Raya and the Last Dragon

Raya and the Last Dragon is a 2021 animated fantasy adventure from Walt Disney Animation Studios, released by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Directed by Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada, with Paul Briggs and John Ripa credited as co-directors, it is set in Kumandra, a fictional land inspired by cultures of Southeast Asia. The story begins five centuries after the Druun, mindless purple spirits that turn living beings to stone, ravaged the world. Dragons sacrificed themselves to create a gem that banished the Druun and protected Kumandra.

The former unified kingdom later divides into five lands—Heart, Fang, Spine, Talon, and Tail—whose names correspond to positions around a dragon-shaped river. Raya, voiced by Kelly Marie Tran, is the daughter of Chief Benja of Heart. As a child, she befriends Namaari, the daughter of Fang’s chief Virana, but Namaari’s betrayal during an attempt to seize the dragon gem causes the gem to shatter. The Druun return, petrifying Benja and much of the population, while each land keeps one fragment.

Six years later, Raya searches for Sisu, the last dragon, voiced by Awkwafina. She travels with Tuk Tuk, her armadillo-like companion, and gradually gains allies: Boun, a young boat captain; Little Noi, a baby con artist; and Tong, a formidable warrior from Spine. Namaari repeatedly pursues Raya’s group because Fang possesses a gem fragment. Raya and Sisu ultimately seek reunification of the fragments rather than victory by one territory.

The film’s climax occurs when the Druun threaten Fang. Sisu is accidentally shot by Namaari and falls into water, after which the protection provided by the remaining gem fragments fails. Raya chooses to trust Namaari with her fragment; the others follow, allowing Namaari to reassemble the gem. The restored magic revives the dragons and everyone turned to stone, including Benja. The ending shows Kumandra’s peoples gathering in Heart.

The screenplay is credited to Qui Nguyen and Adele Lim, from a story by Hall, Nguyen, Lim, and Briggs. James Newton Howard composed the score. Raya and the Last Dragon premiered in Los Angeles on March 1, 2021, and opened theatrically in the United States on March 5 while also becoming available through Disney+ Premier Access. Its release came during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was later nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. At the 94th Academy Awards, it competed against Encanto, Flee, Luca, and The Mitchells vs. the Machines.