Joanna Orban

Copy Editor

I grew up on Disney movies like I’m sure many people of our generation did. I’m sure I’ve seen every one known to man at least once and while there are some that are worse than others, Disney’s newest movie, “Raya and the Last Dragon” is perhaps the best Disney movie I’ve seen in a long time. I would go so far as to say it’s probably my new favorite.

Spoilers ahead.

The Story

“Raya and the Last Dragon” starts with a story of evil spirits, the Druun, who can quickly turn people into stone and are nearly unstoppable forces. Although dragons are ultimately able to save humanity they all turn to stone and the human kingdoms of Kumandra fracture, although Raya’s home kingdom of Heart, holds on to the last concentration of dragon magic, a light-filled orb. Centuries later, Raya’s father invites the other kingdoms, Fang, Spine, Tail and Talon to Heart hoping to bridge the gap between the kingdoms. His plan backfires miserably as Fang betrays the other kingdoms, ultimately breaking the orb into pieces and reawakening the Druun. The spirits then turn Raya’s faher into stone.

As is common in Disney’s movie there was a significant time jump and we see grown Raya living a nomadic lifestyle as she searches for Sisu, the last dragon and the one who created the orb. She hopes that Sisu will be able to heal her father.

The story sounds like it would be one that is hard to follow but the real selling point of this movie, at least for me, was how easily the story flowed. Everything fit so well together, and unlike in “Frozen II” I didn’t finish the movie wondering about what had just happened.

I’ve always been a big fan of quest narratives, and this one in particular, because we saw Raya journey through all of the different lands of Kumandra, where she met different people who would help her and Sisu on their journey This part of the story was my favorite because  It was so fun to see all of the differences in the lands and to see all of the Southeast Asian influences Disney utilized. However, I am not a member of the community, so I cannot say whether the show was totally accurate or not.

The Characters

I know I said, the plot was my favorite part, but the characters were also just as good. Raya in particular really shined. At the beginning of the movie, she was such a guarded and mistrustful character that you could almost feel her bitterness. Her growth throughout the movie is based on her ability to open up and trust again, and in my opinion, was entirely authentic. Sisu, the last dragon, is hilarious. I really should have expected that, as she’s voiced by Awkwafina but I cannot even tell you just how much I laughed whenever she was on screen.

The interaction between Raya and Sisu is so critical to the overall story because of just how different they are. Sisu believes in trust and always thinks the best of everyone while Raya has closed herself off from new people and new experiences. There’s a wide variety of secondary characters, such as Raya’s potential love interest and the rival princess Namaari. Although their love story isn’t explicit, Raya’s voice actress has claimed that she was playing romance. If Disney confirms this relationship, it would be a first for the company. Perhaps, it would be better not to hold our breath in this regard.

The Animation

Another selling point of this movie was the beautiful animation. Let’s be honest, Disney is always a step ahead animation-wise and this movie was no different. Water is a huge theme in this story and throughout the movie, it’s beautifully animated. All of the characters are also very expressive. Honestly, one of my favorite things about watching animated movies is the animation style. Raya reminded me a lot of Moana, in the sense that all of the colors were very vibrant. Another tidbit of the animation that made the movie just a bit more was how they animated Sisu and the other dragons. They had more of an ethereal feel than the other characters and it separated them. It was a great way to show the difference between the dragons and the humans.

Why I Liked it So Much 

I’m embarrassed to say this, but I cried at least three times, maybe four if I’m being honest. I am not a crier, especially not in movies, but this movie was so wholesome. The story was just familiar enough not to be boring but had just enough twists and turns to really suck you in. Another reason I liked this movie so much was because of the main character. Raya was really fun and I loved her animal sidekick Tuk Tuk. My favorite thing about this movie was how much it reminded me of “Avatar: The Last Airbender”. The different tribes were evocative of the different kingdoms. Even if you’re just slightly interested in ATLA, I would recommend Raya. Each of the stories has a wholesome vibe.

I can’t think of any negatives about the movie, and I’m not just saying that. I can’t wait to watch it again and I can definitely say it’s my new favorite Disney movie. Do yourself a favor and watch it. You won’t regret it.