Raya and the Last Dragon

Half a millennium after dragons vanished to save the people of Kumandra, the land lies split into rival regions and old wounds run deep. When a new dark threat rises, Raya, a lone warrior shaped by loss and suspicion, sets out to find the last dragon, a quirky, shape-shifting being named Sisu. Along the way she crosses paths with scavengers, traders, and former enemies, each holding pieces of a broken relic that could heal the realm. Raya has to weigh the risk of trusting others against the mission to reunite a fractured world, and the film keeps its focus on that search and the relationships that develop without revealing the story's surprises.

Directed by Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada, Raya and the Last Dragon was released by Walt Disney Animation Studios in 2021. The screenplay credits include David G. Derrick Jr., Qui Nguyen, and Adele Lim, with an all-star voice cast bringing the characters to life.

The film opened during the pandemic era, so Disney released it both in theaters and on Disney+ Premier Access, which affected traditional box office metrics. That hybrid strategy changed how audiences saw it and how earnings were reported.

Raya drew attention for its Southeast Asian-inspired worldbuilding, including visual motifs, costumes, and mythic elements influenced by multiple cultures. Its female lead and the gentle, humorous dragon Sisu sparked a lot of fan art and discussion about representation and cultural consultation in big-studio animation.

Critics and audiences gave generally positive responses, reflected in user ratings and many favorable reviews. Viewers praised the animation quality and strong voice work from Kelly Marie Tran and Awkwafina, while the film's themes focused on trust, healing communal rifts, and the cost of suspicion. It's an action-forward family fantasy that leans on emotional stakes and moral complexity more than simple good-versus-evil storytelling.