Between Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios, when it comes to CG animation, they continue to push the envelope, and that’s more evident than ever in the new fantasy, Raya and the Last Dragon.
Offers the official summary, “Long ago, in the fantasy world of Kumandra, humans and dragons lived together in harmony. But when an evil force threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. Now, 500 years later, that same evil has returned and it’s up to a lone warrior, Raya, to track down the legendary last dragon to restore the fractured land and its divided people. However, along her journey, she’ll learn that it’ll take more than a dragon to save the world — it’s going to take trust and teamwork as well.”
During a press day for the film, screenwriter Adele Lim, who had previously written Crazy Rich Asians, discussed different influences that impacted the development of the storyline with Screenrant.com: “I was, like, let’s see if I can put in all of my childhood fantasies and see if the filmmakers or the directors caught it. But first, growing up in Southeast Asia, we didn’t see ourselves in movies very much. So I watched a lot of Hong Kong action movies, and the female protagonist, the archetype, made a huge impression on me. Whether it was Michelle Yeoh or Jet Li movies, these women, whether they were the villain or they’re the love interest or the wise old run, they could still whoop ass. And then there was also the tradition of Southeast Asian female leaders and warriors. And the fact that even to this day, within the region, Southeast Asia women are very empowered. And so it led into the conversation of Raya and whether or not she’s a princess. Well, yes! Because she’s also a leader who feels very invested in trying to save this land that she loves, and also being able to carry that through her journey.”
You’ll be able to see the end results when Raya and the Last Dragon is released on March 5.