Raya and the Last Dragon

Raya and the Last Dragon is a 2021 animated fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Directed by Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada, with Paul Briggs and John Ripa credited as co-directors, it was written by Qui Nguyen and Adele Lim. The story is set in Kumandra, a land once united until a plague-like force called the Druun turned people to stone. Five hundred years earlier, dragons saved humanity, but all except Sisu sacrificed their magic in the process. Raya, voiced by Kelly Marie Tran, is the daughter of Chief Benja, leader of Heart. As a child, she meets Namaari, princess of Fang, voiced by Gemma Chan. Their attempted friendship collapses when the other tribes seek the Dragon Gem, whose fragments subsequently protect Heart, Fang, Spine, Talon, and Tail from the Druun. Six years later, Raya searches for the last dragon and finds Sisu, voiced by Awkwafina, who can take human form. Raya’s companions include the young boat captain Boun, warrior Tong, toddler con artist Little Noi, and her three Ongis. The group travels across Kumandra recovering gem pieces, while Namaari pursues them on behalf of her mother, Chief Virana. Raya initially refuses to trust Namaari because Namaari’s actions led to Benja being petrified. When the Druun overwhelm Fang, Sisu is killed during a confrontation involving Raya and Namaari. The surviving characters choose cooperation over suspicion, placing the restored gem pieces together and allowing Sisu’s magic to revive everyone turned to stone, including the dragons. The film’s voice cast also includes Daniel Dae Kim as Benja, Sandra Oh as Virana, Benedict Wong as Tong, Izaac Wang as Boun, Thalia Tran as Little Noi, Alan Tudyk as Tuk Tuk, and Lucille Soong as Dang Hai. James Newton Howard composed the score. The filmmakers drew inspiration from several Southeast Asian cultures; Disney assembled a “Southeast Asia Story Trust” of cultural consultants during development. Raya and the Last Dragon premiered on March 5, 2021, in theaters and on Disney+ through Premier Access, during the COVID-19 pandemic. It later became available to Disney+ subscribers on June 4, 2021. The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature at the 94th Academy Awards, where it lost to Encanto. It also earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Animated Feature Film. Its release made Tran the first woman of Southeast Asian descent to lead a Disney animated feature.