Walt Disney Animation has a long and well-documented history of excellence, one that continues with their latest—Raya and the Last Dragon. In terms of the artistic aesthetic, Raya is as beautiful as an animated picture can be and yes, that is saying something.
Movies do not exist to solely serve one of our senses, vision. If they have any kind of resonance, they touch the soul, rile the heart, and move our emotions in a myriad of ways that produce an intimately and deeply personal moment between a group of characters and ourselves. Maya and the Last Dragon does that and achieves that milestone by spotlighting a part of the world that is known for its own artistic brilliance but hasn’t been the subject of it as much as it should be. Southeast Asia inspired Disney Animation’s latest and it’s a tale centuries in the making—reflecting that region’s rich history.
The thing is, all of that is fantastic—important even—but the key to any kind of cinematic reverberation through society is the story. It’s true… story is king and with Raya and the Last Dragon, it’s a layered and rich tale that grabs viewers from its opening moments and doesn’t let you go in any capacity until those closing credits roll. For me, its power stayed with me days after screening the majestic piece of work.
Kumandra is the locale of our tale, a landscape steeped in a history where dragons and humans lived in harmony. When an overwhelming evil force threatened the world, those gentle giants sacrificed themselves for their human comrades. There hasn’t been a dragon sighting in five centuries. That same evil that cost us our friendship with those mythic beasts has returned.
Raya (voiced by Kelly Marie Tran) is a warrior who seems to have been born for this moment. The thing is… she could use a dragon’s help. Lucky for her, that old adage that there usually is a slice of truth in every rumor is firmly the case here. There have been rumors of a so-called “last dragon” for years and Raya is determined to find it, befriend it, and rid this world of that dastardly evil once and for all.
In those centuries since dragons disappeared, humans themselves have become fractured. There’s another adage at work here and that is that nothing brings adversaries together like a common enemy. Hopefully, that one will bear fruit as well. Not only does Raya have to find this last dragon but must discover a way to unite the peoples of this region.
The best animated movies speak to adults while entertaining and enlightening children. That is certainly the case with Raya and the Last Dragon, but there is something else at work here as well and that is the film has a potent message that transcends age. Look to be equally as inspired as your children by Disney’s latest. It not only looks amazing, but it leaves you feeling amazing.
Tran is a revelation. She joins the Disney princesses conclave with a character that is layered, sure. But she is simultaneously as resonant as she is righteous in her convictions. As a parent, one wishes all children’s entertainment contained such characters. The actress (most recently seen in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and heard in The Croods: A New Age) possesses that internal fighting spirit that permeates the title character. Yet it is the little nuances that she brings to the table that sends her characterization into priceless territory. Those quieter moments in the film require a thespian to dig deeper into their toolbox and find what it is that drives and moves their character to even get up every day. Tran’s work here is transformative as it encapsulates the essence of the film itself. No pressure!
She is not alone in the titanic talent vocal department. Tran is joined in the voice cast by Awkwafina, Daniel Dae Kim, Gemma Chan, Benedict Wong, Sandra Oh, Thalia Tran, Patti Harrison, Ross Butler, Lucille Soong, and Disney regular Alan Tudyk.
In particular, Awkwafina dazzles as Sisu. Yet again, the young actress impresses and her chemistry with Tran is—in many ways—the key to this entire thing working or not. Awkwafina is the elusive titular dragon and watching her and Tran’s Raya build a bond is equally endearing as it is wholeheartedly enjoyable. In hindsight, the casting had to be a no-brainer. She embodies the awkwardly fierce and mystical dragon with a panache that is pitch-perfect.
In the director’s chair, there is a Fab Four—Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada are directing, while Paul Briggs and John Ripa are listed as co-directors. Usually when there are so many cooks in the kitchen, what is served is rather messy. That could not be further from what is achieved in Raya and the Last Dragon. There is an immaculate pace with a story that stops to breathe, while still having action sequences that are breathless. Then, there are the thrills. There is a lot at stake here, and that comes through via Qui Nguyen and Adele Lim’s script.
There is a lot to be proud of—from an animated cultural expansion from a region that has been found more wrong than right in Hollywood history to a compelling story that has lessons that transcend borders—Raya is riveting. It is not simply an envelope-pusher in terms of representation matters, the film is a case of a great story finding stellar storytellers.
Grade: A