

[ashleybenlove]

Saw a post where someone said Snotlout was out for clout in The Zippleback Experience around the time that Hiccup punched him.

No he fucking wasn't.

Out for clout? With who? The twins?

[gnaws tree bark]

[ibreathesarcasticcomments]

y’know, after rewatching episode 2x06 of Race to the Edge, aka “The Zippleback Experience,” I feel like a lot more of the gang’s villains would back down if Hiccup just started throwing punches

[dragonmasterhiccup]

“Switchable feet? Isn’t that a little excessive?” she asked with an amused smirk on her face.

Danny rolled her eyes as Hiccup held the cloth up. “Hideous Zippleback gas? Must be pretty complex” she said as she watched Hiccup reattach his leg.

Danny smiled and nodded at Hiccups mention of Berk having inspiration.

Danny nodded, “Yeah, let’s go, lead the way” she said while gesturing for Hiccup to walk ahead.

The tension from before seemed to be completely gone, replaced by a happy and calm aura.

"Excessive? No. Practical...maybe? Look, believe it or not, I am not a fan of stumbling and falling. As chief, I can't be seen as weak. Sure, peg legs and hooks aren't uncommon for vikings, as you know, but I couldn't resist putting my own spin on it. Those switchable feet have made my life a little easier since I lost my leg."

He grinned. "It is! Hideous Zippleback gas is not easy to capture, but after some experimenting and some small explosions, I figured it out!"

The three continued their trek to the stables. They were more than halfway there, and when Hiccup looked up, he could see the higher altitude entrances ahead of them. "I know you're not crazy about flying on Toothless, but if we have to get you out of there quickly, it might not be a bad idea to have you sit on his back. He runs pretty fast, and then I can meet you both outside. I want to know if you're okay with that plan before we go inside."

[000marie198]

Astrid: "How many times are you gonna check behind that rock? Barf and Belch cannot hide behind it."

Ruffnut: "Clearly you are not aware of the stealthiness of one Barf and Belch."

Recalling some moments from Twintuition as well as The Zippleback Experience episode where Barf and Belch feel absolutely indebted to Hiccup and Toothless, she is right. That dragon can be extremely stealthy when it wants to be

[uselessreptile]

Is it just me or do Barf and Belch kinda get shafted in terms of character development in the shows? Like it seems like Stormfly, Hookfang, and Meatlug get a lot more time in the spotlight as well as smaller moments that show off their personalities and relationships with their riders, but it doesn't seem like we get as much of that for Barf and Belch, even in episodes with heavy focus on the twins. The most they got was in "the Zippleback Experience", but that was mainly focused on their life debt to Hiccup. Just something I realized while thinking about them. Wish they had gotten more development.