As a half-Filipino, I didn't have many characters that I could identify with growing up. Thankfully, more AAPI characters have appeared on screen in recent years, but Southeast Asian representation in Western media overall still seems relatively rare.
While the film received mostly positive reviews (it was even nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature!), the pandemic complicated things. Like many films released around that time, it never received the full recognition it deserved.
Here are 11 reasons Raya and the Last Dragon This is an underrated gem:
1.
There is no heaven only Princess – She's also a warrior and a complex hero, and her character's journey is extremely satisfying to watch.
2.
The animated world of Kumandra is simply stunning.
3.
Kelly Marie Tran plays Raya brilliantly.
4.
There are *so* many cultural references and interesting little details worth noting.
5.
It's equal parts fantasy and action/adventure, making it the perfect escape movie.
6.
Content (Awkwafina) has a goofy personality that perfectly complements Rai's behavior, adding a nice dose of comic relief to the film.
7.
Raya and Namaari's dynamic is incredibly layered and intriguing, and neither is portrayed as simply “good” or “bad.”
8.
The female characters are not reduced to mere love interests or sidekicks: instead, they are front and center, and their relationships form the true heart of the story.
9.
The film is full of AAPI representation both on screen and behind the camera. The voice cast includes Daniel Dae Kim, Benedict Wong, Gemma Chan, Sandra Oh and others, and the film's co-writers include Adele Lim (Crazy Rich Asians) and Quy Nguyen are of Malaysian and Vietnamese origin, respectively.
11.
Finally, the film's core themes of unity, forgiveness, and trusting others despite your differences remain as important as ever.
Broadcast Raya and the Last Dragon on Disney+.
