Raya and the Last Dragon

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Re: Raya and the Last Dragon

Post by blackcauldron85 »

I may have just spent some of my overtime money on Raya Pops... :pink: :earsguy: I feel partly guilty but I'm really excited for this film and I haven't spent $ in a while for fun stuff...I wish ShopDisney had merch out...I really want a Raya bag...
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Re: Raya and the Last Dragon

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Better look at the young and adult versions of Namaari from recent book covers:

Image Image
DisneyFan09 wrote:Who cares about it being allowed? :P Thanks for sharing that article! :)
You're welcome. :) Well, I doubted whether to post it or not because, though I've shared similar things before, on those occasions someone had already leaked them and I just found them online, while this time I was the one to leak it (at least I hadn't seen that article anywhere yet), so I felt a bigger sense of responsibility. If it would stay just on this forum, I wouldn't have thought about it so much, but I've noticed recently that the things we share here are posted by others on Twitter and other places, so I would be responsible to spread it. However, others also shared it on their own soon after I did, and I've seen today that even the author of that article is happy people are talking about his story, so I guess it's all fine after all.
DisneyFan09 wrote:So it seems like Raya is going to be a sullen character (due to a trauma) who`s going to learn to trust someone again? Well, it confirms why the character seemed to be more serious than her Revival predecessors. And that`s she`s going to have a arc.
Yes, it seems so. I actually like that aspect of her. I think it'll probably make her more interesting as a character. Plus, it's realistic that a trauma like that would've affected her somehow. Most Disney leads who have been through similar things don't really show signs of that, and while I don't have a problem with it, it's nice that they're doing something different this time.

What I didn't understand from that synopsis is how Sisu can be "an innocent character who is always optimistic and believes in people too easily". Wasn't she supposed to be old and wise? This new details don't seem to fit with what we already knew about her. Also, the fact that Sisu and Raya are "the exact opposite" of each other shows that this film started being developed during the Lasseter era.
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Re: Raya and the Last Dragon

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Re: Raya and the Last Dragon

Post by estefan »

I find myself being continually impressed with the character animation in Disney's recent animated films. The computer animation has come a long way since "Chicken Little" and "Meet the Robinsons." Sisu strikes me as a character who must have been a lot of fun to animate, especially in human form. The fight and action scenes also look really well done and I'm looking forward to seeing those scenes in the finished film.
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Re: Raya and the Last Dragon

Post by UmbrellaFish »

I think this looks marvelous. I am so excited to watch this.

I noticed the phrasing “order on Disney+ with Premiere Access” which is, I think different from the wording used with Mulan. I would hope “Premiere Access” is a little more consumer friendly this go around, but for now I’m going to assume that nothing will change.
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Re: Raya and the Last Dragon

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Re: Raya and the Last Dragon

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Based on the new trailer:
Nevermind I was wrong.
Last edited by Farerb on Tue Jan 26, 2021 2:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Raya and the Last Dragon

Post by disneyprincess11 »

Everything is FANTASTIC from Raya herself to the action sequences...except the dragon. It feels so great to have a villain again and I love the sidekicks. They're very unique from other Disney movies.

I really hope Sina isn't as modern and irritating as she looks and the trailer shows her worst jokes. Not impressed with her lines.
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Re: Raya and the Last Dragon

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Wow, what a surprise! We knew the trailer was coming, but they didn't warn us of the exact day one day before or so like they usually do. I think the movie looks incredible. My only complaint is the same as disneyprincess11's, I expected more humor from Sisu, but I did like her in the trailer.

The rest of the cast has been revealed (here also with photos):
Raya's band of misfits allies comprises Tong, a formidable giant voiced by Benedict Wong, a 10-year-old entrepreneur named Boun (Izaac Wang) and the con-baby leader of an animal crime syndicate, Little Noi (Thalia Tran). Alan Tudyk, meanwhile, teams up with Disney once again to voice Raya's sidekick, Tuk Tuk. (Yes, Alan Yudyk is voicing a fantasy pill bug.)

Gemma Chan lends her voice to Raya's cunning nemesis, Namaari, with Sandra Oh as Namaari's mother, Virana, leader of Kumandra's land of Fang. Lucille Soong, Patti Harrison and Ross Butler are the leaders of the lands of Talon, Tail and Spine, respectively, while Daniel Dae Kim rounds out the cast as Raya's father, Benja.
Source: https://www.etonline.com/raya-and-the-l ... ent-159532
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Re: Raya and the Last Dragon

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D82 wrote:Better look at the young and adult versions of Namaari from recent book covers:

Image Image
I haven't been able to load the trailer yet. Just wanted to say that I think it's obvious Namaari and Raya are going to be shipped together a great deal in fandom. :lol:

Sandra Oh is playing Raya's mother! :pink: I love her. Too bad it'll be a small role at best.
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Re: Raya and the Last Dragon

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Dang, this looks so amazing.And they couldn't have made a better film for the times either.... A divided country that needs to unify. "The world's broken." Hmm. A lot of things I'd been wondering about seemed to have clicked in place. I remember saying I was skeptical of Sisu's dragon design until we could see it in action more, and it looks great here~! I've also been skeptical about how much I'd like Namaari or not, but I think it's very likely I'm going to enjoy that character. Her adult design is so much better than the child one... So far the dynamic is reminding me a bit of Cassandra and Rapunzel in the Tangled TV series (second time I've mentioned it this morning! :lol: ). Something about Namaari's face when she's snarling looks a bit OTT with the eyebrows and everything, but when she's just talking and looks more serene, the design is really nice. For the people looking for Avatar parallels, heh, Namaari reminds me a bit of Zuko in the first season, too. They'll probably be sort of like Aang v. Zuko--or perhaps Katara v. Zuko, with Sisu being like the Avatar Zuko / Namaari is searching for--only Raya reminds me of one of the Earth warriors (the group that Sokka's girlfriend is a part of). The part with Raya walking into Namaari's territory looked amazing. Very, Idk what it would be called, Aztec? The baby is as funny as I thought she would be. I believe this is the first we've seen of Sisu's human design in-film?

Were those cherry blossoms during the shot of Raya and her father? As if they needed another similarity to Mulan on top of the father-daughter focus and the sword being changed to be more like Shan-Yu's.
Last edited by Disney's Divinity on Tue Jan 26, 2021 10:23 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Raya and the Last Dragon

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Well, after seeing the new trailer, I wasn`t particularly impressed by it. It was still very DreamWorks-esque in tone (especially the beginning, which reminded me of Kung Fu Panda 2). But still the trailer had some perks. Kelly Marie Tran as Raya is fine. It was nice to see Raya`s father. The parts of where Raya discovers Sisu reminded me of the mythical aspects of Moana and even Frozen II (when Elsa finds the shipwreck). I liked the cultural aspects, yet Sisu is a mixed bag for me. She seems like she`s going to be a fun character, but at the same time also annoying. The bits with Namari were cool (though Namari reminds me of every sweaty, tank-topped Ellen Ripley-type badass females, it`s nice to see an archetype like that as a villain in a Disney movie. Unless you`ll count Helga from Atlantis). It`s a pity there weren`t more clips of Tuk Tuk shown. Overall, a meh trailer. Let`s hope that the movie will be better.
D82 wrote:You're welcome. :) Well, I doubted whether to post it or not because, though I've shared similar things before, on those occasions someone had already leaked them and I just found them online, while this time I was the one to leak it (at least I hadn't seen that article anywhere yet), so I felt a bigger sense of responsibility. If it would stay just on this forum, I wouldn't have thought about it so much, but I've noticed recently that the things we share here are posted by others on Twitter and other places, so I would be responsible to spread it. However, others also shared it on their own soon after I did, and I've seen today that even the author of that article is happy people are talking about his story, so I guess it's all fine after all.
Oh, I`m glad that he was fine about people sharing it. And sure, it`s better to be considerate about sharing such things, for obvious reasons.
Yes, it seems so. I actually like that aspect of her. I think it'll probably make her more interesting as a character. Plus, it's realistic that a trauma like that would've affected her somehow. Most Disney leads who have been through similar things don't really show signs of that, and while I don't have a problem with it, it's nice that they're doing something different this time.
True. I know how it`s like, since I was sullen and affected many years later after experiencing a similar trauma.
What I didn't understand from that synopsis is how Sisu can be "an innocent character who is always optimistic and believes in people too easily". Wasn't she supposed to be old and wise? This new details don't seem to fit with what we already knew about her. Also, the fact that Sisu and Raya are "the exact opposite" of each other shows that this film started being developed during the Lasseter era.
Word. But that was expected.
Disney's Divinity wrote:Sandra Oh is playing Raya's mother! :pink: I love her. Too bad it'll be a small role at best.
Nice :) And this will be the second time she`s played a Disney character, since she was in Mulan II (as Princess Ting Ting). And sorry to nitpick, but the article says that she`ll be playing Namari`s mother.
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Re: Raya and the Last Dragon

Post by Farerb »

I'm sorry that I'm more on the negative side here, but I didn't care for the trailer. Too much Big Hero 6 vibes (which btw isn't it weird that suddenly we get a lot of "finally an action movie from Disney" comments? Did people forget about Big Hero 6? Or Atlantis or Treasure Planet?). I know I know that Disney shouldn't be obligated to make one kind of film, but IDK I don't like that whole "marvelisation" going on here (same thing with the Mulan remake).

Some things didn't sit right with me like that con baby, I'm sorry but she just takes me out of it, she doesn't fit, maybe they'll handle herbetter in the film itself, but so far it's just yikes from me, especially this part:
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I'm not thrilled about the other characters as well except Raya Tuk Tuk and Namari.

I don't actually think the film will be bad, but I'm not as enthusiastic about it as I was for previous films. We'll see...
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Re: Raya and the Last Dragon

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Here's the same trailer with an introduction by Kelly Marie Tran and Awkwafina and some new stills with their captions:

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Young Raya looks up to her beloved father Benja, Chief of the Heart Lands. Benja, the legendary Guardian of the Dragon Gem, is an idealistic and bold visionary who seeks to reunite the fractured kingdom of Kumandra and restore harmony.

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Raya seeks the help of the legendary dragon, Sisu. Seeing what’s become of Kumandra, Sisu commits to helping Raya fulfill her mission in reuniting the lands.

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Recovering a piece of her fractured Dragon Gem, Sisu discovers the ability to shape-change into human form.

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In her newfound human form, Sisu learns the ways Kumandra has changed as she and Raya team up to save the world from the destructive Drunn.

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In the dangerous floating market of Talon, Dang Hu offers safety to a curious Sisu.

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The cool and calculating chief of the Fang Lands and mother to Raya’s nemesis Namaari, Virana leads her people with fierce pragmatism.

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Raya and her nemesis, Namaari, face off amid the snowy mountains of Spine.

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Sources:
https://dapsmagic.com/2021/01/new-trail ... st-dragon/
https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/featu ... ast-dragon
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Re: Raya and the Last Dragon

Post by Redadoodles »

Nah.. The film looks beautiful but I'm not in any rush to watch it... Oh well, at least I'm excited about the dolls. :|
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Re: Raya and the Last Dragon

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Description of the 25 minutes of footage that were shown to journalists at the beginning of this article (spoilers): https://weliveentertainment.com/welivef ... tive-team/
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Re: Raya and the Last Dragon

Post by TheSequelOfDisney »

Really not into the con baby and some of Awkwafina's dialogue... At least the animation looks pretty good.
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Re: Raya and the Last Dragon

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Disney's 'Raya and the Last Dragon' sparks mixed reactions on Asian representation
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-amer ... n-n1255698
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Re: Raya and the Last Dragon

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D82 wrote:New book covers.
I like how Raya looks in the first one. It's about time they gave us new clip-art of hers. It got tiresome seeing the same two pictures of hers over and over again on merchandise.
D82 wrote:The third and fourth ones are final versions of provisional covers and the last one is probably an old version
Not fond of that 'tude pose and expression Noi's doing on the sticker book.
D82 wrote:On the second to last cover we can see young Namaari and the last one features an old design of Sisu. She's white there and has whiskers like the design shown at D23, but the horn looks different.
The horn might look different because of the 2D stylization. Or maybe they were experimenting with horn designs before settling on the final one, and this was one of the options.
D82 wrote:It turns out the line on Raya's face was as strand of hair as I thought, and it seems Noi has some kind of slingshot, doesn't it?
A strand of hair always made more sense than a scar. Disney wouldn't dare blemish their female protagonist. Yes, it seems like a type of slingshot. Noi looks hideous there, by the way. She looks more like a short, balding, chubby man than a baby.
D82 wrote:Clothing (via raya.and.the.last.dragon on Instagram)
https://www.stylight.com/Shop/?searchst ... ast+dragon
I like the composition of this one. It gives off a vintage, Old West vibe. There's funny a spelling mistake in this one; it says "never wave" at the bottom instead of "never waver". :lol:
disneyprincess11 wrote:Some people are seeing Raya footage and the reactions are already glowing. https://twitter.com/laughing_place/stat ... 2592128001
It's interesting that person found similarities to Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. I didn't make the connection at first, but I do see some similarities there. I doubt they were intentional though.
D82 wrote:Here are some more reactions: https://twitter.com/DrewTailored/status ... 0068425728
This worries me. There's so much mythology and exposition to cover that I fear the pacing may feel rushed or frantic. I hope that's not the case.
This comment makes me believe the prologue will be animated a different style than the rest of the film. It will probably look like the papyrus art with the dragons we saw in the teaser.
Disney's Divinity wrote:Is it weird that I'm imagining a fight between Raya and Namaari that's similar to the fight between Boseman's and Jordan's characters at the end of Black Panther? Of course, I don't expect Namaari will be that level of a villain, but still.
It looks like you were right on the money. :wink: I liked the intense fight between the two in the new trailer. I just hope there's more to their relationship than simple rivalry. I think it would be more interesting if Raya and Namaari started out as friends when they were young, but their parents or their respective clans urged them to be more antagonistic and hostile to each other.
Disney's Divinity wrote:As for the geography of the film's universe--seeing the land all mapped out like that with the landmarks and everything included, the dragon-shaped sea comes across less ridiculous than I thought it seemed before. Spine, in particular, looks impressive.
I agree. I'm glad the filmmakers put thought into designing Kumandra and made it look like a believable location.
D82 wrote:Here's a close-up of Raya from that last still. I think she looks quite good there.
I think so too. It looks like she finds a piece (the first one?) of the dragon gem in that scene. The presence of the skeleton there gives it an edginess and a sense of peril. There aren't any recent WDAS films that feature skeletons, are there? The last time I recall a skeleton being in a WDAS movie was Hunchback.
D82 wrote:Apparently, the cover reveals the location of the dragon gem (or maybe the place where it has to be put once its fragments are found and it's complete again). At least it's similar to the design that appeared on that figurine set. It seems to be situated in the middle of the Kumandrian sea, I guess where the heart of the dragon would be. I wonder if it's on an island.
Good eye! I never would have noticed that. It does look it will be located on an island or an islet. Looking at the carvings on the stone tablet again, it seems to me that the dragon gem will need to be placed at the center, the five Kumandra flowers around it and the five clan members on their respective clan symbol surrounding them. I also noticed there are crescent moon symbols on the tablet, which makes make wonder if the dragon gem will need to be touched by moonlight to activate.
DisneyFan09 wrote:So it seems like Raya is going to be a sullen character (due to a trauma) who's going to learn to trust someone again? Well, it confirms why the character seemed to be more serious than her Revival predecessors. And that's she's going to have a arc.
It will interesting to see a character who's emotionally closed-off due to trauma learning to open up and trust again. It's no surprise Raya will be a more serious character though. Female characters of color tend to be more serious and down-to-earth in terms of personality (see: Pocahontas, Esmeralda, Kida, Tiana, Moana) whereas white female characters (see: Ariel, Jane, Rapunzel, Anna) tend to be more bubbly and quirky. It's probably something unintentional, but there does seem to be a pattern. I think there's just more pressure when writing characters of color. There's an increased need for such characters to be taken seriously, seen as authentic representations of their culture and positive role models which usually results in writers playing it safe and giving them more grounded personalities.
D82 wrote:Better look at the young and adult versions of Namaari from recent book covers.
Thanks for sharing those! I prefer adult Namaari to young Namaari. She has a better hairstyle and a more appealing design overall. That's not to say young Namaari looks bad. I like the formal outfit she's wearing.
D82 wrote:What I didn't understand from that synopsis is how Sisu can be "an innocent character who is always optimistic and believes in people too easily". Wasn't she supposed to be old and wise? This new details don't seem to fit with what we already knew about her.
That's not necessarily a contradiction. One can be optimistic and believe in people, but at the same time share words of wisdom or offer unique insights. It all depends on how it's executed.
D82 wrote:Also, the fact that Sisu and Raya are "the exact opposite" of each other shows that this film started being developed during the Lasseter era.
Yes, but we already knew that. The film started being developed in 2015 after all. It was bound to use the same ol' "two unlikely characters going on a road trip" narrative structure. It remains to be seen if WDAS will be able to deviate from that and evolve in the future.
farerb wrote:Based on the new trailer: I think it's safe to say that Druun was definitely cut, probably something from the previous version of the film, the "stone people" are just statues, probably to mark a grave (it reminded me the Winterfell crypts).
I wouldn't be too sure about that. Just because the Druun aren't present in the trailer doesn't necessarily mean they've been cut. Maybe they're reserved for the third trailer. The entire plot is predicated upon on them being the force that devastated the land. The story, as it's been set up, wouldn't make sense without them. Why are the dragons gone? Why there's a need to find the dragon gem? You can't answer those questions without the presence of an outside threat. The statues are most likely people who were petrified by the Druun, and when the dragon's gem power is unleashed and/or the Druun are defeated, they will come back to life. What I don't understand is why the clans were already at war with each other when Raya was young and her father still alive. Was it because of the first Druun attack and the dragons' disappearance? Is it a power play by one of the tribes? Imperialist tendencies of the white clan perhaps?
disneyprincess11 wrote:I really hope Sisu isn't as modern and irritating as she looks and the trailer shows her worst jokes. Not impressed with her lines.
Agreed. The joke about her butt and digestion in particular was too off-color and cringe-worthy for my taste.
D82 wrote:Gemma Chan lends her voice to Raya's cunning nemesis, Namaari, with Sandra Oh as Namaari's mother, Virana, leader of Kumandra's land of Fang. Lucille Soong, Patti Harrison and Ross Butler are the leaders of the lands of Talon, Tail and Spine, respectively, while Daniel Dae Kim rounds out the cast as Raya's father, Benja.
The most impressive names from the cast are Sandra Oh and Daniel Dae Kim. I guess this means Raya's mother won't appear, right? Will they address her absence in the film? Will they have her die at childbirth? I hope they show her even if it's a brief, non-speaking moment in the prologue or as a flashback.
Disney's Divinity wrote:Just wanted to say that I think it's obvious Namaari and Raya are going to be shipped together a great deal in fandom.
Oh, yeah. :lol: I mean, if they're shipping Elsa and Honeymaren who shared like 2 minutes of screen time together, they're definitely shipping Raya and Namaari. The question is will there be any subtext in the actual film?
Disney's Divinity wrote:So far the dynamic is reminding me a bit of Cassandra and Rapunzel in the Tangled TV series.
That's an interesting comparison. What made the Rapuzel/Cassandra conflict work was the friendship and bond they had forged early on. There was a strong foundation there. For me, there will need to be some sort of personal connection and history between Raya and Namaari for their relationship to be engaging and meaningful. A rivalry between two people who barely know each other and there are no emotional stakes is hardly satisfying.
Disney's Divinity wrote:Were those cherry blossoms during the shot of Raya and her father? As if they needed another similarity to Mulan on top of the father-daughter focus and the sword being changed to be more like Shan-Yu's.[/spoiler]
It looks like it. It may be another similarity to Mulan, but I didn't mind it. It made the scene look prettier.
DisneyFan09 wrote:Though Namari reminds me of every sweaty, tank-topped Ellen Ripley-type badass females, it's nice to see an archetype like that as a villain in a Disney movie. Unless you'll count Helga from Atlantis).
Namaari reminded me of Helga too. But unlike Helga, I think she'll be given more of a backstory and made more sympathetic. Namaari will probably get more of a redemption than Helga as well.
DisneyFan09 wrote:It was still very DreamWorks-esque in tone (especially the beginning, which reminded me of Kung Fu Panda 2).
farerb wrote:Some things didn't sit right with me like that con baby, I'm sorry but she just takes me out of it, she doesn't fit, maybe they'll handle herbetter in the film itself, but so far it's just yikes from me, especially this part.
I agree with both of you there. The beginning with Noi and the Ongis felt very off and DreamWorks-like to me too. It was like something out of the Boss Baby. :huh:
DisneyFan09 wrote:I'm not thrilled about the other characters as well except Raya Tuk Tuk and Namari.
I didn't care for any of the misfits myself, to be honest. I feel they're stock characters who won't add much to the narrative. Tong, Boun, Noi and the Ongis range from unnecessary to annoying.
D82 wrote:Young Raya looks up to her beloved father Benja, Chief of the Heart Lands. Benja, the legendary Guardian of the Dragon Gem, is an idealistic and bold visionary who seeks to reunite the fractured kingdom of Kumandra and restore harmony.
In that still, Benja looks a bit different than the way he does in the trailer. Benja's vision for the clans will undoubtedly clash with Virana's who's described as being calculating. It will be interesting to see the dynamic between the two leaders and their different leadership styles.
D82 wrote:Recovering a piece of her fractured Dragon Gem, Sisu discovers the ability to shape-change into human form.
It seems like each new fragment will bestow Sisu with a new power.
D82 wrote:In her newfound human form, Sisu learns the ways Kumandra has changed as she and Raya team up to save the world from the destructive Drunn.
We finally have confirmation that the Druun will remain part of the story. Sisu looks much younger in these stills than on her merch clip-art. I think her design may have been tweaked. Not loving her human look. She doesn't look like her dragon form. For some reason, her dragon form looks more appealing and feminine than her human form.
In the dangerous floating market of Talon, Dang Hu offers safety to a curious Sisu
.
There's a grandmother-type character in the movie after all. I'm sure DisneyFan97 will be relieved.
The cool and calculating chief of the Fang Lands and mother to Raya’s nemesis Namaari, Virana leads her people with fierce pragmatism.
Is this a piece of the dragon gem or the whole thing? Does each tribe own a fragment of it? For Raya to be searching for them, it must mean that at one point they lost them, possibly because of the Druun attacks (or maybe Raya stole the piece guarded by the white clan).
Raya and her nemesis, Namaari, face off amid the snowy mountains of Spine.
This looks like a shot from a fighting video game.
D82 wrote:Description of the 25 minutes of footage that were shown to journalists at the beginning of this article (spoilers): https://weliveentertainment.com/welivef ... tive-team/
A lot of things make sense now! :P The timeline for one, the course of events and why Raya doesn't trust people. Namaari's manipulation and betrayal will make it harder to sympathize with her. Her mother probably turned into stone because of her actions, so she at least paid for what she did. The filmmakers said we will understand her pain and where she's coming from. I wonder if her relationship with her mom is the underlying cause of Namaari's behavior. Maybe her mother put her down, berated or humiliated her. I'm not so sure they'll show her have a complete change of heart though. Maybe instead of a full-blown redemption, she will simply put aside her differences with Raya momentarily and help her in order for her mother to be saved. I like the idea of the Druun being trapped in the dragon gem and escaping when it breaks into pieces. I thought the Druun were going to be more traditional type of monsters, but they seem more like spirits of some kind. It makes sense they were referred to as demons in Japanese now. Also, it seems like dragons can only use the full power of the dragon gem at the cost of their lives. Does this mean there's a chance Sisu will die for using it? I doubt it. This is Disney we're talking about. They don't have the guts to do that. But they will probably do a fake-out to emotionally manipulate the audience.
D82 wrote:Disney's 'Raya and the Last Dragon' sparks mixed reactions on Asian representation
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-amer ... n-n1255698
I think this is what that person was referring to when they said they recognized some voices and didn't like it. Personally, I find this criticism a bit absurd. Should actors be limited to only playing characters that match their own nationality now? I don't think so. This reminds me of the casting controversy back in 2005 surrounding Memoirs of a Geisha. People were upset because Chinese actresses were hired to play Japanese characters.
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DisneyFan09
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Re: Raya and the Last Dragon

Post by DisneyFan09 »

Sotiris wrote:It will interesting to see a character who's emotionally closed-off due to trauma learning to open up and trust people again. It's no surprise Raya will be a more serious character though. Female characters of color tend to be more serious and down-to-earth in terms of personality (see: Pocahontas, Esmeralda, Kida, Tiana, Moana) whereas white female characters (see: Ariel, Jane, Rapunzel, Anna) tend to be more bubbly and upbeat. It's probably something unintentional, but there does seem to be a pattern. I think there's just more pressure when writing characters of color. There's an increased need to be seen as authentic representations of their culture, positive role models, and be taken seriously which usually results in writers playing it safe and giving them more grounded personalities.
Fair enough. Truth to be told, all of those females of colors have their energetic and upbeat sides, despite how Pocahontas is overall the most serious of all of them (which is one reason why many people find her boring, which I personally disagree with). There have been claims on these boards that even Moana came off as a Rapunzel-clone in terms of personality. But yeah, there was something about Raya that seemed more serious in the trailers. And sure, there is more pressure to write women of color, due to their overall backlash and scrutiny. But that`s unfortunately racial expectations in a nutshell for ya.

Btw, it recently struck me how Disney with both Moana and Raya and The Last Dragon are re-exploring regions which they`ve done previously in the hand drawn mediums. Cultures that were explored in Lilo & Stitch and Mulan (though truth to be told, Raya does explore a different side of Asia, though it still counts). Imagine if Disney decided to make two other films in CGI which explored Native American and African sides starring daughters of Chiefs (hey, after all, Disney are still milking the Princess formula) :P But I`ll highly doubt it`s going to happen.
Sotiris wrote:Namaari reminded me of Helga too. But unlike Helga, I think she'll be given more of backstory and made more sympathetic. Namaari will probably get more of a redemption than Helga as well.
True. It`s a pity that they didn`t do it with Helga.
I agree with both of you there. The beginning with Noi and the Ongis felt very off and DreamWorks-like to me too. It was like something out of the Boss Baby. :huh:
Agreed. What did you otherwise think about the trailer, Sotiris?
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