Let’s be honest, even for those who are huge fans of Disney, their animated outputs haven’t exactly been amazing as of late. “Frozen 2” was for many a let-down, even as it attempted to do some more interesting things within the formula, and “Ralph Breaks the Internet” was much of the same, a film that tried to do interesting things bogged down by a formula. Many would argue the last time Disney themselves made a truly great animated film was 5 years ago with either “Moana” or “Zootopia.”
Well, the wait is over because “Raya and the Last Dragon” is here. Despite facing some massive behind the scenes changes just last year (the directors changed, as did the lead voice actress), “Raya” comes out far better than one might expect given that kind of behind-the-scenes turmoil. “Justice League” this is not, and it represents the biggest strides Disney has yet made to perfect their “princess” movie formula in a modern age.
Set in the land of Kumandra, shaped like a dragon, the film follows Raya as she seeks out the pieces of a Dragon Orb that could potentially help restore peace to the land. She’s joined by Sisu, a dragon, and a ragtag group of various other fighters in an attempt to succeed in their mission.
Without a doubt, the clear highlight of the film is Kelly Marie Tran (“Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” “Sorry for your Loss”) as Raya. It’s hard to believe she wasn’t the first choice for the role, as she brings a powerful emotional energy to the character. She’s fierce and also a little bit silly and over-protective. It’s the kind of performance where its clear Tran has put the effort in to think about how the film’s events and Raya’s life would have affected her and it’s a better performance for it.
Likewise, Awkwafina (“The Farewell,” “Crazy Rich Asians”) is also great as the dragon Sisu. Given that a role like this could have easily turned into the “comedian” sidekick role that Disney loves to shove into their movies, there’s a somberness to her performance once more is learned about her backstory. Awkwafina really brings a kind of dramatic touch to the character that makes it easy to empathize and really love Sisu.
The supporting cast all fill their roles well; Izaac Wang (“Good Boys”), Daniel Dae Kim (:Ost,” “Hawaii Five-0”), Benedict Wong (“Doctor Strange,” “Marco Polo”), and Sandra Oh (“Grey’s Anatomy,” “Killing Eve”) all perform their roles well; however the standout of this supporting cast is absolutely Gemma Chan (“Crazy Rich Asians,” “Humans”) as Namaari, Raya’s nemesis from the Fang lands. The pair have established history within the film, and their two differing perspectives make it an extremely engaging rivalry to watch. Namaari also has arguably more of an arc than Raya, and Chan’s performance showcases a warrior who is terrified to step out of line but equally scared of what not stepping out could mean. It’s thrilling stuff.
One of the big reasons these characters come across as so engaging, besides the voice work, is because the script from Qui Nguyen (“Dispatches from Elsewhere,” “Peg + Cat”) and Adele Lim (“Crazy Rich Asians,” “Digimon: Digital Monsters”) puts in the work to build this world and their backstories so authentically. While there are still plenty of jokes and lighthearted moments, “Raya” is the closest Disney has gotten in a long time to creating a drama. There are plenty of dark and somber moments that will surprise people. This isn’t a through-and-through comedy like “Wreck-It Ralph” or “Zootopia,” and it’s better for it.
“Raya” also stands out musically, with James Newton-Howard (“Treasure Planet,” “The Dark Knight”) returning to work with Disney for the first time in almost two decades. His score is incredible, blending various Southeast Asian instruments with an electronic baseline that creates a vibrant and pulse-pounding score. This mixes wonderfully with what truly is one of the most gorgeous animated world’s Disney has ever produced.
Clearly the restrictions of working from home hasn’t harmed the animator’s skills in any way, because beyond the textual worldbuilding, the world of Kumandra crackles with life and personality. Each of the various lands; Fang, Spine, Heart, Talon, and Tail, are all distinctly different and make up a gorgeous world full of energy. Disney has created one of its most expansive and fully realized original worlds yet.
That worldbuilding does factor into what might be the film’s biggest issue. How much this issue bothers you might vary but given how much effort has been put into building this world, its easy to see a film that is longer than the 107 minutes version we’ve been given. Really, this is an filmmaker’s dream, directors Don Hall (“Big Hero 6,” “Moana”) and Carlos López Estrada (“Blindspotting,” “Summertime”) have created a film and world so rich and engaging that it leaves audiences wanting more.
We haven’t even gotten into discussing the action, which is easily the best Disney has ever made. While “Big Hero 6” might come close, there’s a visceral impact to the sword fighting and action sequences in “Raya” that will leave audiences wincing with each hit. This pairs excellently with the gorgeous cinematography to further establish how amazing this film is to simply watch on every level.
“Raya and the Last Dragon” proves that Disney still has plenty of ways to evolve, by delivering one of its most mature and dramatic films yet, with great action and worldbuilding, without losing that Disney charm and lightheartedness. Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina, and Gemma Chan all deliver incredible voice work in this gorgeous world that leaves you wanting more. This is Disney at its best. 4.5/5
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