it’s time for a new Disney Princess – meet Raya, a princess who lives the in Heart Lands who is tasked with helping protect the Dragon Stone. It’s literally the heart and soul of their land and what her father hopes can help rejoin the fractured lands and bring back the kingdom of Kumandra. Fierce, strong and still a bit naive – she trusts too easily and that is what causes more problems for her land as well as the world.
Raya and the Last Dragon is a visually stunning movie. With vibrant new lands, cultures and of course dragons and mythology – there’s a lot for your eyes to take in. Other mythical creatures and fun new things that kids of all ages will love.
Throughout the movie, there are some major conflicts. Fighting, battles, dealing with death and loss. These are what parents should be on the lookout for while watching the movie. But the actual battles produce no blood in true Disney form – so you wont have to shield young viewers from this. It quickly goes from a battle scene to a dystopian world – which may be something you’ll have to explain.
The last dragon, the one that Raya is set to protect the stone and is trying to find to help fix the world is Sisu (played by Awkwafina). Even in the dragon form, Sisu takes on a beautiful mythical being but you can clearly see all of the mannerisms and movements that are clearly Awkwafina. If you are familiar with her in other roles, you will clearly see this acting come through and how the animators brought her into this character.
Overall, Raya and the Last Dragon will keep viewers engaged and the story will keep you entertained. And despite some of more adult battle scenes, at times the movie seems to skew a little younger for audiences. But Raya and the Last Dragon is a movie that you will enjoy watching over and again finding new details that help you go deeper into the story.
The movie does have a Disney ending, and one that will require some tissues on hand. But it will leave a couple questions, however – but we wont spoil anything there!
Raya and the Last Dragon is in theaters and on Disney+ Premiere access on Disney+ on Friday. Before the movie starts, you’ll get to enjoy the new animated short Us again (more on that below).
New Animated Short – Us Again
Have you ever looked back at your life and wished you could go back to a point and relive it. Us Again, the new animated short that will be showing before Raya and the Last Dragon and later available to enjoy on Disney+ takes you back in time of a couple. The short in only around 8 minutes, and follows the couple as a magical rain makes them young again and allows them to relive what life use to be like. But is that what they both really want?
Without dialogue, Us Again tells a full story through the actions and movements of the characters. With beautiful animation and fun music, the short does a great job conveying the story. It is a short, sweet and a good story to be told. It may not appeal to younger audiences but parents and adults will appreciate the story and relate to looking back fondly at other stages of our lives.
About Us Again
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Us Again” will screen before “Raya and the Last Dragon” in theaters. It will be available on Disney+ in June 2021.
Set in a vibrant city pulsating with rhythm and movement, an elderly man and his young-at-heart wife rekindle their youthful passion for life and each other on one magical night. The years fade away as the joy of dancing propels them across the exciting cityscape of their youth and revives fond memories and ambitions. Director/writer Zach Parrish (head of animation on “Big Hero 6,” and director of Disney Animation’s “Short Circuit” film, “Puddles,” now airing on Disney+) taps into personal themes, family observations, and a love of dance, and joins forces with award winning choreographers/dancers Keone and Mari Madrid (“World of Dance” champions), and acclaimed composer Pinar Toprak (“Captain Marvel”), to create this experimental musical fantasy. Brad Simonsen, associate producer on “Big Hero 6,” “Zootopia” and “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” served as producer. Jennifer Lee, chief creative officer for Walt Disney Animation Studios, executive produced.
Overall Rating:
About Raya and the Last Dragon
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Raya and the Last Dragon’’ will be available on Disney+ with Premier Access in most Disney+ markets, at the same time as it is released in select theaters on March 5, 2021.
“Raya and the Last Dragon” takes us on an exciting, epic journey to the fantasy world of Kumandra, where humans and dragons lived together long ago 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 and it’s up to a lone warrior, Raya, to track down the legendary last dragon to restore the fractured land and its divided people. However, along her journey, she’ll learn that it’ll take more than a dragon to save the world—it’s going to take trust and teamwork as well.
“Raya and the Last Dragon” features an outstanding voice cast, including Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina, Gemma Chan, Daniel Dae Kim, Sandra Oh, Benedict Wong, Izaac Wang, Thalia Tran, Alan Tudyk, Lucille Soong, Patti Harrison and Ross Butler. Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada are directing, with Paul Briggs and John Ripa co-directing. Osnat Shurer and Peter Del Vecho are the producers, and Qui Nguyen and Adele Lim wrote the screenplay.