Raya and the Last Dragon

Raya and the Last Dragon from Disney tells a story of different people needing to work together for a common good. Keep reading for more information, our review and an activity packet to use with the kids.

We have been huge Disney fans for years. Even though the boys are older, I still end up watching most of the movies as they come out.

My youngest son and I eagerly sat down to watch Raya and the Last Dragon when it released onto Blu-Ray. (Many thanks to Disney for sending us a copy to review.)

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Synopsis for Raya and the Last Dragon

Long ago, in the fantasy world of Kumandra, humans and dragons lived together in harmony.

But when sinister monsters known as the Druun threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity.

Now, 500 years later, those same monsters have returned and it’s up to a lone warrior, Raya, to track down the last dragon in order to finally stop the Druun for good.

However, along her journey, she’ll learn that it’ll take more than dragon magic to save the world—it’s going to take trust as well.

Raya seeks the help of the legendary dragon, Sisu. Seeing what’s become of Kumandra, Sisu commits to helping Raya fulfill her mission in reuniting the lands. Featuring Kelly Marie Tran as the voice of Raya and Awkwafina as the voice of Sisu, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Raya and the Last Dragon” will be in theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access on March 5, 2021. © 2021 Disney. All Rights Reserved.

From directors Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada, co-directors Paul Briggs and John Ripa, producers Osnat Shurer and Peter Del Vecho, the film features the voices of Kelly Marie Tran as Raya and Awkwafina as Sisu.

Trailer for the Film

Raya and the Last Dragon Blu-Ray/DVD Bonus Features

An Introduction to “Us Again”– Director Zach Parrish takes you behind the scenes of the Walt Disney Animation Studios short.
“Us Again”– An elderly man and his young-at-heart wife rekindle their passion for life on one magical night.
Taste of Raya – Dine along with Kelly Marie Tran and the film’s creative team–virtually–over a Southeast Asian menu inspired by the countries that influenced the film as they discuss their experiences creating the world of Kumandra.
Raya: Bringing it Home – When the global pandemic of 2020 hit, production of “Raya and the Last Dragon” moved to the houses of over 450 people. We open a window into their lives and learn how they overcame massive obstacles to make an animated feature from home.
Martial Artists – Get a kick out of learning about the martial art forms and weapons used in the film as co-screenwriter Qui Nguyen and visual anthropologist Dr. S. Steve Arounsack share the inspiration behind the film’s action-packed elements.
We are Kumandra – Meet members of the Southeast Asia Story Trust and discover the cultural influences that inspired the film…and how important this representation in a Disney animated film is to the people of the region.
Outtakes – Step into the homes and behind the mics of the cast of “Raya and the Last Dragon” as they experience voice-over sessions in closets and shaky internet connections, which made recording this film unlike any other.
Fun Facts & Easter Eggs – Take a look at some of the hidden surprises and behind-the-scenes secrets of “Raya and the Last Dragon.”
The Story Behind the Storyboard with John Ripa – Co-Director John Ripa invites you to get an inside look at his thought process as he pitches a storyboard sequence from the film and talks about his amazing career with Disney Animation.
Deleted Scenes:
- Introduction – Head of Story Fawn Veerasunthorn introduces deleted scenes from “Raya and the Last Dragon.”
- The Bridge – Raya confronts an early version of the Druun in this deleted storyboard sequence.
- Escaping Namaari – See an early version sequence of an introduction to Namaari as an adult.
- Dragon Blade – Discover an early version of Raya’s sword, when it used to have magical powers.
- Meet Boun – Meet an early version of Boun before he was a chef and shrimp boat captain.
- The Heart of the Dragon – Co-Director John Ripa introduces a deleted scene which brought the theme of hope into the film.

Crafting Raya Featurette

Curious to learn more about the making of Raya and the Last Dragon?

Watch this short video about it!

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Disney’s stunning, epic fantasy-adventure “Raya and the Last Dragon.”

Join Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina and filmmakers to find out what inspired the story, characters and martial arts in the film, and how the film was crafted by extraordinary artists, talent and filmmakers all working from home.

Our Thoughts on the Film

While this will probably not be in my top picks of Disney films, we did enjoy the film as a whole.

The animation is fantastic (as always!) and I love the diversity of characters.

The visuals for the setting are lush. It makes me want to go visit far away places in southeast Asia (inspiration for the film.)

While there were things we liked about the different characters, the 2-year-old toddler Little Noi and Ongis (part monkey & part catfish) are our favorites.

On the surface, the movie appears to be about a girl who discovers the last dragon. Together they embark on a mission to reunite the broken pieces of the dragon gem.

What they discover is that saving the world means having to trust others. To work together for the common good of all.

The message is a timely one in our world.

It often feels like people are so entrenched in their own views, they have no openness for others. Hate seems to reign on some social media channels.

But, it is working together that we can improve our lives.

Just like Raya’s father showed her to add different ingredients to make a better soup.

RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON – (L-R): Boun, Raya and Tong. © 2021 Disney. All Rights Reserved.

Thanks to Disney for tackling such a timely message.

Now I am eager to dive into the special features.

Activities to Go With Raya and the Last Dragon

There are TWO activity packs put together by Disney that I am able to share with our readers.

Click the images to get to the pdf files for downloading.

Weekend With Raya

Happening on Saturday, May 22, and Sunday, May 23, 2021!!

Coinciding with Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the partnership will honor and highlight the cultures of Southeast Asia as well as the AAPI artists and filmmakers that helped to bring the film to life. From the delicious flavors of Thailand to the shadow puppetry of Indonesia, follow along on Instagram (@asianbossgirl) with AsianBossGirl hosts Melody Cheng, Helen Wu and Janet Wang throughout the weekend and join in on fun activities including:

A retelling of Raya’s epic adventures as told in the “Raya and the Last Dragon” Little Golden Book will be adapted as a Southeast Asian shadow puppet performance and by Girl Tales, a podcast that features strong female characters in reimagined fairytales. Watch the shadow play on the Disney Movies YouTube channel and stream the podcast during the weekend.

An Instagram cooking demonstration hosted by Omsom co-founders and sisters Vanessa and Kim Pham along with “Raya and the Last Dragon” star Kelly Marie Tran. The duo will be cooking up a delectable dish using one of the starters from the Limited-Edition Southeast Asian Omsom Sampler. Don’t miss the virtual cooking class on Instagram (@omsom) on Saturday, May 22, at 11a.m. PDT.

A step-by-step cooking demo with Pepper Teigen who will be whipping up a batch of coconut pancakes, a family favorite from her New York Times Bestseller^® The Pepper Thai Cookbook. The video will be available on Instagram (@pepperthai2) the morning of Saturday, May 22.

Explore the world of Kumandra with the “Raya and the Last Dragon” AR Experience. Log into the Disney Movie Insiders app to experience it now and bring #DisneyRaya to life. Membership required.

Find print-outs for families to create their very own Raya and Sisu shadow puppets along with downloadable recipe cards will be available at Disney Movie Insiders. (Note ~ you need to set up an account with them to access.)