Raya and the Last Dragon

[D82]

You can find the entire cover below. The illustration didn't turn out that well. They tried to draw her based on the doll packaging clip-art and usually when you paint over a CG model, it doesn't look as good.

Thanks for posting the entire cover! I had tried to find it, but couldn't. Yes, it's clear they based her drawing on that clip-art and I agree that it's not as good as it.

I'd like to know what those creatures are too. Probably more fantastical animals like Tuk Tuk. The one at the top looks like a monkey, the second one like a bison, and the one at the bottom like a cat. The second one reminds me a bit of Appa, Aang's flying bison in Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Yes, I guess they're fantastical creatures like Tuk Tuk. I had also noticed that, though they share the same colors, each one looks like a different animal. I haven't seen Avatar: The Last Airbender, but I've googled that character and you're right that they look similar; though the one from Avatar is way bigger. Personally, these characters remind me a bit of these other ones from Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland. Not so much the design, but the fact that both are a group of characters with similar colors but different sizes that are always together.

Also, I'm not sure if this is new, but the synopsis provided for the book listings mentions the misfits.

It's not new, but it's further proof that the misfits will appear in the final film.

It reminds me of the Braided Beauty Pocahontas doll. Where Meeko braids her hair (which it`s animation test was made for commercial purposes).

It reminded me of that Pocahontas doll too. I guess the Raya one is a braided doll as well.

[D82]

Another book cover:


Source: https://www.amazon.ca/Disney-Dragon-Jou ... 0794446426


Raya has the same pose she had in the leaked poster in one of the magnets. I've also noticed she already had the wavy sword in that poster.

[Sotiris]

Another book cover.

I think I've figured out what's bothering me about Raya's updated design. It's her head shape. In certain angles, when it's not obscured by her hair, her jawline looks very square. That's a shape usually reserved for male characters in animation. I think they made this change after Kelly Marie Tran was cast in the role. They must have wanted to make Raya look more like her.

Raya has the same pose she had in the leaked poster in one of the magnets. I've also noticed she already had the wavy sword in that poster.

Good eye! I noticed that the only change in her wardrobe is the addition of a metal armband and the replacement of her forearm wrap with a metal gauntlet glove. Those must have been late additions because she doesn't have them in the full-bodied image of hers from the doll packaging you posted a few pages back.

[unprincess]

I like all her 2d designs so much more than her CGI ones. Her 2d ones are more angular, reminding me of Pocahontas and Esmeralda's designs. But in the trailer she just reminded me of Moana for some reason, with the rounder face and bigger cuter eyes. Weird.

The animal figures are giving me major Sanrio vibes.

[D82]

First look at what probably is Sisu's final design in dragon form and more new looks at Raya. Clindor was right that Sisu looked bluer in the teaser trailer.


Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CHv0pvxnulF/


Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CHv33kHnjvw/


Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CHwPNg-ndXc/

I've tried to find the original source of these images, but I haven't been successful so far.

[UmbrellaFish]

I think this design for Sisu is much more appealing than the previous one we saw. She looks like a long unicorn— I imagine that and her pretty coloring might make her a very popular purchase in the toy aisle.

[Disney's Divinity]

That description from a few pages back still applies here: that picture of Raya holding the sword up is more badass than any of the Revival Era princesses have ever looked before. Probably more than any of the princesses (past or present), except perhaps Mulan--but she didn't really give off that "badass" feeling until late in the film. I'm thinking mostly of when she pulls her hair back and reveals her identity to Shan-Yu, for example. That picture of Raya looks likes she's ready to go for blood. I love it.

I much prefer Sisu's human design over her dragon one. The dragon design is one of those things I'll hold off on my opinion with. A lot of its success will come down to how it looks / moves in action, I think.

[DisneyFan09]

Thanks for posting those pictures, D82. I love them all, especially the one with Raya holding up her sword.

[D82]

^You're welcome, DisneyFan09!

Personally, though I like Sisu's dragon design, I'm a bit disappointed as I preferred how she looked in the concept art. The current color scheme immediately makes me think of Sully from Monsters, Inc. and I miss the whiskers. Plus, it seems they've replaced all those beautiful fins for just one on the back and what looks like feathers in the tail, which is a shame. Now she doesn't look a water dragon so much. The hair (which now looks more like a mane) is not bad, though, but I liked the white color more. I think Sotiris was right that the horns had changed. I'm not sure which ones I prefer; I would need a better look at the new ones to decide. All in all, I'm still grateful the design hasn't changed more; I feared it could be worse.

I think I've figured out what's bothering me about Raya's updated design. It's her head shape. In certain angles, when it's not obscured by her hair, her jawline looks very square. That's a shape usually reserved for male characters in animation. I think they made this change after Kelly Marie Tran was cast in the role. The must have wanted to make Raya look more like her.

It could be. It's true that her jawline seems to be squarer than most female Disney characters. Personally, I'm not bothered by it, but I think she looks better in the actual footage than on the book covers.

I noticed that the only changes in her wardrobe is the addition of a metal armband and the replacement of her the forearm wrap with a metal gauntlet glove. Those must have been late additions because she doesn't have them in the full-bodied image of hers from the doll packaging you posted a few pages back.

You're right, I hadn't noticed that before. She does wear an armband, though, in the first concept art that was released at D23, but on the other arm. And I've now noticed another thing that's different in that pose from the doll box you mention is that she holds the axe there instead of the sword:



It's strange that on the leaked posted, that featured an earlier design of the character, she has the sword, but here on the toy box she has the axe. Has her weapon changed several times or is it possible that she uses both in the film?

[D82]

More new images:


Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CHwdhvHHKav/


Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CHwqHzRnNRW/


Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CHwp-W_n5IZ/



One more here which might be a bit spoilery: https://www.instagram.com/p/CHwvkmJHYGs/

I've found the source of the book covers from the last image and link: https://www.scholastic.co.nz/media/5123 ... parade.pdf

[Atlantica]

I miss having lead female Disney characters smile ... they barely smile in anything anymore ? Either snarling or smirking or looking kind of vague, and blankly posing. Raya certainly falls into the former category of snarling/smirking. Just not aesthetically pleasing to me ?

[Disney's Divinity]

And I've now noticed another thing that's different in that pose from the doll box you mention is that she holds the axe there instead of the sword:

Good catch, D82! I hope she carries both weapons and uses them in different situations. It's possible she'll only use the axe until she finds the sword. My guess is the sword is something special and dragon-related, just like the dragon stone/gem, which she may find in a temple or something. And I'd love if the sword had powers, too, in some way, like an Excalibur. It would emphasize her as a Chosen One even moreso, and I kind of like the idea of her being a King Arthur type of character who attempts to unite multiple warring factions together around one Round Table.

I'm surprised I like nearly all the clip-art for Raya so far. Usually the official images are sort of spotty, and at best a 50/50 split. I like all these pictures, including Sisu's also. If I had to pick a least favorite, it would be the one of Raya leaning against Tuk Tuk. I don't care for the drawings so much. I think it's because it's merchandise; a drawing by an official animator of her would likely look better than the 3D though.

[DisneyFan09]

Thanks again, D82. It`s just a pity that most of the pictures are not clear.

Btw, I`ve written an entry about Raya to my blog: https://mydisneyanalysis.blogspot.com/2 ... layed.html. If you guys want to take a look Edit: Thanks for the views, guys I truly appreciate it

[blackcauldron85]

Personally, though I like Sisu's dragon design, I'm a bit disappointed as I preferred how she looked in the concept art. ...I miss the whiskers. Plus, it seems they've replaced all those beautiful fins for just one on the back and what looks like feathers in the tail, which is a shame. Now she doesn't look a water dragon so much. The hair (which now looks more like a mane) is not bad, though, but I liked the white color more...All in all, I'm still grateful the design hasn't changed more; I feared it could be worse.

This is exactly how I feel. I LOVED her previous design, and the new one isn't bad and she's still cute, and I still want all the merchandise of her, but I was really in love with her previous look. (But it's what's on the inside that counts <3.)

When will this merch get released?!?

Btw, I`ve written an entry about Raya to my blog: https://mydisneyanalysis.blogspot.com/2 ... layed.html. If you guys want to take a look Edit: Thanks for the views, guys I truly appreciate it

Raya will certainly be a first for Disney. Being a Princess movie that is not a musical. Which truly is a bold step for Disney. Considering that the Princess formula have been synonymous with musicals, it`s truly daring to stray away from it (and yeah, it`s easy to label Brave as being the first, it still had songs in it).

Sure, Eilonwy and Kida weren't the "stars" of their films, but I like to think that they paved the way for Raya!

Whether Raya herself will eventually join the Official Princess Franchise, is another case (considering that neither Moana nor some certain sisters from Arendelle joined in. Despite that Moana herself has been featured in several Princess merchandise lately).

That's actually a good point. Reading about her being a "Princess" definitely made me assume that she will join the Princess line, but I had forgotten that Moana hasn't been inducted...

While the Revival formula has been frequently criticized for having a sparring dynamic between two of each gender, at least this will be a WDAS property which shows such a dynamic between two females. Though one should assume that Sisu will be a comic relief just as Maui.

Another good point. I haven't had an issue with the relationship dynamics of the past few films (or any), but I wonder if people who were getting weary of the "guy-girl-buddy-road-trip" kind of films will feel that Raya + Sisu is a nice change of pace.

Raya will be another feature set in Asia with a bold, badass protagonist (which also wears pants, being the third Oriental Princess to do so since Jasmine)

A quick Google search:
http://studyholiness.com/doc/Historical ... _Pants.pdf

Reliable sources tell us that pants made their first appearance in history in the 4th century B.C.
where they were worn by BOTH men and women in PERSIA...Nomadic Eurasian horsemen/women such as the SCYTHIANS, along with Achaemenid and Seleucid Persians were the FIRST to wear trousers, later introduced to modern Europe via either the Hungarians or Ottoman Turks. The Persians were noted for fine horses, and people who rode horses valued trousers, and in that capacity trousers spread to China and India, as well as to the Celtic peoples of northern Europe...Who was the first to wear pants, men or women? Surprisingly to many, throughout most of history trousers have NOT been associated with MEN! In China both men and women wore trousers. In the Ottoman Empire (based in what is not Turkey) women wore trousers. In Pakistan, which was once part of India, women wear very full-cut trousers under, or in place of, the wrapped sari. The dhoti is also a rectangular cloth that can be wrapped around the legs to form a skirt or wrapped and brought up between the legs to form loose pants. ONLY IN EUROPEAN CULTURES did trousers become associated with men.

Director Hall calls the film “the most beautiful animated film he`s ever seen.”

Even my dad, who isn't the hugest animation fan (though he has his Disney favorites), mentioned when I sent him the link to the trailer that the animation is phenomenal, and he'll probably watch the film at least to see the great animation.

You made a GREAT blog post, DisneyFan09! I like that you included the history of the film and the history of what has been presented to the public so far! And you had a LOT of pictures that I had not seen yet.

[DisneyFan09]

Sure, Eilonwy and Kida weren't the "stars" of their films, but I like to think that they paved the way for Raya!

Fair enough, but they weren`t lead characters on their movies.

That's actually a good point. Reading about her being a "Princess" definitely made me assume that she will join the Princess line, but I had forgotten that Moana hasn't been inducted...

Thanks

Another good point. I haven't had an issue with the relationship dynamics of the past few films (or any), but I wonder if people who were getting weary of the "guy-girl-buddy-road-trip" kind of films will feel that Raya + Sisu is a nice change of pace.

Thanks

A quick Google search:
http://studyholiness.com/doc/Historical ... _Pants.pdf

Thanks for the information It`s interesting to know.

You made a GREAT blog post, DisneyFan09! I like that you included the history of the film and the history of what has been presented to the public so far! And you had a LOT of pictures that I had not seen yet.

Thank you so much, Blackcauldron85 Your praise means a lot to me. A big hug from me

[D82]

James Newton Howard Scoring Disney’s ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’
http://filmmusicreporter.com/2020/11/23 ... st-dragon/

[DisneyFan09]

Really? Nice! I loved his previous scores for Disney (Dinosaur, Atlantis, which actually had the Indonesian Gamelan and Treasure Planet). So it`s nice to have him on board. Let`s hope his score for Raya will be just as great.

[blackcauldron85]

^ This excites me, too! If we can't get Alan Menken, James Newton Howard would be my #2 choice.

[Musical Master]

James Newton Howard is a really talented composer and I'm glad he's doing another Disney animated film again. Also I'm excited to know more about the other characters who are the "misfits", a united found family working together story seems very interesting for Disney to do.

[Disney's Divinity]

Howard is a great choice for a non-musical. I'm not sure if I'll buy the soundtrack though (or at least unless I can get it for practically nothing) since there are no songs. Treasure Planet wasn't a musical, but at least it had "Always Know Where You Are" and "I'm Still Here," both of which I enjoyed. I hope they have a good end credits song for this at least? I'd like if Ariana would do an end credits song for one of their original films. I still think it's such a shame we didn't get her for "Let It Go." Or perhaps P!nk or Kelly Clarkson. They both have such an amazing voice, it'd be a shame if she never does something like this with Disney (they've been involved with a bunch of other non-Disney animated films--mostly bad ones, imo, unfortunately....).