Do we like them?

Do we like Toothless?

A character from How to Train Your Dragon (2010)

Our score: 9 out of 10. Yes, we'd back him. He's loyal, curious and brave, and he picks friendship over fear and old hatreds. He's also a bit of a menace to fish and furniture.

Toothless is a Night Fury, the most feared and least seen dragon in the Viking world of Berk. The story begins with Berk at war with dragons, and the teenage Hiccup, who is more clever than strong, wants to prove himself. He brings down a Night Fury with one of his inventions, then can't bring himself to finish the job.

Hiccup and the dragon, whom he names Toothless, slowly learn to trust each other. Toothless is playful and cat-like, but also proud, stubborn and fiercely loyal. Reviewers single out how much feeling the animators get across through his movement alone, with no speech.

He scores high because his instincts lead him toward friendship, protection and trust, even when he has every reason to fear humans. The harm he does is mostly self-defense, and the good he does spreads from his bond with Hiccup to the people around them. The sequels test that loyalty and ask more of him, but his character holds steady.