Raya And The Last Dragon is a dazzling feast for the soul. Epic in its scale, written in an inclusive manner (I’ll explain what I mean by that shortly), and set in a bold, beautiful world, Raya is one of the best animated Disney films in years. Anyone skeptical after Frozen 2 needs to get their heads out of the clouds and look at the track record that this studio has with original narratives. While I understand why Disney decided to go with Mulan as their test release for Disney Premier Access, this title would have been perfect to launch that brand. Some might be skeptical about going back to theaters, and they may even balk at the $29.99 price, but this title is far worth that price.
Kelly Marie Tran and Awkwafina prove to the perfect pair to voice the respective characters. Tran brings a soulful quality to Raya, while Awkwafina proves to be her perfect foil. Simultaneously, the narrative centers around the idea of unifying individuals despite their differences, Raya And The Last Dragon takes on a bit of Tomb Raider quality minus the skimpy outfits Lara Croft wears. The animation is bright, bold, crisp, which captures all ages’ imagination, and there’s next to no lag in this tale. Perhaps what was most appealing about the film was how inclusive it was. What happens more often than not in these types of releases is they are focused on a certain age bracket, and thus the writing reflects that. In Raya And The Last Dragon, the target was families, period. There’s something for girls and boys of all ages, plus parents will find themselves drawn in by the pace of this piece. What’s great is how Disney is giving families the choice of seeing it in theaters or at home during these uncertain times. This one is special!
Dewey Singleton has been reviewing new releases in television and film for many years. Dewey's reviews have been heard in multiple markets (Houston Atlanta, Tampa). Dewey's past work has been with awardswatch.com, awardsradar.com, and bleeding cool. Dewey is a proud member of the CCA.