Raya and the Last Dragon

[Sotiris]

Going by this image alone, I like her. Still, I'll need to see her in different angles and in movement to feel confident in my opinion. She looks like a cross between Mulan and Pocahontas, but that's to be expected with the Disney house style. The days Disney took bolder stylistic approaches are long gone. I think she looked better in concept art, but I say that for every CG character. Her outfit is too Star Wars-like for my taste though.


Close-up.


Source: https://www.facebook.com/88713542146496 ... 4329097729

[Farerb]

I like her design, hope to not be disappointed.

[Disney's Divinity]

I like the design, too. I like that she seems to be thin from top to bottom, as in no hourglass figure. It's something new.

[Tristy]

I dig it! Has a bit more of a different look from the previous CGI heroines. But again, we'll see how she looks in action. Maybe the more different design is a sign that we are definitely in the post-Lasseter era?

[Sotiris]

She looks a little too uncanny and a little too po-faced, to be honest.

It's a trend, unfortunately. Female characters in animation are either smirking, showing attitude or are just angry and aggressive in marketing materials. It's their way of selling them as badass and progressive. They did the same thing with Moana.

[unprincess]

I like it, nice to not have another bobble head doll design

Her outfit is too Star Wars-like for my taste though.

ugh now I cant unsee it! I really hope that's not were they went for the costume design in this film. Their costume design was good for Moana but not so great for the Frozen films... I think its lazy how they're modernizing period costumes to try appeal more to audiences. I can see them just aping the Star Wars look since it has Asian inspired costume designs and Raya is an Asian inspired fantasy film

[thedisneyspirit]

She be beautiful.

[DisneyFan09]

It's a trend, unfortunately. Female characters in animation are either smirking, showing attitude or are just angry and aggressive in marketing materials. It's their way of selling them as badass and progressive. They did the same thing with Moana.

Fair enough, but at least Moana was smiling on the first stills revealed of her. The same with the certain sisters from Arendelle.

I think she looked better in concept art, but I say that for every CG character.

Well, I don´t disagree with you with that

[D82]

The original image has been taken down, which I think proves it was legitimate. It's possible, though, this is not the final design, as it happened with Anna's and Elsa's leaked posters or the first Rapunzel image. Comparing the close-up Sotiris provided with the concept art, one thing that looks better in the latter, in my opinion, is the hair.

[UmbrellaFish]

Raya looks great!!! I can’t wait to see her in action!!

[DisneyEra]

If the image was taken down, then it's legit, cause why would Disney remove a fake image? At least the image is giving this film awareness, most people on social media have no idea about Raya. I saw on Twitter David Gilson noticed, which hopefully could lead to some fan art.

[Disney's Divinity]

It's a trend, unfortunately. Female characters in animation are either smirking, showing attitude or are just angry and aggressive in marketing materials. It's their way of selling them as badass and progressive. They did the same thing with Moana.

So true. It's the smirking I can't stand. I used to hate those clipart (the ones DisneyEra posted) of Anna and Elsa smirking. And then we just ranked the Tangled covers in the Comparing Release Art thread and it reminded me of the evil face they always gave Rapunzel. I actually think Raya looks better than those. She simply looks very serious, which suits the story if she's trying to save her world.

[Rumpelstiltskin]

Looks like the picture is being taken down all over the net.

My first impression is that the hand-drawn version looks a little more alive than the CGI-image, but it is too early to say based on just a single image. We'll just have to wait till there is some actual footage.

Just because it isn't a musical doesn't mean there can't be some great background songs and music in certain scenes, so there could be some great stuff there. There are lot of non-musicals out there, animation and live action, that just wouldn't have been the same without the music.

[D82]

If the image was taken down, then it's legit, cause why would Disney remove a fake image?

Exactly, I think you're right.

[blackcauldron85]

https://mobile.twitter.com/GraceRandolp ... 6715998208

Someone on Reddit wondered if this means poster or trailer coming soon, but Grace above said it's way too soon to release anything...
https://mobile.twitter.com/DisneyAnimJo ... 6194784256

[Farerb]

Do you think this film is not a musical because Disney thinks China doesn't like musicals?

[Sotiris]

^Why do you think China doesn't like musicals? Frozen 1 & 2 were a big success there and the remakes of Aladdin and BatB did very well too. In any case, I don't think intrernational appeal was a consideration for the studio. I believe they just wanted to make an action/adventure film and for them that meant no songs. It's a shame because it would have really suited the setting and the fantasy elements. I was thinking, if Raya is added in the Disney Princes line-up, which she probably will, she'll be the first one without a signature song. Even Merida had "Touch the Sky".

[Farerb]

I remember reading that the reason Disney removed the songs in Mulan was because they thought China didn't like musicals and they want the film to be a commercial success there. If these films were successful then I don't really understand Disney's thinking.

By the way, I don't think that China doesn't like musicals, I'm trying to understand Disney's thought process.

[Sotiris]

I remember reading that the reason Disney removed the songs in Mulan was because they thought China didn't like musicals and they want the film to be a commercial success there. If these films were successful then I don't really understand Disney's thinking.

From what I recall, it was the director's idea to remove the songs because she wanted to make a war movie and there's no place for songs in war movies.

As it turns out, China loves musicals, particularly Western stage musicals.

China's craze for musicals
http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2017 ... 377070.htm

Western musicals to find larger audience in China in 2019
https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1137307.shtml

[Disney's Divinity]

From what I recall, it was the director's idea to remove the songs because she wanted to make a war movie and there's no place for songs in war movies.

I didn't know that was the official reason the director gave; I always thought they were vague and ultimately gave no specific reason. If true, what a narrow-minded buffoon. Too bad Disney didn't put their foot down like with Aladdin. For some reason all these directors seem to hate musicals. I guess nobody volunteers to do these and Disney picks some random schmuck to do it, and they take the job because they can't get any other movie anyway even though they feel re-making "cartoons" is beneath them.

As for Raya, I don't really mind that it's not a musical. Although you think it would be since they cast Awkwafina in TLM-LA and they're giving her a song... I'm sure the film will have an End Credit song. Hopefully it's not garbage and we can sort of consider it Raya's theme?