Walt Disney Animation Studios is gearing up for their 59th animated feature, the upcoming action-adventure fantasy “Raya and the Last Dragon.” Directed by Don Hall (“Big Hero 6”) and Carlos López Estrada (“Blindspotting”), with veteran Disney artists Paul Briggs and John Ripa credited as co-directors, “Raya and the Last Dragon” takes place in the fantasy world of Kumandra, where long ago humans and dragons lived together 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. It’s up to a lone warrior, Raya (Kelly Marie Tran), to track down the legendary last dragon, Sisu (Awkwafina), to restore the fractured land and unite its divided people.
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During an early press day, Hall, Estrada, producer Osnat Shurer, and co-writers Qui Nguyen and Adele Lim shed light on the vast and detailed world of Kumandra, discovering truth in a deceitful world, and the cultural significance of the film. Their passion and excitement provided revealing insight into ‘Raya,’ as well as an intimate look at how the entire team remotely banded together over the course of the pandemic to deliver a thrilling, gorgeous, and important action-adventure film.
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A large part of the aesthetic and storytelling of ‘Raya’ comes from Southeast Asian culture, translating to the film’s action sequences. Not only do these scenes literally pack a punch, but they also serve to represent the various forms of martial arts throughout the region. “[I wanted to] make sure that our martial arts were correct,” said Nguyen. “It was very important that [Raya’s moves] were things that were based and rooted in Southeast Asian martial arts.” To achieve this authenticity, the team brought in real stunt performers to help choreograph the action, and in the footage screened, it shows. The fight scenes and set pieces are visually striking and organic, and real, never leaving the realm of possibility. This not only heightens the stakes, but allows the movement to be very emotional and character drive.
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The cultures represented in “Raya and the Last Dragon” are also reflected in the film’s score, composed by James Newton Howard. “There is a lot of music,” Shurer explained, “James Newton Howard did a lot of research and worked with musicians from the region as well to find the specific instrumentation. He did a really beautiful job.” Estrada concurred: “We could not be happier with the score. We heard it a few days ago on the soundstage, and it is absolutely breathtaking.” This score indeed is a massive standout working effectively to establish the tone and style of the film. It perfectly accentuates both the action and character beats, while delivering Disney’s signature memorable motifs found across their entire animated collection.
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Those same cultural influences extend to the characters in “Raya” as well, from folklore down to the region’s history. “I don’t think there were specific characters within Southeast Asian mythology,” said Lim, “[but] there’s a great tradition of female leaders, military leaders and warriors, and the stories of Nagas and dragons, particularly with water.” Sisu seems to be the culmination of that last point. She’s a quirky and charismatic character looking to function as the emotional core of the film while inspiring us in the wake of a challenging time.
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“[Sisu] has that trust and that faith in humanity, even when we don’t deserve it,” Lim said, “some creature like Sisu being able to see that sort of divine core within everybody is the thing that inspires everyone.” Estrada pointed to the magic of the film itself as an answer. “A nice texture [to Sisu is that] she gains the power of shapeshifting into a human, [which] allows her also to understand what it feels like to experience the world through our eyes,” Estrada explained, “and that, I think, brings her just a little bit closer to us, just from a different perspective.”
The way that Sisu bonds with the world of the film, but that of the audience, is greatly aided by Awkwafina’s amazing performance. “She brought so much of herself into the role,” Estrada said of Awkwafina. “We worked on the character thinking of her, but it was not until she stepped in that booth that she really brought her to life.” Some have even compared Awkwafina’s performance favorably to the late Robin Williams and his unforgettable turn as the Genie in “Aladdin.” “I think the Robin Williams comparison is not a bad one, actually,” Hall admitted, “[Genie] was sort of tailor-made for [his] specific gifts. I feel like we did the same thing. Sisu was written with Awkwafina in mind, and I can’t imagine somebody else as Sisu.”
Every great Disney film packs a strong message delivered with copious amounts of heart and empathy, and “Raya” is no different. Learning to trust one another and restoring our faith in humanity is a major theme, and the creative team elaborated on why the film’s delivery is so successful. “I think part of what [Disney does is] deal in magic,” Nguyen explained, “[‘Raya’] has a lot of magic, but I think the biggest piece of magic is trust. [It is] the real secret ingredient that will save our fictional world of Kumandra. And it’s a message I think is really important for the world to have and see.”
“Raya” features Disney’s first Southeast Asian princess, which is a milestone for representation in the company’s history. “We’re very proud of our culture and our history, but you [never] see it [in] Hollywood,” said Lim. “The idea to be part of a Disney movie that [celebrates the beauty of] our culture and how strong our women are is great. [Raya’s] got so much personality. I feel that it’s so much of the spirit of a lot of the women I grew up with.” Nguyen is responsible for giving the next generation a different cinematic landscape than the one he grew up with that was not lost on him. “For me, this is the big dream, for [Raya] to be my kids’ new favorite superhero. [Representation] is something that I didn’t get to see growing up. To be able to have that for my children is a blessing.”
These ingredients successfully combined to make “Raya” one of Disney’s most unique animated films yet. It’s no secret how proud the team is of “Raya,” frequently recounting and acknowledging the magical filmmaking experience. “What often happened when we were making the movie [was those crew members] would be reviewing [footage] like, ‘I can’t believe this is a Disney movie, [or] this doesn’t look like anything [we’ve] done before,” said Estrada. “If you think about Raya in context with the rest of [Disney’s catalog], it makes sense, and it belongs to the family, but it also just stands out in a way that it is just super exciting.”
As previously teased, we screened thirty minutes of the film, and Estrada couldn’t be more accurate in his assessment. Packing exhilarating and kinetic action sequences, the frenetic energy and pacing of Danny Boyle (more on that in a future Fourth Wall episode), Indiana Jones-esque adventure, extravagant world-building, powerful characters, and topical themes, “Raya and the Last Dragon” is shaping up to be one of Disney’s most distinct projects in years. While many animated action/adventure family films tend to lean more into the adventure side rather than the action, with “Raya,” refreshingly, the inverse is true. Make no mistake; this film is a nonstop actioner borrowing from top shelf anime with shades of George Miller’s “Mad Max” films, yet, it possesses that tender Disney heart. “Raya’s” initial trailer might have teased something familiar to fans of Disney’s animated legacy. Still, after screening this sneak peek, and hearing from the chief creative team, it’s clear “Raya, and The Last Dragon” is poised to break new ground for the animation titans.
“Raya and the Last Dragon” will be released simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access on March 5th, 2021. Check out the latest trailer down below!