Disney hasn't seen a new Disney princess in quite some time, which is why it was so exciting when Raya and the Last Dragon was officially announced. The teaser trailer was released in October earlier this year and it revealed a few things about the plot and a few key points about Raya herself. She is different from any other princess in their lineup as her story isn't based on a historical tale or folk story.
She is entirely a Disney creation and full of more magic and wonder than any other princess before her. The details that have been revealed prove this point as Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon is sure to become an instant hit.
This film is created by the same studio as those that made Moana and Frozen, which fans hope means more amazing songs and incredible graphics. It leaves others wondering how it will compare to these other two films for this reason. There is a lot of pressure on this film seeing as Disney hasn't released a new Disney princess since 2016 when Moana was introduced to the world.
Kelly Marie Tran and Awkwafina are both voicing characters in this movie, so it is sure to be a hit. Awkwafina will be the voice of the dragon named Sisu and fans will probably remember her from Crazy Rich Asians and Ocean's Eight. Raya, the princess herself, will be voiced by Kelly Marie Tran who played Rose Tico in the recent Star Wars films, and between these two stars, there is no doubt this film will be epic.
Kumandra is a fantasy world created by Disney, but they did base much of it on Southeast Asian cultures. Not much is known about this land as of yet, but there are many arguments that say it is a mixture of Indonesia, Cambodia, and Malaysia, among others. The world they like is lush and green, however, her journey takes her into the desert for a change in scenery which is why it might become one of the best Disney princess movies.
There is no other description for Tuk Tuk besides the fact that he looks like a giant hamster in armor similar to that of an armadillo. Others have described him as being a giant pill bug due to the way he is able to move around by rolling into a ball.
When he is young he is small and Raya can carry him, but as he grows older he becomes her steed and sidekick. He might not always be the most reliable form of transportation, as Raya has to help flip him back over from time to time, but it does add a fantastical element to the movie.
Raya's father is the Chief of the Kumandra which is why she was trained from childhood to become a guardian of the Dragon Gem. However, these plans changed after the world shifted into something new and her destiny changed entirely. This training did prepare her for the journey of independence that she took in order to save her people from disappearing for good.
A major part of Raya's training was in the field of hand-to-hand combat with both fighting sticks and a sword. She is nimble and quiet on her feet, as well as a menace when it comes to battle. Raya was training to stop at nothing to defend the Dragon Gem, and her skills reflect this mindset which is why she might be the strongest Disney princess yet.
The change in the land has led to the people of Kumandra splitting into five different groups that are identifiable by their various colors. The guardians wear blue, while the other groups can be seen wearing orange, pink, gray, and tan.
These groups also have their own responsibilities and animals as they have carts, elephants, and even wolf-like creatures at their disposal. It adds to the lore that fans are eager to uncover once the film comes out and more information comes to light about the aspects of its design.
There isn't a singlular villain for Raya to fight, at least not that fans know of, as it is a set of monsters that threaten the people of Kumandra. They are called the Druun and they had threatened the land before, but the dragons had taken care of them the first time around. Unfortunately, the return of this monster has everyone in a panic about what to do which is where Raya comes in to save the day.
There is one last dragon that was left to help stop the Druun if they ever returned, and its name is Sisu. It is a blue dragon and the last one that has the ability to transform into a human, which may make it cooler than Mushu from Mulan. Raya is the one tasked with finding this dragon named Sisu and enlisting its help to save her people and discover her own destiny along the way.
Unfortunately, it will be some time before this film hits theaters as its release date is for March 5, 2021. However, one thing that fans can look forward to is that it will also be available to watch Disney+ Premier Access on this same date. It gives people the option to watch it from the comfort of their own home, or to spend a night out on the town at the theater to watch the newest addition to the Disney princess lineup.
