After a slight release date delay and a change in release strategy, Walt Disney Animation Studios is finally ready to unveil their 59th animated feature film. In what will stand as one of the first big blockbusters of 2021, Raya and the Last Dragon is the breath of fresh air we all need after months of lockdown. With all the hallmarks of classic Disney animation, it’s a dazzling, entertaining delight that gifts the world a courageous new Disney heroine for the ages and a hilarious, loveable sidekick who takes her place amongst the best there’s ever been.
THE PLOT
“How did this world get so broken?” asks our titular protagonist, Raya (Kelly Marie Tran). It seems her mythical ancient Asian homeland Kumandra wasn’t always the desolate dystopia we see before us. 500 years ago, Kumandra was a utopia where humans and dragons lived in harmony. The dragons protected the inhabitants from evil forces and brought peace and prosperity to Kumandra. When catastrophic plague monsters known as the Druun threatened to destroy Kumandra and turn the humans into stone, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. The last of their kind, Sisu (Awkwafina) placed all her energy inside a gem to defeat the Druun and disappeared from existence. But possession of the gem caused in-fighting amongst the citizens of Kumandra and the land split into five separate factions, each named for a part of a dragon: Tail, a harsh desert land home to a band of fierce mercenaries; Spine, a floating market filled with sneaky thieves; Spine, a lush bamboo hinterland inhabited by booming warriors whose weapon of choice is an axe; Fang, which boasts angry assassins and their angrier cats; and Heart, the land from which Raya herself hails and where her family has guarded the dragon gem for generations. After hundreds of years of fighting, Raya’s father, Chief Benja (Daniel Dae Kim) attempts to unite the lands and re-establish Kumandra to its former peaceful glory. But when jealousy and betrayal cause the Druun to return, Raya and her pet pill bug Tuk Tuk (“voiced” by the sound effects stylings of Alan Tudyk) must journey afar in an attempt to locate Sisu and vanquish the Druun once more. Hot on Raya’s heels is Namaari (Gemma Chan), a warrior princess of Fang whose mother, Chieftainess Virana (Sandra Oh) has plans of her own for the dragon gem.
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The key to the success of such a concept lies in the voice casting, particularly that aforementioned scene - stealing sidekick. Mulan had Eddie Murphy. Frozen had Josh Gad. Moana had Dwayne Johnson. And Raya and the Last Dragon has Awkwafina. Selecting her as the goofy water dragon is a piece of ingenious casting perfection. From the moment Sisu bursts onto the screen, Awkwafina’s sublime performance grabs your attention and refuses to let go. Overflowing with endless humour and gorgeous heart, Awkwafina’s sensational vocal work is reminiscent of the late, great Robin Williams in Aladdin. Much like Genie, Sisu is a deeply empathetic soul, filled with a sweet naïveté, yearning loneliness, and an insatiable spirit that’s impossible to resist. And this is a change of pace for me because Awkwafina usually irritates me or at least, she did in Crazy Rich Asians.
With the brave, plucky Raya, Disney continues its impressive determination to offer modern animated female protagonists that break the tired damsel in distress mould Frozen effectively shattered in 2013. Raya isn’t waiting for her prince to come which is lucky because there is no semblance of a love interest for the titular character in sight, unless, like me, you count the sexual tension between Raya and Namaari that may one day be fully realised when Disney stops being afraid of the army of bigots and homophobes who make up a heavy portion of their audience. This story is of one young woman’s journey of self-discovery and enlightenment. Burnt by a wicked betrayal in her youth, Raya is a sceptical misanthrope who will soon learn the power of friendship, trust, and unity. Voiced with the perfect balance of strength and vulnerability by Tran, Raya is a fresh, intelligent new icon for young viewers to emulate. And she’s like an Asian Xena to boot. Blessed with impressive fighting skills and natural ability with a sword, Raya swashbuckles her way through numerous thrilling set-pieces, overflowing with exciting fight choreography that taps into ancient martial arts with impressive precision. While she was apparently woefully underused in those Star Wars films I never saw, Tran showcases an ability to lead a film with tremendous energy and endless warmth. Her earnest chemistry with Awkwafina is almost sororal and it becomes the film’s true heart. Throughout Raya’s epic journey, she’s joined by a cast of characters that each steal focus when given the opportunity including Benedict Wong as Tong, a booming Spine warrior with a heart of gold, Thalia Tran as Little Noi, a cheeky toddler con artist aided by a trio of monkey-like ongi, and in a slightly lesser way, the incorrigible Izaac Wang as Boun, a scrappy, fast-talking young entrepreneur with the best shrimp dishes in Tail. And, of course, Tuk Tuk is another sublimely adorable Disney animal creation who’s part pill bug, part armadillo, and a dash of pug.
MY VERDICT
In another huge step forward for diversity in Disney animation (though it took them seven years to do it), the locations and characters retain their distinctive Asian features without feeling too “Disneyfied.” Unlike Mulan, the voice cast is composed entirely of Asian actors, highlighting the progression of the Disney production and casting process. What this song lacks in ear worms, it makes up for with animation that rivals Sleeping Beauty and a score that rivals Aladdin. Plus an excellent plot which, though familiar in places, is still overall new and very creative. My one gripe would seem quite trivial to many but it’s not trivial to me, I miss my Disney Villains and I want them back.
Is Raya and the Last Dragon a Disney Classic? With a terrific cast, stunning animation and a plot that is both familiar and new, I will gladly put this film in the Disney Classic category.
