Disney To Release Raya and The Last Dragon: A Fantasy Animated Movie with Major South East Asian Representation amid Pandemic and Sociopolitical Turmoil Throughout the Region.

 

It's safe to say that only a few countries are more than okay amid the pandemic (we are looking at you New Zealand) but as the US, and some Eastern European and South American countries, South East Asian countries have revealed deep-seated problems with their governments.  

 

The world is exposed to the mass protests in Thailand and recently in Myanmar. And it is common knowledge that ASEAN doesn't have the most high-rated democratic reputation across the globe. There is also isn't much unity sociopolitical and authoritarian governments are heavily influenced by China (e.g. Philippines, the military coup in Myanmar). All of the SEA countries are deeply threatened by China because of their territorial stealing. 

 

The SEA countries consist of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Timor Leste. The animators of Disney visited some of these countries for their research in making their animated movie come to life. The film is directed by Don Hall, Carlos López Estrada, co-directed by Paul Briggs and John Ripa. The movie’s script is credited to Adele Lim and Qui Nguyen. It features the famous voices of Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina, Daniel Dae Kim, among several others. The filmmakers have expressed how they enjoyed making the film and are astonished by the differing yet blended cultures in South East Asia. It is also one of the major projects that they tried to finish during the pandemic.

 

I can't remember Disney releasing an animated trailer showing a lot of violence and sword-fighting since Mulan, a film that only represents Chinese culture. However, Raya looks more badass than Mulan. There's also much more magic, animal sidekicks, and a bigger dragon. Speaking of, in Southeast Asian mythology and folklore, water, and forest dragons are most common which the blue shape-shifting water-dragon Sisu probably is based from.

 

Disney is one of the front runners when it comes to instilling diversity in film and TV projects. Raya and The Last Dragon might be the first Hollywood animated movie with all South-East Asian characters. Amid the sociopolitical turmoil, will this action-packed adventure movie with a heroine whose mission to fight for peace, inspire positive change? Or will this just be a source of joy and distraction during these trying times? 

 

Here is the premise of the film: "Long ago, in the fantasy world of Kumandra, humans, and dragons lived together in harmony. But when sinister monsters known as the Druun threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. Now, 500 years later, those same monsters have returned and it's up to a lone warrior, Raya, and her pet pill bug companion Tuk Tuk, to track down the last dragon to finally stop the Druun for good. However, along her journey, she'll learn that it'll take more than dragon magic to save the world—it's going to take trust as well.”

 

Watching all of the trailers since they dropped the first one on January 26, the trailer explains that the world where Raya lives isn't peaceful. Neighboring lands don't see eye to eye with each other which reminds us of the current state of Southeast Asian countries when it comes to issues about the meddling of China (no matter if the Chinese foreign ministers are saying their country has the best interest of the SEA people).  And recently when there is a split opinion on the political turmoil in Myanmar by the Southeast Asian governments.

 

Similar to the fantasy lands on the film, governments that represent their respective countries are divided, despite unified voices by the SEA civilians found on social media, especially on views of democracy, human rights, and interference of China in the region.

 

Like the Southeast Asian people, the title character Raya wants peace and justice. That’s why there is on-going dissent against the growing authoritarianism within some countries in the region. When Raya thinks finding Sisu the dragon will solve her people’s problems, the SEA people will be unity.

 

At least there is the latest development when Myanmar’s neighboring countries seek a new way to resolve the aggravating crisis, with Indonesia suggesting to summon a meeting in a bid to re-institute democracy in the country. The foreign ministers of Singapore and Indonesia believe the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) can play a principal role in motivating dialogue and a return to normalcy in Myanmar, the city-state’s foreign affairs ministry said. Arranging a meeting could be a challenge, however, given ASEAN’s policy of non-interference in its members’ domestic issues and their different comments to the military coup. (source).

 

 It strikes me how they decided to make and release the film during a most turbulent time in South East Asia. I wonder if they thought about the struggles of the Southeast Asian people while they produced this movie. Or is it just another checklist in their diversity goal?

 

Raya and the Last Dragon will be available on March 5, 2021, in theaters and on Disney+ with Premiere Access. 

 

Written by Ceci Likha Rajah (Cecille Manchera Gultiano)

February 20, 2021