Earlier this week we saw the release of Disney Animation Studios’ Raya and the Last Dragon. This film is set in the fantasy world of Kumandra. Here long ago, humans and dragons lived together in harmony. But when an evil force threatened Kumandra, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity.
Now five hundred years later, the same evil has returned. It will be up to Raya to track down the legendary last dragon to restore the broken land and unite its divided people. It’s a challenging task for Raya as she has trauma due to events from her childhood.
Alongside her father, Benja, the chief of the Heart lands, she is a Guardian of the Dragon Gem. In a fight for the Gem, it’s broken and her father is turned into stone. She grows up to be a resilient, witty warrior, but with serious trust issues. But if she is going to succeed in her mission, she is going to need the help of others. In Raya and the Last Dragon, we fill find out if she will be able to once again find her trust in people.
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The story of this film is truly about trust. During a recent press event for Raya and the Last Dragon, producer Osnat Shurer commented about how this theme of trust is very important and relevant for our times.
“I would just add that it’s a story about trust, and it’s a story about people doing what’s needed to come together. And it’s not exactly incidental what gender they are, but they’re working for something so much greater. In addition to that, we have Tong and we have Boun in the story, and we have Benja who is the key behind the whole motivation of the entire story,” said Shurer.
“So we actually see it as a world that more reflects the world that we live in, and if we look in the crowds, and if you look among the guards, you will always see about a 50-50 split, which is more similar to the world we all live in. Really proud of our team for that,” Shurer continued.
“You can’t really get to unity without trust,” adds director Carlos López Estrada. “And for Raya, it will take trusting a group of strangers if she is ever going to have a united Kumandra.”
Lucky for Raya she is going to have the help of the last dragon of Kumandra, Sisudatu, or Sisu for short. Who is on the other end of the spectrum when it comes to trusting people. During the film, she also gains the power of shapeshifting. This allows her to experience and understand what people go through from their point of view. It will be up to her to help Raya bring down her walls and allow others into her life along their journey.
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Screenwriter Adele Lim commented about what she hopes people learn from Sisu’s trusting ways. “I think the magical thing about Sisu, in this movie, is that she has that trust and that faith in humanity, even when we don’t deserve it. Even when we betray it. Even when we let each other down again and again. We can feel embittered. We can feel, caught up in our own grudges. But, some creatures like Sisu being able to see that sort of divine core within everybody is the thing that inspires everyone. I hope that’s what people come away with when they see Sisu.”
In watching some scenes from Raya and the Last Dragon the theme of trust is very prominent. Like the creative team for the film mentioned, this film is perfect for our time. We are coming out of a very controversial year. One where people have been divided over a variety of topics that we shall not discuss. This division has even caused massive rifts in friends and families. The same way that Kumandra was broken as they fought over the dragon gem. This has a lot of people feeling alone and isolated the same way that Raya felt growing up.
Now with a new administration and a new year, we can turn the page and begin to heal. Right on time to inspire us to trust in others again, comes Raya and the Last Dragon. We will find hope and strength in Raya’s journey to restore peace. Move over Frozen and Moana, there is a new film that will soon be joining your ranks.
Are you excited for Disney Animation’s Raya and the Last Dragon? Let us know in the comment section below!
Disney Animation Studios’ Raya and the Last Dragon will be released simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+ with Premiere Access on March 5th, 2021.