The filmmakers behind Raya and the Last Dragon had a hard time finding comparable female relationships, especially in action movies. Raya is notable for having three female characters at the center a rarity for action films and even for Disney animation. Raya and the Last Dragon is out on home video on May 18.
Adventure has a new name and that name is Raya.
Raya and the Last Dragon is the latest film from Walt Disney Animated Studios and, on the surface, it invokes some of the most memorable adventure franchises of all time
Indiana Jones, Lord of the Rings,
Avatar: The Last Airbender but it does so in its own magical Disney way. The film creates a mythology and world bursting with Southeast Asian influence and messages that feel more than a little appropriate in 2021. It’s truly wonderful.
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We first meet Raya (
Star Wars: The Last Jedi’s Kelly Marie Tran) as a young woman who has earned the role of Guardian of the Dragon Gem from her father Benja (Daniel Dae Kim). The Dragon Gem is a key piece of history that’s been in Raya’s family for generations. Years ago, it saved their land, Kumandra, from an ancient evil but resulted in the once-united people divided into several groups. Now, five tribes are constantly at odds over the Gem, which leads to an event that�
A whole new world:
Raya and the Last Dragon drew on diverse Southeast Asian influences and culture to create the fantasy realm of Kumandra
When you make a dream a reality, there comes a time when that whole world reveals itself. For James Romo, UT grad and production supervisor on Disney s magical fantasy
Raya and the Last Dragon, it was when the writing team sat down with the art department to explain the five disparate lands of the mystical realm of Kumandra: not just the geography but the people, their cultures, and how the three elements were interwoven. It was a big moment for me, Romo recalled. I remember thinking, OK, this is our world that we are making.
Stars: 3/5
Throughout the 2010âs, Walt Disney Animation Studios has relentlessly released film after film with titles like Frozen, Big Hero 6 and Moana becoming instant household classics. Almost all of them are enjoyable, some more so than others, but one cannot deny how deeply derivative they are of one another.
A fantastical land, a mysterious power, a regal hero, smirking sidekick, the death of a family member, a quest for MacGuffins, a mindless antagonistic presence and gorgeous animation. All of these elements compose the tried-and-true Disney formula of moviemaking. Itâs worked for decades, but the cracks are finally starting to show in Raya and the Last Dragon.