#59: Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) 🐉 #DisneyVaultChallenge

"Have you ever done a group project but there’s like that one kid who didn’t pitch in as much but still ended up with the same grade?” – Sisu (the modern dragon)

Initial thoughts before viewing: I purposely waited to see this one for the first time for this Disney Vault Challenge. I didn't read any reviews in advance because I wanted to go in 100% unbiased.

If you'd like to read a recap of Raya and the Last Dragon, here is a link to the movie's Disney Wiki page where you can read the entire plot summary.

Highlights:

-Raya and the Last Dragon creates an entire world full of powerful women. Not only does the movie boast several powerful female characters from General Atitaya to princesses Raya and Namaari, but its story focused on the relationships between these female characters. There are no backstories presented about women having to rise up against a patriarchal society to claim these positions or having to fight to keep them. Instead, women are simply allowed to be chiefs, generals, warriors and whatever else they want to be. In this way, Raya and the Last Dragon tacitly normalizes the idea of female leadership and female warriors.

Raya and the Last Dragon may not be the first Disney princess movie to show woman leaders and warriors or to focus on relationships between female characters, but it does so in a way that is coolly under the radar. Raya and Namaari both get to be kick butt warrior princesses and it's treated as totally within the norm. For many, seeing women depicted in this way can be just as impactful as seeing them smash the patriarchy.

-Raya and the Last Dragon has a modern message: a quest for unity. Raya isn’t just trying to bring her father back to life, she’s trying to put her world back together. This movie is mainly about one of the big themes of our current time — a quest for unity. The social and political messages of the movie can be many because it’s really about trying to find common ground amongst divided people. Above it all, it's the titular dragon Sisu's earnestness and purity of heart that makes the story's finale so unexpectedly moving. Our fates are closely tied together, Raya and the Last Dragon reminds us, as it builds a case for understanding, teamwork, and sacrifice.

Closing Thoughts:

The emotional power of Raya and the Last Dragon sneaks up on you. Because it came out during the pandemic, I fear that this movie did not get the love and attention that it would have gotten during normal theater-going times.

As critic Lindsey McGinnis wrote, "The best part about Raya and the Last Dragon is that it continues the positive trends changing the Disney princess pipeline: more flawed heroes, more female friendships, more complicated villains, more diversity, and more courage. What we see now is the culmination of movies like Mulan, Frozen, and Moana. Raya isn’t groundbreaking; she’s even better. Raya is the new norm." Amen, sister.

The bottom line: Filled to the brim with an excellent Asian-American voice cast, Raya and the Last Dragon is a mature and thoughtful adventure that looks, sounds, and feels inclusive.

My Rating: 7/10

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Works Referenced:

"How Raya and the Last Dragon is Feminist in a Subtle Way" by Madeline Mutsumoto-Duyan