Raya and the Last Dragon (2021)

Score: B (8.5/10)

Raya and the Last Dragon is an entertaining adventure rarely seen from Disney Animation Studios but finds its strength through eye-grabbing character designs and Asian-inspired culture despite including out-of-touch comedy amidst a serious narrative.

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Disney Animation Studios rarely releases adventure movies. In many cases, Pixar fills that void with the studio’s films. However, there have been instances of solid Disney adventure movies, like Wreck-It Ralph, Zootopia, and Big Hero 6. Despite this, there are also instances of the adventure formula not working in Disney’s favor, like Treasure Planet, Strange World, and Ralph Breaks the Internet. Luckily for Disney, Raya and the Last Dragon falls into the ladder category thanks to its world and storytelling despite the COVID pandemic stripping it from a successful theatrical release.

The most notable aspect of the film is its characters and world-building. Kumandra is home to various climates and cultures and is well-presented throughout the movie. Each tribe is unique from one another, and they all do what’s best for their people. Each tribe also has different practices because of the different climates, which only heightens the outfits they wear and the weapons they fight with. Speaking of which, the character and object designs are fantastic in every area of Kumandra while also representing Southeast Asian culture and history. Raya and her rag-tag group are especially eye-grabbing while mixing flair into their respective cultures’ attire and weaponry.

However, none of it would shine without Raya and the Last Dragon’s story, which never strays from a darker revenge-driven narrative. Each of Kumandra’s tribes only want what’s best for their people, which leads to their divisive and selfish natures. Their selfishness causes the movie’s conflict, where the Druun begins conquering their world. To combat the Druun, Raya attempts to bring peace to Kumandra despite her father’s previous efforts to do the same. Raya may succeed in her mission by the film’s end, but her journey is long and challenging. After everything that’s happened, Raya doesn’t trust anyone because it caused the Druun’s return. She especially refuses to trust others whenever her enemies throw the solution to the world’s problems down the drain. It causes many of the movie’s action sequences, providing entertainment until their endpoints.

There is one issue with the film: Akwafina. Despite her solid performance as Sisu, her more comedic nature often drags down the film’s more serious tone, especially in the first act. It’s unfortunate when there are many instances in the movie where she tackles its serious material. Sisu also needs a more determined attitude because of who she and many others have lost along their journey. She shows her strengths in acting, but her comedic origins hold her back from what would likely be an outstanding performance.

Overall, Raya and the Last Dragon is what I expected it to be, and I am grateful for it. Kumandra is a stunning world to explore, and I hope Disney returns to it. The protagonists have depth despite their rough moments and cliche personalities. Its story is well-delivered through Raya and her squad’s struggles to fix their broken world. The culture shown off has depth and leaves people wanting more from it. It may have its gripes, but Raya and the Last Dragon’s world had potential the moment it was released and still has potential moving forward.