The Rise of Disney's Upcoming Hero: Work

Celine Ly

February 2021

Have you ever heard of Big Hero Six? Aladdin? Mulan? Now take all three, and think about what they all have in common. They’re all under Disney Animation Studios? That’s one. You know what else? They’re all Asian-based films. And on March 5th, 2021, Disney will present Raya and the Last Dragon as their newest addition to the family.
Now, unlike previously mentioned films like Aladdin or Mulan, Raya was not inspired by prehistoric folklore and is actually similar to films like Moana and Frozen where the movie takes place in a fictional setting based on an accumulation of cultures rather than just one, much like a rainbow of the sorts. However, much like Aladdin and Mulan, Raya was inspired primarily by Asian heritage.

The Rise of Disney's Upcoming Hero

More specifically, Southeastern regions including the Philippines, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Singapore.
The plotline follows Kumandra, a world once composed of 5 unified lands named and inspired after the limbs of a dragon: Fang, Heart, Spine, Tail, and Talon; but, when a great evil strikes upon Kumandra, each land is divided, leaving only strife and turmoil, separating the nations against one another.

Raya (Kelly Marie Tran), our main female warrior, must find the last dragon, the Almighty Sisu (Awkwafina), in order to restore the balance of harmony amongst the people and defeat the evil that remains lurking in the shadows of the Kumandran lands.
On the search for peace and remedy, Raya and the Last Dragon entails an enlightenment of struggle, transformation, redemption, adventure, whimsicality, and excitement.
A young girl fighting against the laws of fate and free will with the weight of the world and her family bearing on her shoulders.
A dragon that must learn the ways of strength and fortitude when she cannot see the potential within herself.
And an armadillo, pug, pill-bug steed infatuated with the lightness and tastiness of lychee.
Will Raya successfully achieve her goals of worldwide tranquility and take down the darkness at hand? Or will she fall, succumbing to the enemy she vowed to victor against?
Will Sisu find the courage within herself to protect her loved ones? Or will she suffer the same fate of her petrified ancestors?
Will Tuk Tuk be able to finish the juicy lychee fruit in one bite? Or must he take the risk of two bites for complete consumption?

The film is jointly directed by Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada, famous for their involvement in endearing tales such as, Inside Out, Winnie the Pooh, Big Hero 6, The Princess and the Frog, Meet the Robinsons, The Emperor’s New Groove, and Tarzan.
Awkwafina, Gemma Chan, Kelly Marie Tran, and Alan Tudyk all star as leading roles in the film.
Awkwafina and Chan have both appeared in the 2018 film, Crazy Rich Asians, Tran has portrayed the character of Rose Tico in the Star Wars films, The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker, while Tudyk has donated his voice before to numerous icons, depicting personas like Lenny in the Ice Age franchise, Simone in the Alvin and the Chipmunks series, or Hei-hei in Moana.
Awkwafina stars as Sisu, the last surviving dragon in the world of Kumandra with mystical abilities only dragons possess.
Gemma Chan plays as Namaari, the Chief Leader of the Fang Land and Raya’s rival.
Alan Tudyk portrays Tuk Tuk, the honorary amarillo, pug- pill-bug hybrid and Raya’s steed.
And Kelly Marie Tran depicts our story’s protagonist, Raya, a female warrior who’s greatest aspiration lies within the principles of world peace.

The Rise of Disney's Upcoming Hero: Text