Disney have spent the last decade in uncharted territory. That seems like an odd thing to say about a company that can guarantee a billion with a half-hearted remake of an old favourite, and in that regard, there's nothing surprising about Disney's recent output, but if you look at the films themselves, it starts to get more interesting. Their last few animated efforts-Moana, Zootopia the Wreck-It Ralph duology- have all drawn inspiration from more varied sources than Disney have done before, and while the studio has never been a stranger to exploring different stories, they haven't had a streak so rich with both diversity and quality in decades.
To that end, Raya and the Last Dragon is a welcome addition to the lineup, an animated fantasy epic that, even from its opening minutes, distinguishes itself from some of Disney's more frivolous fare and harkens back to the darker curios in their catalogue, such as Atlantis: The Lost Empire and The Black Cauldron. The plot follows Raya, a noblewoman wandering the wasteland in search of the last surviving dragon and the key to uniting five nations that have been turned against each other by growing distrust. Trust- and the lack of it- is a key theme in Raya, and by anchoring the high concept to such a simple, universal idea, the film is able to hit a hot streak early on and keep it going
The best parts of Raya are the moments where the tried and true Disney formula rubs up against something slightly fresher and more exciting. It's undoubtedly an entry in the Disney Princess canon but it brings some new ingredients to the table to signal the direction that brand is moving in. The film leans firmly into the adventure genre and places greater focus on worldbuilding and character relations. It's slightly darker than previous entries, but the added seriousness really suits the feel of the story. At the same time, it still finds room for animal sidekicks and more than one plucky comic relief, but places them in a new context to mine them for renewed effect.
Again, it's because the story is built around such a simple idea that the film is able to spend more time on the details of the world. Every character is defined by trust, each one of the five nations defined by their role in an early film betrayal, and every emotional turning point stems from one of the players addressing their own biases in the face of a greater good. This extends to Raya too, whose internal defense mechanisms ultimately become the backbone of the film's conflict. Kelly Marie Tran brings our heroine to life with careful, measured deliveries, which is a perfect compliment to the ever reliable Awkwafina, who brings both levity and a surprising amount of weight to the role of Sisu, the titular last dragon
All things considered, it's another strong entry in a reliable catalogue. The more solemn tone might take some getting used to but for a younger audience it's the perfect gateway to similarly story-driven fantasy stories such as Samurai Jack or Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic. Either way, it's an interesting take on a brand that's not going anywhere anytime soon, and with gorgeous animation, smart worldbuilding and a charming cast of characters, it's a fairly successful 107 minutes
★ ★ ★ ★
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