Raya and the Last Dragon (film) Animated journey to the fantasy world of Kumandra, where humans and dragons lived together long ago in harmony. But when an evil force (the Druun) 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. Along her journey, she’ll learn that it will take more than a dragon to save the world—it’s going to take trust and teamwork, as well. Directed by Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada. Released March 5, 2021, in select U.S. theaters and digitally on Disney+, following a March 3–4 international release. Voices include Kelly Marie Tran (Raya), Awkwafina (Sisu), Izaac Wang (Boun), Gemma Chan (Namaari), Daniel Dae Kim (Benja), Benedict Wong (Tong), Jona Xiao (Young Namaari), Sandra Oh (Virana), Thalia Tran (Little Noi), Lucille Soong (Dang Hu), Alan Tudyk (Tuk Tuk). 107 min. The 5 lands of Kumandra form the shape of a dragon: Heart, a land of peace and magic; Fang, a thriving land surrounded by water; Spine, an insular land whose people distrust outsiders; Talon, a bustling crossroads; and Tail, a desert. The lands were animated with more than 72,000 individual elements, including 18,987 human and 35,749 nonhuman characters. For authenticity, combat sequences were inspired by martial arts specific to the cultures of Southeast Asia, such as Pencak Silat and Muay Thai. The end-credits song, “Lead the Way,” was written/performed by Jhené Aiko. Nearly all shot production took place in the homes of more than 450 artists and crew members during the COVID-19 pandemic. Received an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature.
