Hi folks! Welcome to my My Own Personal Nerdy Disney and Animation Scrutinizing Analysis blog. A blog where I'm analyzing several Disney films, Disney or Animation in general! These entries are just meant to be my analyses. Not reviews or statements. Just fun analyses! Though I'll make some personal remarks now and then, the content of these entries are meant to be depicted objectively. They're made for entertainment purpose only and the pictures/clips are copyright Disney or other companies.
Make sure to leave a comment if you like this site! And if there's something you think could be improved, please let me know. But in a constructive way, please. And just a note; I'm not a Native English writer, so my incorrect grammar may be notable.
And finally; If you haven't seen the films, beware of spoilers! And the funny lines aren't meant to be nothing than funny. So I hope you won't find them offensive. If so, I apologize
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After
Gigantic`s
cancellation
and John Lasseter`s departure, Walt Disney Animation Studios was stuck in a pattern that they`ve rarely been before: The sequel mode.
They`ve given sequels to two of their most remarkable films of the
Revival era: One that was clearly meant for a sequel (Wreck-It-Ralph)
and one that was mandatory (Frozen).
Considering that Disney has been with a non-sequel policy for decades
and broken it during the last part of the Revival Era,
several fans have wondered whether WDAS would follow the rut that most
animation studios follows nowadays: To turn their original properties
into franchises. 
Of
course Disney was planning to these sequels when Lasseter was still
onboard. But due to his departure, it`s been intriguing to wonder
which direction the studio was going to take. And regarding Gigantic`s
cancellation, several have screamed foul and claimed Disney for
selling their soul to the Devil and going completely into
franchise-mold. But truth to be told, Disney didn`t truly confirmed
any sequel for many years after Frozen II (despite how the mandatory sequel to Zootopia is now on it`s way, as well as a Frozen III and the sudden announcement of Moana 2). And
regarding original properties, there`s at least a couple who was concevied at the time. And the first one is Raya and the Last Dragon. 
Directed
by Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada (who
joined Disney in 2019) and co-directed by Paul Briggs and John Ripa
(supervising animator for young Tarzan and Jim Hawkins). And produced
by Osnat Shurer (Moana)
and Peter Del Vecho (The
Princess and the Frog,
Frozen),
Raya is
the 59th in the official list of animated features by Disney.
But it`s also a distinctive feature in many ways than one. Cause it`s had it`s own, small innovations for a Disney Feature.
Raya`s
Trademarks and Innovations
Released March 5th 2021 (both in Theaters and to Disney + Premier Access),
Raya and the Last
Dragon was
originally going
to be released in November 2020. But it was delayed due to a certain
pandemic that has changed our world (it`s
release date change was tweeted in April 2020). Raya was
Disney`s first original release since 2016`s Moana
(yes, it`s incredible
that there`s was a five year gap between those movies). But remarkably enough it`s similar to Moana
in more ways than one. Just like Moana,
it features a non-Caucasian heroine (despite how Disney is
forever scrutinized for their non-Caucasian depictions, it`s still
nice to see that Disney are still continuing to expand their horizons
with non-White settings). 
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| I`m Raya in the Middle :) Malcolm has been switched :) |
Originally Raya
was
confirmed to actually
not
be a Princess or have any royal blood by any means. Despite
that the official tweet from Disney D23 Expo 2019 was portraying her
as "Disney`s First Asian Princess", none
of the official synopsises actually confirmed that Raya was a
Princess. Until it was
confirmed later on that Raya
(just like Moana and Pocahontas before her) is the daughter of a Chief. Despite how Disney has used the whole
Revival era to churn out Princess after Princess, it would be fair to
say that Disney won`t let go of such a pattern so easily (especially
considering how profitable their movies starring Princesses have
been). And Raya is apparently 18 years old (the same age as Rapunzel and Anna in the first Frozen).
But
unlike Moana
and her
predecessors, Raya was certainly a first for Disney. 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, while it`s easy to label Brave
as being the first,
it still had songs in it).  |
| This is my way of being at your size, Tuk Tuk :) |
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| This is a cursed version of NeverLand :) |
Raya`s
Similarities To It`s Revival Predecessors
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| This is my poker face :) |
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Raya
teams up with a crew of misfits to
bring light and unity back to their world. Who`s
been invaded by a dark sinister force. Raya takes place in a reimagined Earth with five distinct lands. Together,
they form the land of the dragon, but actual dragons are long gone
(humans and dragons lived
together in harmony). But the dragons sacrificed themselves to save
humanity from monsters known
as Druun (which turned humans into stone). Now, 500
years later, that same evil has returned. And Raya learns that it’s
going to take trust & teamwork as well for her mission.
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| The heat is killing me, so I`m done playing Zorro :) |
But
just like Moana, Raya is a
coming-of-age story without any love interest whatsoever. While it
was invigorating for Moana,
it seems like Disney are following a new rut with strong, badass
Princesses who are absent of any love interest (and while Brave
and Frozen
were
technically the first ones to start that pattern, we`ll have to
remember that Brave
was a
Pixar property, after all. While Elsa was a side character in the
first Frozen).
However,
Raya herself has a buddy dynamic with her counterpart Sisu, who is the last dragon and the only one that can save Kumandra from destruction. Sisu was inspired by the auspicious water spirits of Southeast Asia and is a shape-shifter. She was
left behind on Earth by the other dragons. The creators wanted Sisu to have wisdom, but also naiveté and a little self-doubt. And also to be be fun and funny. Storywise, Sisu`s ability to change gave her a perspective on human beings for a chunk of the story, which makes it`s perspective unique. But originally, Sisu didn’t always show off many abilities. Yet her purpose in the story is to show kindness and positivity.
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| I`m a female version of Indiana Jones :) |
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| I`m trying to do an apple campaign, to prove that they`re not poisonous :) Right, Snow White? :) |
is another
feature set in Asia with a bold, badass protagonist
(which also wears
pants, being the third Oriental Princess to do so since Jasmine), it`s been compared to Mulan (and
yes, an attender on Disney D23 Expo said that Raya
had a
Mulan-vibe
to it,
while another said it was rather
Ghibli). Considering that everything Disney does is perceived as
derivative (while it`s was said
that Raya`s genre
should truly prove to be unlike anything Disney has tackled before),
there`s no doubt that some people cried foul and labeled Raya
as a Mulan
ripoff (hey, even
Brave
was labeled as a
Mulan-copy. Just for the sheer fact that it featured a sword-fighting Princess,
who eventually ended up being a damsel in distress at the end). And
considering that every non-Caucasian heroine gets compared to each
other and especially to a certain
Native Princess who started the trend (cough, Pocahontas, cough),
Raya has received comparisons to the other non-White
heroines.
But
yeah, since Raya is another badass Princess, Disney were once again marketing her as totally unique in the canon, just for
being badass. While technically Disney have done this since The
Little Mermaid,
they`re pushing the badass aspect more than ever. And regarding how Moana herself was
desperately portrayed as a warrior instead of a Princess, Raya was portrayed as a warrior from the get-go (yet
one attending blogger confirmed that Raya`s is more confident, and
gracefully wields a
weapon and did various flips and cool moves.
And that she`s also resilient,
unlike her predecessors who stumbles over themselves (while the crew have stated that she's fun, quippy and clever). But apparently Raya was a Western-type lone warrior who lacked warmth initially.  |
| Don`t worry, the picture was taken before the pandemic :) |
shall
have genuine credit for one thing: For avoiding the trap of giving
her movie an adjective title (just like Moana)! Which is something Disney would`ve done at the beginning with the Revival Era. It`s equally noteworthy to have The
Last Dragon as
the rest of the title, as Disney haven`t really had such a long title
in years which confirms that it`s about two characters (pretty much
since The
Princess and the Frog,
but even that title was contrived by compromises). The
Information About Raya That`s Been Exposed To The Public Prior to It`s Release
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| Oooh, how scary you look :) You`re not gonna scare me off :) |
While
Raya
shall have credit for
exploring a different side of Asia, it seems like it was originally
not going to be that way. Originally the
project was announced as Dragon
Empire in
the summer of 2018 (despite how
it`s been in the works since 2015). While the setting of
that project wasn`t really confirmed, at least the names of the
characters sounded traditionally Chinese or Japanese. It
was going to be centered around a female named Jan-Nin (which Jamie
Chung showed interest in) and her 900 year old mentor, Bolin (and
a supporting male character named Katsu). But even back then, it was confirmed to be an non-musical. The general ideas were a fantasy world based of an Asian dragon and a “kick-ass warrior” to lead the adventure. While
Shurer tweeted about Raya the
character in august 2019, Disney didn`t reveal anything, until the
project was officially announced as Raya
and the Last Dragon at
Disney D23 Expo 2019.
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| Instead of Toothless, I`m the Uni-Dragon :) |
 |
| The Last Dragon is so exclusive that she`s invisible :) |
 |
| This is my Yoga pose :) |
While there were shown more clips during Disney D23 Expo 2019 (a three-minute piece), the only thing that was revealed to the
public was some storylines. Yet
regarding the clips that were shown, the first thing was a lush planet with a foggy sky. It’s raining, and a
mouse-like creature runs on the plants. Raya
and a little boy head into
what looks like a temple or tomb in a mountain. The little boy's narrating annoys
her a bit. A woman threatens them with a voice off
screen, which is Sisu. The clip showed how the girl flied by, riding the rain drops, and having a powerful gem in her possession (apparently Raya must gather the pieces of the gem). Apparently Sisu was dressed as a peasant woman. The footage looked incredibly realistic.
The last clip of the film, it`s learned that the gem Raya is looking for is essential to the story, and in the right hands, could change the world. The
gem channels an "amazing huge power", which
Raya’s father tells her (and which she replies “I wish everyone
could see this,” she says, and he responds, “Well, let’s show
them”.) It all ended with the tagline Keep The Light Alive. The clips were fully
animated and rendered, yet it was uncertain if they would appear in the
movie (which they didn`t). Apparently
there was more shown of Raya
than with
Frozen II
on that
same convention (while some attenders said that what was shown was better than the actual teaser). On
the Expo, the voice actresses went on stage to present their
characters.  |
| Don`t worry, Sun, you`ll get through the hole :) |
As
for the rest of the information, there`s
was a Chinese New Year poster for Raya
released January 2020.
Alongside with a Mid-Autumn Festival poster (while another Chinese poster was also released in late September). And while there`s was some tweets and Facebook-updates about production
and one video where the screenwriter talks about the movie (and also about racial in diversity), none of them included any
clips nor pictures whatsoever. Yet
in April 2020, Funko Pops had a list with the names of some
characters (Tuk Tuk, Naamari, Druun, Bajong with Little Jong). Yet
the Into
the Unknown The Making of Frozen II revealed
some concept art (while being unclear). However, in July there was an official Tweet with the first picture of our titular lead. In August, there was an article with a new picture and more information about the plot. In September there was a German book cover leaked.
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| I`ll soon be a replacement for all rodents :) |
The official stills of the dolls of Raya and Sisu have been leaked aftewards! It`s remarkable
how Hasbro have released dolls of characters that
Mattel wouldn`t think of making dolls out of (since with Frozen
II they released dolls of
Matthias, King Agnarr and Queen Iduna). As well as a tweet about the villain was going to be great. As for more merchandise, it was announced that
Lego sets of Raya
would come
in 2021 (as Raya’s Palace, Dragon and Boat).
In November 2020, the cover of 
The Guardian of the Dragon Gem-book was revealed. As well with some new pictures and book covers. Some pictures of the Naamari dolls was also leaked. As well as some names for the (then) unrevealed characters, as Boun, Noi, Tong. However, Disney Investor Day presentation 2020 revealed some clips of Raya. As well as revealing the other characters, as Boun, Tong, Noi and the Ongis (part monkeys, part catfish). Sisu was described as being self-deprecating. The gang was labeled as a "Kumandran version of Island of Misfit
Toys".
In January 2021, an article from Entertainment Weekly revealed the
lands that Raya visits: Heart, Talon, Fang, Spine, and Tail. Along
with a picture with an action pose in Talon. Each of the five lands has
their own distinctive flair, color schemes, fabrics, and hairstyles (the inspiration for Talon came out of research
to Mekong in Southeast Asia). Alongside with more information of her squad.  |
| Yes, I`m trying to imitate the expression of a child :) And failing miserably :) |
While several new stills of merchandise has appeared later on, an Instagram picture has revealed some spoilers (about Raya being lonely and sullen over her loss of her father and that she`s stopped believing in others and that her clan is the Dragon Stone). Also revealed was when Raya is young, Benja guards the gem. Namaari (who`s Raya`s age) befriends Raya, only to betray her quickly. During a battle, the gem breaks into different pieces, which releases the Druun. Before he`s turned to stone, Raya’s father gives her a piece of the gem and tells her to save humanity. But the last trailer was released in late January. A trailer that revealed Raya`s father, Sisu and Naamari. A trailer that was equally DreamWorks-esque in tone as the teaser. 
Alongside with the trailer, the rest of the voice cast was revealed: Alan Tudyk (yes, once again) plays Tuk Tuk, Gemma Chan plays Namaari (who was chosen for her vulnerability). Daniel Dae Kim (Hellboy, Lost, Hawaii Five-O) plays Benja (and was chosen for his warmth, compassion and authority). Benedict Wong voices Tong (who never got tired and often had to be stopped), while Izaac Wang voices Boun and Thalia Tran plays Noi. Sandra Oh (Grey`s Anatomy) plays Namaari's mother, Virana, leader of Kumandra's land of Fang (after having played Princess Ting-Ting in Mulan II). Lucille Soong, Patti Harrison and Ross Butler are the leaders of the lands of Talon, Tail and Spine. Even though Oh plays an antagonist, she was moved by the message of the script. While Namaari is an antagonist, she has good logical reasoning for to stand for
her people and therefore an anti-villain (in fact, the creators defended how good she is and why the audiences won`t yearn for a traditional villain). It`s was also revealed that water is a motif in the film. ComingSoon.net took a virtual trip behind the scenes in January.
However, Raya haven`t unfortunately escaped racial scrutiny. The trailer caused mixed reactions from South East Asians. First about how most of the cast are East Asian (except Kelly Marie Tran), yet there`s still a few minor supporting roles with Southeast Asian actors. While others have shown excitement about the portrayal of Southeast Asian Culture. Yet the UK trailer revealed that was some hand drawn segments in the film. In late February, lead single Lead the Way, written and performed by artist and songwriter, Jhené Aiko, was revealed (which was the only song in the movie).Behind the Scenes Information
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| This picture was taken in El Dorado :) |
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| Yes, I`m not afraid to use the sword :) |
Microphones and recording equipment were mailed to the actors (Izaac Wang recorded in a home closet with motion sensor lighting. Every two minutes they would just go off and he would just have to move so they would come back on). The cast recorded in the Summer and had to turn their air
conditioners off because of the noise. So it was hot
for them, but they never complained. But the decision to make Raya at home relieved director Hall, for obvious reasons. Yet Daniel Dae Kim lost everything he had recorded at first. 
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| This was taken from our pandemic video meeting :) |
The
filmmakers praise Tran’s comedy and ad-lib skills, but it was the
level of emotion she brought to the role that really surprised them.
Tran’s session blew the directors away so much that they changed a
scene to match her performance. Tran
adds that Raya "is an incredible example of really finding
yourself again after something defines you." Tran said she felt lucky to recording from home (and wrapped up the work in October 2020). 
Crazy Rich Asian`s Awkwafina voiced Sisu (whom she called “splendiferous”). Doing her fourth animated film after Angry Bird 2. Sisu was written with Awkwafina in mind, who was chosen for her wisdom, emotion and humor. And yes, a journalist compared her voice work to that of Robin Williams’ Genie in Aladdin. Yet Disney hired Awkwafina before Crazy Rich Asians. Awkwafina was in Australia filming Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. So Disney set up a pop-up recording studio in the house she was staying. And Awkwafina was the first person cast on Raya.
Behind the Scenes Information Part II
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| Yes, I`m living up to the Pandemic rules :) |
Regarding the rest of the crew, Adele Lim (also from Crazy
Rich Asians) penned the script for Raya and the Last Dragon. Lim, who`s Malaysia-born (and a lifelong Disney fan), based the movie on Hong Kong action movies. Qui Nguyen was also among the screenwriters, who alongside with Lim, took from their own experiences (and also served as a martial arts consultant). Unsurprisingly,
the crew traveled through the South Asian countries for
research. Raya is inspired from all
of the South East Asian countries. The crew worked with experts for guidance and had a Southeast
Asia Story Trust. They also
collaborated with a Lao visual anthropologist, as well as linguists,
dancers, and Gamelan musicians from Indonesia. 
Lim cites that Raya is the
teenager Lin wishes she was. The
directors said how much Raya mirrors the state of the world,
"because it talks about the themes and questions and
the hope that's happening today. But also the lack of hope, and the
wrestling with all these important emotions that are happening right
now” (since hope is the main theme). As for Tuk Tuk, his name was taken from an open air vehicle in Bangkok (funny enough). As for the music, it was confirmed in November 2020 that James Newton Howard scored the soundtrack. Who`s a Disney veteran of his own and done brilliant work on Dinosaur, Atlantis The Lost Empire, Treasure Planet and Maleficent. As for the rating, in December 2020 it was announced that it would be rated PG. For violence, action and thematic elements.
Raya has a graphic novel and the translation of the movie into over 45
languages". Apparently both Kelly and Awkwafina had the best reactions of seeing footage. There`s were various tweets of a pre-screening of Raya (where the first 25 minutes have been shown). And various reviews were positive. But yeah, regarding the feminist aspect of Raya, the crew discovered a tradition of female leaders, military leaders and warriors in South-East Asia. Every name put in Raya went through an Indonesian linguist from UCLA who speaks many languages of the region. As for Sisu, she`s inspired from the Nagas, which are a specific type of dragon, which are revered as almost deities. The team took inspiration from their legends, which shape shifting and morphing into human form is common for them. Yet the creators wanted a different kind of dragon than usual. The crew also had a textile expert they met through the Pacific Asia Museum.
As for possible names for their titular hero, when Lim heard the name Raya, she had an immediate, emotional response. In Malay, Raya means celebration and evokes a joyful gathering around food. In Thai it maens "the one who leads". The crew wanted a name that would resonate across multiple cultures in Southeast Asia (in the southern part of Thailand, Raya means "The one who leads").Behind the Scenes Information Part III
Raya’s costuming went through various iterations. Including a sampot, a traditional Cambodian garment made from a rectangular textile tied at the waist. To ensure the final design fit with her journey and was based on traditional Southeast Asian garments. Rather than putting her in the restrictive clothing styles that animated female stars have worn in the past, Raya’s attire, and even her hairstyle, were designed with her fighting prowess in mind. Raya’s hairstyle was kept streamlined and functional, with two braids keeping her sightline clear. It also helps the audience see her facial expressions clearer. The animators also worked with Dr. Steve Arounsack, a visual anthropologist who was involved in many design elements of the film. Raya’s hat has a slope that resembles a stūpa. Raya’s fighting style is based on the Indonesian martial art style pencak silat, as well as Thai fight style of Muay Thai. “Though it is a fantasy, the one thing we didn't want to do was make our fights fantastic,” Nguyen said.
As for cultural cues, Raya’s hat has a shape inspired by stoupas in temples in Southeast Asia. The details on it look like dragon scales. Most characters wear some variation on a suea pai or suea pat from Cambodia, Laos and Indonesia. Even some dishes as Beef Rendang, Tom Yum Goong and Fish Amok are featured. Tuk Tuk wasn't originally meant to be a sidekick. Instead, he was created as transportation for Raya. It was an artist who came up with his species. Both Hall and Estrada replaced the film’s original filmmakers, while producer Shurer was on Raya for four years.
With voicing Baby Noi, the crew faced the challenge of expressing emotion and thought from
a baby who is the head of an animal crime syndicate, Tran vocalized for
her so that the audience understands what Noi is saying using
just baby sounds. And yes, many have drawn comparisons between Raya`s mission to Joe Biden`s (where they joked about how screenwriter wrote Biden`s speech). However, that Raya premiered on Premiere Access stirred up frustrations, due to having to pay an additional $30 price tag
Raya Animation Experience and Sand Sculpture came to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Offering guests to learn to draw the characters from the park. At Discovery Island Stage, artists has worked on a 40-ton
sand sculpture of the characters. It took two talented artists over 24 hours
to build and carve the sand. Guests got to watch the artisans at work February 19 through 21 and the carving remained on display at Disney’s Animal Kingdom for a limited time (at the end of March). While there`s been rumors around R-rated violence in Raya, it`s was just a rumor.
Epilogue
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| I`m sniffing the wind :) I`m an element, after all :) |
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| No, it`s not Excalibur ;) |
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| We don`t
need umbrella`s, we have our own kinds of umbrellas ;) I have my hat, while you have your shield :) |
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Trust on my updates on https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035703494050 and https://twitter.com/NerdyLunada.
References:
https://deadline.com/2018/10/disney-crazy-rich-asians-moana-animation-movie-1202478895/ https://geektyrant.com/news/disney-announces-new-fantasy-adventure-raya-and-the-last-dragon-animated-film
https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/1094901-d23-disney-animation-reveals-raya-and-the-last-dragon
https://nordic.ign.com/company/28580/news/raya-and-the-last-dragon-new-walt-disney-animation-studios-movie-announced-at-d23https://io9.gizmodo.com/everything-we-learned-about-disneys-upcoming-movies-fr-1837539153
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCt4l-Zycsw
(D23 EXPO: THE ART OF DISNEY STORYTELLING: COMPLETE PANEL)https://twitter.com/OsnatShurer/status/1165633567591825408 https://news.disney.com/raya-and-the-last-dragon-2020/ https://comicbook.com/marvel/news/marvel-d23-star-wars-footage-live-updates-recap-expo/
https://wdwnt.com/2019/08/disney-announces-new-animated-movie-raya-and-the-last-dragon/
https://twitter.com/DisneyStudios/status/1165343554673053697
https://twitter.com/OsoFilmm/status/1286708739588993035 https://twitter.com/Variety/status/1165363076511567872 https://imgur.com/TDiuve5 https://i.imgur.com/uR0yjj8.jpg https://www.facebook.com/23245476854/posts/10157814022881855/ https://www.facebook.com/23245476854/posts/10157814046531855/?sfnsn=mo https://www.facebook.com/23245476854/posts/10157814756771855/?sfnsn=mo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSaEaINDAoc
(Adele Lim
Reflects on Women's History Month).
https://lrmonline.com/news/new-disney-animated-film-to-be-original-fantasy-called-dragon-empire/
https://screenrant.com/disney-animated-dragon-empire-film/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CALy5PGp7EE/https://www.instagram.com/p/CAgTaD9AdDi/
https://www.awn.com/news/zenimation-animated-short-film-soundscape-compilations-now-available-disney
https://twitter.com/VitoDisneynerd/status/1277272989025931266
https://ew.com/movies/raya-last-dragon-first-look-kelly-marie-tran/
https://ew.com/movies/kelly-marie-tran-raya-and-the-last-dragon-interview/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CFaQIYhlc1L/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CEduAcFjR3S/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4tKC7ZFnuU&feature=youtu.be&t=303
(Kelly
Marie Tran on Quitting Social Media and Becoming a DISNEY PRINCESS |
Full Interview).
https://twitter.com/disneyanimation/status/1318582755849023488
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1101895460228896
https://www.instagram.com/p/B1kfQ4JDd_M/
https://dapsmagic.com/2020/10/disney-releases-trailer-poster-and-images-for-raya-and-the-last-dragon/#jp-carousel-149484
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0vaN579uKg&feature=youtu.be
(Raya
And The Last Dragon
Trailer Review)
https://www.buzzfeed.com/kellymartinez/raya-and-the-last-dragon-arnis
https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2020/10/22/raya-and-the-last-dragon-filipino/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CGkoXJfDj1o/
http://www.youloveit.com/dolls/1576-disney-raya-and-the-last-dragon-sisu-human-doll.html
https://www.instagram.com/p/CGsI7ePjN9u/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XLs4r9v_0U&feature=youtu.be&t=171 (Kelly Marie Tran on The Croods: A New Age & Raya and the Last Dragon | MTV News)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoYrGWsNSwM&t=9661s (Disney Investor Day 2020).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPPH6WjUipE&t=2s (Awkwafina talks about new Disney+ movie, Raya and the Last Dragon l GMA)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_oWwZHP56A (Thai people... at Disney. Delve into the background (with Fawn Veerasunthorn and Osnat Shurer)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6QB9SpRdQA (Kelly Marie Tran Plays Raya in Raya and the Last Dragon)
Hi, it's jeangreyforever here!
SvarSlettI know Raya won't be a musical but has it been confirmed that there won't be any music? Not even songs in the background (like Brother Bear or Treasure Planet) or an end-credits song? I also didn't realize that Raya was being compared to Moana in terms of visual style. I remember reading that Raya looked like no Disney movie had ever looked before although maybe they toned that down since. Maybe that's the Ghibli part that was brought up. Also not surprised that people are saying that Raya is reminiscent of Mulan and Moana since people tend to conflate the POC Disney films together (much like Moana was constantly compared to Pocahontas even though it has way more in common with The Little Mermaid and even Aladdin to an extent). I suppose the same is also true for the European films like Tangled and Frozen but it does get repetitive to hear people dismissing Moana as Pocahontas 2.0 and now Raya as Mulan 2.0, especially when all those cultures are so distinct from each other. I will say though that this Raya reminds me more of Mulan from most of the Chinese versions of her since the Chinese traditionally portray Mulan as having been trained as a warrior by her father since childhood. The animated film is the only example I can think of where she doesn't really have any combat skills until she joins the army and I remember a lot of Chinese people were thrown off by that. And while the remake did go back to the legends and have Mulan actually trained as a child, they tried to "fix" it, thinking no one would believe a woman could outfight men so she needed to have magical chi to explain her prowess, even though that isn't chi. But I digress. I'm just glad that Raya has actual Asian people working on the film unlike the Mulan remake, where the cast may all have been Asian but the people behind the screen clearly weren't.
Sisu interests me because it's rare to have a female comedic sidekick (Jiminy Cricket, Sebastian, Genie, Olaf, etc. are all male) and the only one I can think of is Terk who is pretty androgynous. A female buddy comedy is a first for Disney (and Pixar as well unless you count Inside Out as a buddy comedy). I do like how Disney recognized that Asian dragons tend to be water-based since that was something the Chinese criticized the animated Mulan for with Mushu, so it only took more than 20 years to remedy that. It is interesting though that even in films where a female character has her mother alive, the late father is still the focus of the heroine's story, since that happened in The Princess and the Frog as well.
I don't know if you ever watched Avatar: The Last Airbender but this film reminds me a lot of a Disney version of that. I wonder if Disney saw how popular Avatar has became with streaming and decided to capitalize on that, especially before the Netflix live-action adaptation of the show. The name Bolin from the scrapped Dragon Empire concept is also a name in Avatar's sequel series The Legend of Korra.
Hi JeanGreyForever :) Nice to see you again :)
SlettAs far as I know, it hasn`t been confirmed that it will have any songs. Yet I hope that it will have it. And yes, Raya will most likely be compared to all of her non-Caucasian heroines before her. Since Pocahontas is the first one to actually lead her movie, she`ll have most likely comparisons to her. But yeah, she will be most likely compared to Mulan.
And yeah, Sisu will be interesting, but Terk was confirmed to be a female. She`s often referred to and "The Legend of Tarzan" series actually confirms her. But I wonder if Raya will have her mother alive.
Yes, I`ve watched "Avatar: The Last Airbender", but it`s been a long time ago.