Synopsis:
āRaya and the Last Dragonā takes us on an exciting, epic journey to the fantasy world of Kumandra, where humans and dragons lived together long ago in harmony. But when an evil force threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. Now, 500 years later, that same evil has returned and itās up to a lone warrior, Raya, to track down the legendary last dragon to restore the fractured land and its divided people. However, along her journey, sheāll learn that itāll take more than a dragon to save the worldāitās going to take trust and teamwork as well.
Trust is a fragile concept. Once your trust in someone is broken it not only hurts, but you begin to question the motives and validity of everyone you come across and everything you hear. Trust, or the lack thereof, is one of our world’s most glaring problems. With so much deception, subterfuge, and dishonesty weaved throughout every aspect of our lives, you almost can’t even trust your own eyes; it’s scary to think about. Nevertheless, you can control yourself. You can choose to be trusting and attempt to be the change you want to see. You can be the new blueprint for those around you moving forward because if no one tries to fix it, it can never be repaired.
“…or maybe the world’s broken because you don’t trust anyone”
Raya and the Last DragonĀ is a magical action-adventure film that sets out to reignite our faith in each other. The heroic journey is enchanting, action-packed, and full of hope. It initially gave me Avatar: The Last Airbender vibes which is always a plus in my book. The animation is incredible, as expected while the story is more poignant than I could’ve ever imagined. Even with its shenanigans, levity, and sincerity, its underlying yet very in-your-face messaging is a grim look at the current state of our world. From beginning to end the film is keeps your attention with its many delightful and winsome characters that you can’t help but envision as plushies and action figures. Covering almost every base, the story has something for the whole family, not unlike Big Hero 6.Ā Filled with a beautiful score and awe-inspiring shots, the film reinforces that women warriors are truly badass. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that the sound fx are awesome and crisp as well. Anchored by the rich and diverse voices of the cast, The Walt Disney Animation Studios’ production reminds us of what we should already know but seem to always forget; we are better together. I loved the film, so if you’re wondering if you should spend the extra money to watch it, the answer is yes. Its rewatchability is high.
Plot & Pace
When an evil force begins to wreak havoc on Kumandra and threatens to end all existence, the dragons that share the land with humans sacrificed themselves in order to save humanity. Leaving behind only a stone filled with mystical dragon magic, humans began to fight over it resulting in a fractured and untrusting society. 500 years later, the once great and unified land of Kumandra is now broken off into five distinct regions inhabited by factions that embody the region as well as part of a dragon. The stone resides in the Heart region where it is protected by its chief, Benja. With the stone constantly being sought after, Benja decides his daughter, Raya is ready to help protect the sacred stone. When the chief arranges a dinner to bring unity between the regions, things quickly take a turn for the worse as someone attempts to steal the stone. The attempted thievery is witnessed by all and a scramble for the stone ensues. The stone is then dropped and broken into five pieces with each group taking one thinking it will bring prosperity to their region. However, it brought more pain as it unbanished the once thwarted evil. It is now up to Raya and her companion, Tuk Tuk to find the legendary dragon, Sisu, and reclaim the pieces of the stone in order to save everyone and restore balance.
The animated film moves as fluid and swiftly as the sword Raya wields.
Characters & Chemistry
Awkwafina continues to prove that she is a gem and should be protected at all costs. She is perfect as the legendary dragon, Sisu. Her unique voice is made for this. And Kelly Marie Tran as Raya made this character one of my new favorites. The almost entirely Asian cast is perfect in every role, bringing each character to life.
Raya and the Last DragonĀ is available on Disney+ with Premier Access in most Disney+ markets, at the same time as it is released in select theaters on March 5, 2021. Stay safe and enjoy.
Directors:Ā Don Hall, Carlos LĆ³pez Estrada, Paul Briggs (co-director), John Ripa (co-director)
Writers:Ā Qui Nguyen, Adele Lim
Producers:Ā Osnat Shurer, Peter Del Vecho
Rated:Ā PG
Runtime:Ā 1h 48m
Rating: 4 out of 5