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Raya and the Last Dragon is one of Disney's latest animated movies centered around a princess-like warrior character. Think Mulan, but Southeast Asia instead of China.

The film is set in a fantasy land called Kumandra, inspired by the Southeast Asian cultures of Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines, Thailand, Laos, Singapore, Myanmar, Malaysia, Brunei, Timor-Leste, and the Philippines.

Raya was released back in March of 2021, but I am just now finally getting a chance to watch it. I don't usually go for animated films, but I have watched many that I consider being pretty great. I had a feeling that the action and setting of Raya would be pretty awesome and I was correct about that.

The story begins with Raya training with her father Benja, the legendary Guardian of the Dragon Gem and chief of the Heart tribe. Raya has finally trained long enough to become a guardian of the gem. Benja wishes to restore Kumandra by reuniting the five tribes: Heart, Fang, Talon, Spine, and Tail, all named after different parts of a dragon.

Raya meets a new friend named Namaari, who is the daughter of Chief Virna of the Fang tribe. Namaari is obsessed with dragons and shows Raya proof that there may still be one dragon left in the world. The rest were all turned to stone when they sacrificed themselves to save the world from a deadly scourge called The Druun.

It doesn't take long for Raya to be betrayed by Namaari with some trickery. The tribes are all jealous of Heart for getting to be the protectors of the Dragon Gem. This leads them to all fight with one another rather than unite and thus shattering the Dragon Gem and unleashing chaos throughout the lands once again.

The Druun come back to destroy the world and turn people to stone just like what happened to the dragons years ago. The only thing that keeps people safe from the Druun is water. Raya's father and most other people are all turned to stone, leaving Kumandra in shambles.

The story jumps ahead several years to an older Raya and her childhood best friend/pet/mount Tuk Tuk. Together they have been searching every part of the river to find the last dragon and save all of the people who remain as stone. Tuk Tuk is a super cute and hilarious creature.

After searching far and wide, Raya discovers the last dragon named Sisu. You will realize right away that Sisu is more of a silly and clumsy dragon rather than fearsome and powerful. Sisu is a water dragon and this explains why water is what keeps the Druun away. Dragons are the only thing that can put an end to the Druun, so it is up to Raya and Sisu to rid the world of the darkness.

The only way that Sisu will be powerful enough to stop the Druun is with the Dragon Gem. The two must gather the pieces of the Dragon Gem from each tribe and make it whole once more.

As they progress through their adventure, Sisu begins to gain her sibling's abilities with each piece of the Dragon Gem they find. Sisu is able to transform into a human, which helps her blend in a bit better.

Namaari and the Fang tribe are still hoping to have control of the Dragon Gem eventually. Their tribe rides these cat-like creatures called Serlot. They are intimidating and Raya must get away, while also keeping the fact that Sisu is actually a dragon a secret.

Just as Namaari and her Serlot are about to capture Raya, they land on a bot owned by a boy named Boun. This fellow lives alone and spends his time cooking for anybody who wishes to pay him. Life on the water is one of the safest places to be. With the help of Sisu's swimming, the boat is able to scathe away just in time.

Upon retrieval of the next piece of the Dragon Gem, Raya stumbles upon a cute con baby named Little Noi in an alley. This baby tricks Raya into helping her. Meanwhile, her Ongi monkey friends are busy stealing the Dragon Gem pieces. There is an epic chase scene, but ultimately the thieves end up joining Raya, Tuk Tuk, Sisu, and Boun on the boat.

The second to last piece of the Dragon Gem is held by the Spine tribe, or what is left of it. They are greeted by a mountain of a man named Tong. He is the last surviving member of Spine Land. He seems to be a killer at first but turns out to be a kind man who is willing to help them restore peace.

Upon leaving Spine's empty fortress, Raya is forced to fight Namaari in order for her friends to escape safely. A close battle is fought, but Raya struggles to keep the group of Fang under control.

Sisu comes in and finally shows that she is not just a wimpy dragon. She shows just how fierce she can be, which allows the whole group to sneak away safely. The mission is near completion as only one piece of the Dragon Gem remains.

Raya, Tuk Tuk, Sisu, Boun, the Ongis, and Tong head towards the Fang tribes home to claim the final piece of the Dragon Gem. Namaari is waiting for them and ready to fight Raya one last time. The Druun cause the place to go into mass hysteria mode, but Raya remains focused on her goal.

The ending is filled with a few surprises, but the main moral is that sacrifice is something that is essential for true happiness. Much of the world cares more about themselves rather than others. When we come together, that is when we are at our strongest.

I really loved Raya and the Last Dragon and I think that you will too if you give this movie a chance. Even if you aren't big on animated films, this one still has a lot to offer. If you have ever wanted to learn more about the culture of Southeast Asia, this is a great start. If you live in that part of the world, then certainly you will be curious to see what Raya is all about. Here is the trailer for you to enjoy and make your decision on your own.