Review of Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) by Healingtoolbox — 30 Apr 2021

I wasn't expecting much. The trailers looked like same old Disney tropes warmed over. I skipped the Mulan remake altogether. Turns out Raya is an effort with women in several key story and creative positions.

The themes are trust and redemption. Its humanity moved me emotionally. The CGI has so much realism, this feels almost like alive-action animated hybrid. It has a Disney short animation, at the start.

It's called "Us Again." It's wordless and stellar in its humanity. The catch is, to like Raya as much as I did, you may have to like animation in general. It appears many reviewers who disliked Raya, are intolerant of animation's use of tropes when making product for children.

You also have to not mind Disney expanding Disney Princesses into SE Asia geography. A user review kicks Raya because it doesnt explore SE Asia culture in any meaningful way. It's not about SE Asia; it's a story about how not to get discouraged if you believe in world peace.

Raya plays like Moana (2016). If my memory serves, Disney Pochahontes plays similarly. Native American Indian culture is simply a backdrop. Take this from a writer, the theme, the story, the character arc has to be front and center.

Otherwise you end up with a travelogue.