Raya and the Last Dragon

This is a good article. Click here for more information.
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Raya and the Last Dragon
Promotional release poster of Raya and the Last Dragon depicting Raya
Release poster
Directed by
Screenplay by
Story by
  • Paul Briggs
  • Don Hall
  • Adele Lim
  • Carlos López Estrada
  • Kiel Murray
  • Qui Nguyen
  • John Ripa
  • Dean Wellins
Based onStory ideas
by Bradley Raymond and Helen Kalafatic
Produced by
Starring
Cinematography
  • Rob Dressel (layout)
  • Adolph Lusinsky (lighting)
Edited by
  • Fabienne Rawley
  • Shannon Stein
Music byJames Newton Howard
Production
companies
Distributed byWalt Disney Studios
Motion Pictures
Release date
  • March 5, 2021 (2021-03-05)
Running time
107 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$100 million+
Box office$130.4 million

Raya and the Last Dragon (/ˈr.ə/ RYE) is a 2021 American animated fantasy action-adventure film that was produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It was directed by Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada, co-directed by Paul Briggs and John Ripa, and produced by Osnat Shurer and Peter Del Vecho. The screenplay, which is based on story ideas by Bradley Raymond and Helen Kalafatic, was primarily written by Qui Nguyen and Adele Lim with additional contributions from other writers. Raya and the Last Dragon stars the voices of Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina, Izaac Wang, and Gemma Chan, and follows the warrior princess Raya as she seek the fabled last dragon to save her father and the land of Kumandra from evil spirits that are known as Druun.

Development of the project began in October 2018, and it was officially announced in August 2019, and the title and voice cast were revealed. During production, Disney replaced several cast and crew members, including the initially announced lead actor Cassie Steele, who was replaced with Tran to conform with changes in character and plot. The film is inspired by traditional Southeast Asian cultures. During design and animation, the filmmakers focused on diverse environments and characters while maintaining authentic cultural representation. James Newton Howard composed the film's score.

Raya and the Last Dragon was released in theaters in the United States on March 5, 2021, and

Premier Access. The release was twice delayed from its November 2020 date due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The film became the third-most-streamed film of 2021 and grossed $130.4 million worldwide. Critics gave the film positive reviews; some critics praised the imagery and depth but criticized the limited Southeast Asian representation. It was nominated for several accolades, including an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, but lost to Encanto
, another Disney film that was released the same year.

Plot

500 years ago, Kumandra, a prosperous land where humans lived alongside dragons, was ravaged by the Druun, mindless spirits that turn every living thing in their path to stone. Sisu, the last surviving dragon, concentrated her magic into a gem and blasted away the Druun, reviving Kumandra's people but not its dragons. A power struggle for the gem divided Kumandra's people into five chiefdoms called Fang, Heart, Spine, Talon, and Tail, corresponding to their placement along a gigantic dragon-shaped river.

In the present, Chief Benja of the Heart tribe retains possession of the gem and trains his young daughter Raya, a warrior princess, to protect it. Benja, believing Kumandra can be reunited, holds a feast for all five tribes. During the feast, Raya befriends Namaari, princess of the Fang tribe, who gives Raya a dragon pendant. Raya trusts Namaari and shows her the gem's chamber but Namaari betrays her as part of a plot to help Fang steal the gem. After being alerted to the attack, Benja and the other tribes arrive and start fighting over the gem, breaking it into five pieces. The gem's destruction creates a fissure that releases the Druun, who quickly take over the Land of Heart. The tribe leaders each steal a piece of the gem and flee. Benja notices water repels the Druun and saves Raya's life by throwing her into the river before being turned to stone.

Six years later, Raya treks across Kumandra to find Sisu, hoping she will create another gem and banish the Druun. In Tail, Raya summons Sisu, who says she did not create the gem but wielded it on behalf of her four siblings, all of whom contributed their magic to the gem. Raya and Sisu resolve to reclaim the four pieces of the gem, reassemble it, and use it to banish the Druun and restore those who were turned to stone, while making new friends; including Boun, a young restaurateur from Tail; Little Noi, a baby con artist from Talon; and Tong, a warrior from Spine; all of whom have lost loved ones to the Druun. Namaari, hoping to gain the gem shards for the Fang tribe, pursues Raya. Since each gem shard they acquire blesses Sisu with one of her siblings' magical powers, Raya, who does not fully trust their new companions, insists Sisu remain disguised as a human but in Spine, Sisu reveals herself to save Raya from Namaari.

In Fang, Sisu persuades Raya to propose an alliance with Namaari rather than steal the final shard. As a gesture of trust, Raya returns the pendant Namaari gave her years before. Namaari, torn between her responsibility to Fang and her wish to help defeat the Druun, threatens the party with a crossbow. Sisu tries to calm Namaari but Raya attacks with her whip sword after seeing Namaari's finger on the trigger, causing the crossbow to fire and kill Sisu. Sisu's death drains away all of the water, allowing the Drunn to overrun the realm.

Furious by Namaari’s actions, Raya pursues her and finds her grieving the petrification of her mother Chief Virana. Namaari and Raya fight while Raya's companions use the gem pieces to evacuate the people of Fang. Raya angrily prepares to strike down Namaari but stops when Namaari reminds her that her inability to trust others led to Sisu’s death, and they go to aid the others. As the Druun gain on her group, Raya remembers how trust allowed Sisu to save the world. She urges the others to unite and reassemble the gem, showing her faith in Namaari by handing over her gem piece and allowing the Druun to turn her into stone. Boun, Tong, Noi, and the ongis follow suit, and Namaari reassembles the gem before also being petrified. This unleashes a shockwave that spreads throughout Kumandra, vanquishing the Druun and conjuring up a magical rainstorm that revives everyone, including the dragons, who later revive Sisu. After the group reunites with their loved ones, the tribes and dragons gather at Heart to unite as Kumandra once again.

Voice cast

  • Kelly Marie Tran as Raya,[1] a fierce and virtuous warrior princess of Heart who has been training to become a Guardian of the Dragon Gem. To save her father from petrification and restore peace to Kumandra, Raya embarks on a search for the last dragon.[2]
  • Awkwafina as Sisu,[3] the last dragon in existence. Sisu has a ludicrous and somewhat unstable personality but is also brave, kind, and wise.[4]
  • Izaac Wang as Boun,[5] a charismatic 10-year-old entrepreneur from Tail who lost his family to the Druun.[6]
  • Gemma Chan as Namaari, a warrior princess of Fang and Raya's rival.[7]
  • Daniel Dae Kim as Chief Benja, Raya's father and the chief of Heart.[9]
  • Benedict Wong as Tong, a formidable, towering, kind-hearted warrior from Spine who lost his family and fellow villagers to the Druun.[9]
  • Sandra Oh as Virana, Namaari's mother and the chieftess of Fang.[10]
  • con artist from Talon who lost her mother to the Druun.[9] She was raised by the ongis, creatures that resemble monkeys with catfish whiskers.[11]
  • Lucille Soong as Dang Hu, the chieftess of Talon.[12]
  • Alan Tudyk as Tuk Tuk, Raya's best friend and trusty steed who is a mix of armadillo and pill bug.[12] His name is a reference to a Thai dialect word for auto rickshaws.[13]

The film also features the voices of Dichen Lachman as General Atitaya of Fang and a Spine warrior, Patti Harrison as the chief of Tail,[14] Dumbfoundead as a flower guy called Chai, Sung Kang as former chief of Talon Dang Hai, Sierra Katow as both a Talon merchant and a Fang officer; Ross Butler as the chief of Spine, François Chau as Wahn, and Gordon Ip and Paul Yen as Talon merchants.[9][15]

Production

In October 2018, Deadline Hollywood reported Disney was developing a fantasy animated film that was being produced by Osnat Shurer from a screenplay by Adele Lim, and directed by Paul Briggs and Dean Wellins. Most of the filmmakers had been involved in other Disney films, including Frozen (2013), Zootopia (2016), and Moana (2016).[16] In August 2019, Disney announced the film during its D23 Expo Walt Disney Animation Studios' presentation; Cassie Steele had been cast as Raya and Awkwafina was to play Sisu.[17][18]

In August 2020, Disney announced the replacement of several cast and crew members.

Cars (2006) and Cars 3 (2017), also contributed to the story for Raya. Qui Nguyen joined Lim as co-writer and Peter Del Vecho joined Shurer as producer.[20][21][22] Kelly Marie Tran replaced Steele to conform to character and plot changes; Shurer said the cast must embody the same spirit as the character and that Tran was better suited to the role.[23]

According to Hall, Disney recast the role because Raya was originally conceived as a "stoic loner" but the team began to infuse her with "levity" and "swagger", characteristics similar to those of Guardians of the Galaxy's (2014) Star-Lord.[18] Tran had unsuccessfully auditioned for the role of Raya but in January 2020, when Tran replaced Steele as Raya, she assumed Disney had already rejected her but was now hiring her to replace the lead actor.[24] Disney separately hired each cast member and individually recorded their lines, keeping the actors' identities secret from each other until they accidentally discovered the others' involvement in the film before Disney revealed them to the cast.[25] Despite the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the film industry, the cast worked and successfully completed the project from their homes.[26] The film's budget was at least $100 million.[27]

Development and design

Raya and the Last Dragon is inspired by traditional Southeast Asian cultures. The production team consulted experts from Southeast Asia Story Trust to ensure an accurate cultural representation in the film,[28] and they emphasized the importance of avoiding stereotypical portrayals of Asian characters.[29] To conduct background research, the production team traveled to Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines; they were inspired by the local sense of acceptance, unity, and trust, which they adopted as themes for the film. The production team explored ways to express Kumandra's characteristics;[28] they designed its five fractured lands with unique climates and characteristics to reflect the diverse beliefs and culture of their people, and each land and its people represent a mandala icon revolving around Kumandra. This is inspired by the local religious teaching that everything is centered around a common belief system or cosmology.[30] They used unconventional shapes, experimented with scale and color, and placed objects in unexpected locations to convey Kumandra's expression of fantasy. Kumandra's Dragon River is inspired by the Mekong. Dynamic colors in each land indicate Raya's location in the film.[31]

A serious Raya wearing red and yellow traditional sabai top and green dhoti pants walking with an enthusiastic blue and white long serpentine dragon, Sisu
Raya and Sisu concept art

According to character art director Shiyoon Kim:

At the core of our film are two characters, their arc, and their relationship, so I tried to imagine the two of them at different moments in their journey. [I] sketched the two as pals who hang out and share secrets, growing closer and opening up over time.

— The Art of Raya and the Last Dragon (2021)[32]

The production team focused the film on Raya and Sisu, and their conflicting characteristics of trust issues and over-trusting are the basis for the film's humor and emotion. The team initially separately designed the characters, drawing several designs of Raya and Sisu but they felt that something was lacking and their designs were incomplete, prompting them to design the characters together, which helped them better understand how they visually and thematically complemented each other.[32]

Raya was conceived as a serious swordswoman who focuses on finding Sisu, and Sisu was conceived as a dragon trapped in her human form who refused to help Raya. As writing progressed, Raya softened and Sisu became more helpful; the writers approached Raya as a character who acts flawlessly and Sisu as one who does everything sideways.[33] The production team ensured throughout the film, Raya's observed quality would be culturally authentic, functional for her role as a swordswoman, and reflective of her emotional journey. Her costume is based on a traditional sabai top and dhoti pants with cultural dragon references, and her high-collar cape and large hat act as protective layers the team intended to remove as she emotionally evolves in the film. The team designed Raya with a feminine nose and strong, prominent cheekbones; they aimed to make her exceptionally expressive and emotionally diverse but mainly focused on her playful, comedic aspects.[34]

Sisu and the other dragons are inspired by the naga, mythical beings who can manifest as serpents or humans and are associated with water.[35] The team explored many silhouettes and attitudes of Sisu that ranged from ethereal and magical to ferocious and skeptical. Specific design elements in Sisu's dragon form were retained in her human attire to create a cohesive, recognizable character design.[36]

The poses of the dragon statues represent the production team's efforts to convey the same sense of grandeur dragons have in Southeast Asian culture.[37] The production team drew inspiration from the naga's cultural influence and powerful presence in Southeast Asia, seeking to evoke the feeling of them existing in an invisible world beyond their own. As a result, all of the dragons except Sisu were revered and similarly reflect this effect.[35] The designers gave the dragons' footsteps colorful, refracted ripples of light to emphasize their cultural association with water, among other design elements, including glowing characteristics, fluid grooms and textures, scales, and translucent fins.[38]

Water is a central element in the story; it is used used to illustrate Raya's emotional growth. Colored bodies of water represent moments in which Raya feels close to those around her while high-contrast, dark-colored ones represent her distrust and insecurity.[4] The Druun were approached as embodiments of hopelessness and dread, and were given a dynamic, cloudy form that is difficult to perceive as a continuous form; their concepts include aquatic life, water boiling in reverse, dough folding in on itself, black holes, and parasitic behaviors.[39]

Dragons also influenced the design of Heart; dragons appear in sacred fortresses and palaces, and serve as cultural symbols.[40] The production team aimed to make Heart's Pond a magical, sacred place because it represents an important character moment between Raya and her father, incorporating elements of flowers that only bloom at night. While researching these flowers, they came across an art installation involving lamps that would brighten and dim. This inspired them to create Kumandra flowers, which light up when the Dragon Gem is near.[41]

Tail was intended as the wild west of Kumandra, drawing elements from fantasy plateaus and sand waterfalls.[42] Talon is inspired by Southeast-Asian floating markets and night markets. The designers approached Talon as a five-level pier, which they envisioned starting at the top level; as the waterline dropped due to drought, new platforms would be constructed underneath.[43] Spine's design was influenced by bamboo, and focused on natural forms and textures. Its design includes a black, bamboo frame and a colossal, woolly-mammoth-like tusked roofline with large, stone foundations from the surrounding mountain. The production team experimented with shadows and lighting to create a sense of mystery and drama for Spine's design.[44]

Fang's design reflects its commitment to strict principles; design elements include

brutalism and strong, monolithic, rigid geometric shapes. The production team explored stretching Fang buildings and using repeated rooflines to evoke the ominous sensation of a large creature peering down. In the Fang Palace, tall, vertical banners and giant, gold, fang-like sculptures hang ominously from high ceilings. Their rectangular, sharp edges and cold, sterile designs were meant to contrast the floral motifs and round, organic shapes of Heart.[45]

To express Namaari's strength and power, the designers experimented with facial expressions and physicality, including her aggressive nature and fierce stare. They provided Namaari with a hard-edged outfit and a predominantly off-white color palette to express her tough personality.[46] Young Namaari's costume is also designed to contrast her with young Raya; Namaari's stark, white and gold elements represent Fang's harsh lifestyle, contrasting with Raya's draped, soft, blue designs.[47]

Animation and cinematography

Approximately 800 artists worked on the film; they used software applications such as

shadow puppets used in Chinese storytelling.[49] The characters' costumes were constructed by folding long pieces of fabric, and the structure of the clothing did not heavily rely on seams; this departs from the traditional method of tailoring, which uses patterns as a guide.[50]

The animation team used intricate lighting techniques to create Kumandra's diverse, atmospheric environments, which range from deserts to tropical forests.[51] They used new techniques to depict the diversity of the crowd within each tribe, including reusing and remixing interchangeable parts to efficiently create diverse characters. They also used a system to manage the assets they were designing, which helped them confirm these elements looked correct and consistent throughout the film. It also ensured the data could be effectively used in the later stages of production.[52] Talon and Tail were particularly complex to animate; Talon's complexities stem from its intricate, diverse elements and assets that needed to be moved around water. Despite Tail's minimalist landscape, the perspective needed to be very close to capture the desert floor; the manual modeling of cracks and the scattering of rocks and vegetation elements were added complexities.[42][43]

The animators significantly expanded their crowd system, which was used to generate groups of characters and objects, to suit the film's diverse, complex scenes. They modified their existing workflows, tools and software. The animators also experimented with creatively controlled, computer-generated simulations and procedural algorithmic approaches. The in-house Skeleton Library that was based on Houdini software also helped to manage the complexity of the diverse elements.[53]

Anisotropic distances—unequal distances in different directions—in Position-based Dynamics (PBD) and Boids simulation techniques were used to create intricate scenes, including beetles crawling on top of one another, massive schools of fish, and the movements of dragons. PBD is used to simulate the behavior of objects whereas Boid simulations involve modeling the flocking or herding behavior of creatures. Procedural animation layers were applied to simulate the movements of fish and dragons, which were automatically generated using algorithms. A technique called "distance integral invariant" was used to detect contacts between the dragons' feet and the ground, ensuring realistic interaction with the environment.[54]

The film's cinematography focuses on emphasizing Raya's character and her distrust of the world. The animators created contrasting camera-and-lighting styles to illustrate trust and distrust, applying them sequence-to-sequence and shot-to-shot based on her story arc. For example, the distrustful Raya was captured with a wide-angle lens, deep focus, and a narrow color palette while the trusting Sisu was captured with a telephoto lens, shallow focus, and a broad color palette.[55] To highlight the abrupt transition between Raya being thrown into the blue waters of the Dragon River in Heart to the scene six years later in Tail's desert, the cinematographers used light-distortion techniques to create a mirage illusion, accentuating the dramatic shift in lighting, color, climate, and water in the film.[56]

Music

James Newton Howard composed the score for Raya and the Last Dragon,[57] and Jhené Aiko wrote and performed a song entitled "Lead the Way", which is heard during the end credits. The score was released on February 26, 2021.[58] The following month, Filipino singer KZ Tandingan was hired to perform "Gabay" (Guide), Disney's first-ever Filipino-language song,[59] which is a Filipino version of "Lead the Way". "Gabay" was released as part of the soundtrack of the film's Filipino dub; Allie Benedicto, studio marketing head of Disney Philippines, said the song "demonstrates [Disney's] commitment to work with local creative talents".[60]

Marketing and release

Disney released trailers for Raya and the Last Dragon on January 26, 2021. Viewers expressed concerns about the limited Southeast Asian representation in the film's primarily East-Asian cast, and advocated for a more culturally accurate and diverse representation.[61][62] To promote the film, Disney collaborated with brands such as McDonald's, LG, and Procter & Gamble on toys and merchandise.[63][64] They also partnered with Southeast Asian brands like Omsum and Sanzo to acknowledge the Southeast Asia cultures that inspired the film, and they supported and promoted local, emerging advertisers there. When choosing promotional partners, they accounted for the film's target audience and the increasing audiences in theaters despite the COVID-19 pandemic.[64]

Raya and the Last Dragon was initially scheduled for release on November 25, 2020,

Disney+ Premier Access,[67][68] where it was available for purchase until June 4, 2021,[69] and then became free for all subscribers from that date.[70] In theaters, Raya and the Last Dragon was accompanied by the short film Us Again (2021).[71]

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment released Raya and the Last Dragon for digital download on April 2, 2021, and on Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, and DVD on May 18.[72] The digital release also included Us Again.[73] Bonus features bundled with the Blu-ray release include "An Introduction to Us Again", a behind-the-scenes dicumentary about Us Again; "Taste of Raya", a virtual Southeast Asian dining experience; "Raya: Bringing It Home", a documentary about the film's animators working at their homes; "Martial Artists", a film the martial-art forms and weapons used in the film; "We are Kumandra", the cultural influences of the film from the Southeast Asia Story Trust; outtakes from the film; facts and Easter eggs; Ripa's experience of working on the storyboard; and deleted scenes.[74][75]

Thematic analysis

Scholars mainly analyzed themes related to trust and feminism. Raya's inability to trust stems from her childhood, when her friend Namaari deceived Raya to obtain the Dragon Gem, leading her to distrust and distance herself from others. Benja's unwavering trust in others despite betrayal leads to a traumatic incident that intensifies Raya's distrust. During her journey, Raya encounters repeated betrayals that reinforce her vigilance and trust problems, although she learns to overcome her past and bravely forgives with much assistance from Sisu. Sri Wulan compared Raya's childhood experiences to those of children who learn to distrust their perceptions when they are confronted by double messages from their families. He noted Raya's over-protective, vigilant, isolating behavior, and her tendency to assume and anticipate recurring betrayals. Tawakkal et al. said Raya's childhood experience symbolizes social problems, including division and conflict arising from prejudice, hatred, greed, and thirst for power, and advocated for the importance of introspection and mutual understanding.[76][77]

Wardah and Kusuma said Raya and the Last Dragon reflects the evolving themes feminism, gender equality, and diverse female empowerment that are prevalent in earlier Disney princess films. Unlike those films, which romanticize love and emphasize physical beauty, Raya and the Last Dragon portrays a strong, female, warrior protagonist who struggles to reunite her country. Raya and the other female characters are depicted as rational, courageous, and independent of patriarchal dominance, and they emphasize the importance of leadership and friendship over romance.[78]

Others critiqued the film's Southeast Asian inspiration elements. Sutantos said the film's mix of cultural elements from various Southeast Asian countries misrepresents the philosophical meaning behind each element.[79] According to Nirwana, Raya's qualities, including bravery, honesty, loyalty, and an appreciation of cultural diversity, are highly valued in Indonesian culture. These also include the ability to collaborate to reach a common goal and the portrayal of spiritual activities that align with the values commonly practiced throughout Southeast Asia.[80] Rosella et al. said the film's portrayal of multiculturalism is conveyed through the depiction of Southeast Asian cuisines and practices. This unity and togetherness between tribes shows the diversity of Southeast Asia cultures.[81] As is customary in these cultures, Raya and the Last Dragon also emphasizes the importance of maintaining a harmonious relationship with nature. Kumandra is a metaphor for environmental harmony and is portrayed as an ideal and heavenly place where everything coexists in harmony. Benja strives to restore this environmental harmony after the tribes are divided by greed, hatred, and the Dragon Gems. As such, Wulan et al. said the film advocates for environmental unity and sustainability.[82]

Reception

Box office

Raya and the Last Dragon grossed $54.7 million in the United States and Canada, and $75.7 million in other territories for a worldwide take of $130.4 million.[83][84]

During its opening weekend in the US and Canada, Raya and the Last Dragon grossed $2.5 million on its first day and debuted at $8.5 million across 2,045 theaters, topping the box office.[85] Theater chains Cinemark and Harkins in the US, and Cineplex in Canada, did not initially run the film after declining Disney's rental terms,[86][a] which meant Raya and the Last Dragon failed to match the opening-weekend grosses of family-centered films The Croods: A New Age (2020) and Tom & Jerry (2021).[87] Raya and the Last Dragon's performance improved in the following weeks, matching and eventually exceeding Tom & Jerry's box-office revenue. Raya and the Last Dragon grossed $5.5 million in its second weekend and $5.2 million in its third, remaining the most-popular film at the box office.[88][89] Outsode North America, Raya and the Last Dragon debuted in 32 markets, grossing $26.2 million in its opening weekend;[90] the top countries were China ($8.6 million) and Russia ($2.8 million).[91] The film earned $11.5 million in its second weekend and $8 million in its third in 29 markets.[88][92]

Audience viewership

In its first three days in the week of March 1, Raya And The Last Dragon was watched for 355 million minutes and was the fourth-most-watched film of the week.[93] The film was released worldwide on Disney+ with no additional cost on June 4, 2021; it was the second-most-viewed streaming title after Netflix's Lucifer.[94] It was viewed for approximately 1.1 billion minutes from May 31 to June 6, a significant increase for the film and any streaming title, which previously had 115 million viewing minutes a week when it was only available as a premium title for $30.[93]

According to the official list of the most-watched streaming titles of 2021, which was released on January 21, 2022, by Deadline Hollywood and

Akamai reported Raya and the Last Dragon was the ninth-most-pirated film of 2021.[96]

Critical response

Raya and the Last Dragon has an approval rating of 93% based on 304 professional reviews on the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, with an average rating of 7.7/10. The consensus reads: "Another gorgeously animated, skillfully voiced entry in the Disney canon, Raya and the Last Dragon continues the studio's increased representation while reaffirming that its classic formula is just as reliable as ever".[97] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned Raya and the Last Dragon a score of 74 out of 100 based on 48 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[98] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on a scale of A+ to F, while PostTrak reported 92% of those gave it a positive score and 78% said they would recommend it.[85]

The Atlantic and The New York Observer praised the film's imagery and themes.[99][100] San Francisco Chronicle, among others, said the film expertly balances emotion, humor, and social politics against a backdrop of beautiful animation and engaging storylines.[b] Rolling Stone and RogerEbert.com praised its blend of imagery and cultural mythologies, finding it beautiful and an emotionally engaging narrative that is reminiscent of classic Disney animated productions.[105][106] Similarly, Vanity Fair and Vulture said the film expertly conveys the emotional depth and themes of the story through beautiful animation and compelling characters.[107][108] Praise was also directed at the strong cast choice and diverse characters.[c]

The story and limited Southeast Asian representation were criticized.[d] The Atlantic criticized Raya's lack of depth, describing her as lacking cultural specificity and behaving more like a tourist than a genuine representation of Southeast Asia cultures.[111] The New York Times said the film falls short of the conventional Disney princess narratives in delivering a correct cultural representation and corporate strategy.[2] Variety criticized the execution of the story and worldbuilding, which they found lack an elegant, smooth narrative flow.[112] Reviewers for The Irish Times and Vox cited the perceived unwieldy central conceit, and indistinct and insensitive cultural representation, respectively.[113][114]

Accolades

Accolades received by Raya and the Last Dragon
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Academy Awards March 27, 2022 Best Animated Feature Don Hall, Carlos López Estrada, Osnat Shurer, and Peter Del Vecho Nominated [115]
Alliance of Women Film Journalists Awards
January 25, 2022 Best Animated Film Raya and the Last Dragon Nominated [116]
Best Animated Female Kelly Marie Tran Nominated
Awkwafina Nominated
American Cinema Editors Awards
March 5, 2022 Best Edited Animated Feature Film Fabienne Rawley and Shannon Stein Nominated [117]
[118]
Annie Awards March 12, 2022 Best Animated Feature Raya and the Last Dragon Nominated [119]
Best FX – Feature Alex Moaveni, Dimitri Berberov, Bruce Wright, Scott Townsend, and Dale Mayeda Nominated
Best Character Animation – Feature Jennifer Hager Nominated
Best Character Design – Feature Ami Thompson Nominated
Best Music – Feature James Newton Howard and Jhené Aiko Nominated
Best Production Design – Feature Paul Felix, Mingjue Helen Chen, and Cory Loftis Nominated
Best Storyboarding – Feature Luis Logam Nominated
Best Voice Acting – Feature Kelly Marie Tran Nominated
Best Writing – Feature Qui Nguyen and Adele Lim Nominated
Best Editorial – Feature Fabienne Rawley, Shannon Stein, Todd Fulkerson, Rick Hammel, and Brian Millman Nominated
Art Directors Guild Awards
March 5, 2022
Art Directors Guild Award for Excellence in Production Design for a Animated Film
Paul Felix, Mingjue Helen Chen, and Cory Loftis Nominated [120]
[121]
Artios Awards
March 23, 2022 Outstanding Achievement in Casting – Animation Jamie Sparer Roberts and Grace C. Kim Nominated [122]
BMI Film & TV Awards July 12, 2021 Theatrical Film James Newton Howard Won [123]
Cinema Audio Society Awards March 19, 2022 Cinema Audio Society Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Motion Picture – Animated Paul McGrath, David E. Fluhr, Gabriel Guy, Alan Meyerson, Doc Kane, and Scott Curtis Nominated [124]
[125]
Critics' Choice Movie Awards March 13, 2022 Best Animated Feature Raya and the Last Dragon Nominated [126]
Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards
December 20, 2021 Best Animated Film Raya and the Last Dragon Nominated [127]
Georgia Film Critics Association Awards
January 14, 2022 Best Animated Film Raya and the Last Dragon Nominated [127]
Golden Globe Awards January 9, 2022 Best Animated Feature Film Raya and the Last Dragon Nominated [128]
Golden Reel Awards
March 13, 2022 Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Sound Effects, Foley, Dialogue and ADR for Animated Feature Film Shannon Mills, Brad Semenoff, Nia Hansen, Samson Neslund, David C. Hughes, Cameron Barker, Chris Frazier, Steve Orlando, John Roesch, Shelley Roden, Jim Weidman, and David Olson Won [129]
Golden Trailer Awards July 22, 2021 Best Animation TrailerByte for a Feature Film "Dragon Magic Social" (Create Advertising London) Nominated [130]
"TrailerBytes" (Outpost Media) Nominated
Hollywood Critics Association Awards
July 1, 2021 Midseason Award – Best Picture Raya and the Last Dragon Nominated [131]
February 28, 2022 Best Animated Film Raya and the Last Dragon Nominated [127]
Houston Film Critics Society Awards
January 19, 2022 Best Animated Feature Raya and the Last Dragon Nominated [132]
[133]
International Film Music Critics Association Awards
February 17, 2022 Film Composer of the Year James Newton Howard Won [134]
Best Original Score for an Animated Film James Newton Howard Won
NAACP Image Awards February 26, 2022 Outstanding Animated Motion Picture Raya and the Last Dragon Nominated [135]
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance – Motion Picture Awkwafina Nominated
Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards April 9, 2022 Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie Awkwafina[e] Nominated [136]
Online Film Critics Society Awards
January 24, 2022 Best Animated Feature Raya and the Last Dragon Nominated [127]
People's Choice Awards December 7, 2021 Family Movie of 2021 Raya and the Last Dragon Nominated [137]
Producers Guild of America Awards March 19, 2022 Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures Osnat Shurer and Peter Del Vecho Nominated [138]
The ReFrame Stamp March 1, 2022 2021 Top 28-Grossing Narrative Feature Recipients Raya and the Last Dragon Won[f] [139]
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards
January 10, 2022 Best Animated Film Raya and the Last Dragon Nominated [127]
Seattle Film Critics Society Awards
January 17, 2022 Best Animated Feature Raya and the Last Dragon Nominated [127]
Visual Effects Society Awards
March 8, 2022 Outstanding Visual Effects in an Animated Feature Kyle Odermatt, Osnat Shurer, Kelsey Hurley, and Paul Felix Nominated [140]
[141]
Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Feature Brian Menz, Punn Wiantrakoon, Erik Hansen, and Vicky YuTzu Lin for Tuk Tuk Nominated
Outstanding Created Environment in an Animated Feature Mingjue Helen Chen, Chaiwon Kim, Virgilio John Aquino, and Diana Jiang LeVangie for Talon Nominated
Outstanding Virtual Cinematography in a CG Project Rob Dressel, Adolph Lusinsky, and Paul Felix Nominated
Outstanding Effects Simulations in an Animated Feature Le Joyce Tong, Henrik Fält, Rattanin Sirinaruemarn, and Jacob Rice Won
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards
December 6, 2021 Best Animated Feature Raya and the Last Dragon Nominated [142]
Best Voice Performance Awkwafina Won
Kelly Marie Tran Nominated

Notes

  1. ^ Cinemark would later reach a deal with Disney and start running the film in its tenth week of release.
  2. ^ Attributed to multiple references:[101][102][100][103][104]
  3. ^ Attributed to multiple references:[101][102][109][110]
  4. ^ Attributed to multiple references:[2][111][112][113][114]
  5. ^ Also for The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run (2020)
  6. ^ This award does not have a single winner, but recognizes multiple films.

References

  1. ^ Saad, Nardine (August 27, 2021). "Kelly Marie Tran lands lead role in Disney's animated 'Raya and the Last Dragon'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 28, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Loayza, Beatrice (March 4, 2021). "'Raya and the Last Dragon' Review: Fool Me Once". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 6, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  3. ^ Alexander, Bryan (March 2, 2021). "'We got a tent in the living room!' How Awkwafina recorded her 'Last Dragon' during the pandemic". USA Today. Archived from the original on March 18, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Clark, Nicole (March 1, 2021). "Raya and the Last Dragon: Bringing Sisu the Water Dragon to Life". IGN. Archived from the original on March 6, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  5. ^ Yang, Rachel (January 8, 2021). "Raya and the Last Dragon reveals first image of action scene in land of Talon". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 10, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  6. ^ Wasserman, Ben (February 23, 2021). "Raya and the Last Dragon Shares a New Look Ahead of Premiere". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on March 3, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  7. ^ O'Sullivan, Michael (March 2, 2021). "Disney's 'Raya and the Last Dragon' dazzles and delights the senses". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on June 8, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  8. ^ Nash, Anthony (January 29, 2023). "Report: Marvel Disney+ Series Adds Jona Xiao in Lead Role". Yahoo Entertainment. Archived from the original on October 21, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d Yang, Rachel (January 26, 2021). "Watch Awkwafina's Sisu in action in new Raya and the Last Dragon trailer". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 10, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  10. ^ Renfro, Kim (March 5, 2021). "See what the cast of Disney's new animated movie 'Raya and the Last Dragon' looks like in real life". Yahoo! News. Archived from the original on March 10, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  11. ^ "Meet the Characters of Raya and the Last Dragon". Disney D23. March 5, 2021. Archived from the original on October 15, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  12. ^
    CinemaBlend. Archived
    from the original on March 10, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  13. ^ Boone, John (March 3, 2021). "'Raya and the Last Dragon': The Story Behind Tuk Tuk, Noi the Con-Baby and More (Exclusive)". Entertainment Tonight. Archived from the original on April 22, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  14. ^ Kim, Michelle (March 8, 2021). "Patti Harrison Is the First Known Trans Actor Cast in a Disney Animated Movie". Them. Archived from the original on April 29, 2021.
  15. ^ "Walt Disney Animation Debuts a Special Look at 'Raya and the Last Dragon'". The Walt Disney Company. February 28, 2021. Archived from the original on June 5, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  16. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (October 9, 2018). "Disney Sets Crazy Rich Asians Scribe Adele Lim & Moana Producer Osnat Shurer For Animated Pic". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  17. ^ Scott, Ryan (August 24, 2019). "Disney Animation Announces Raya and the Last Dragon at D23". MovieWeb. Archived from the original on August 25, 2019. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  18. ^ a b Sun, Rebecca (March 3, 2021). "The Resurrection of Kelly Marie Tran: On Surviving Star Wars Bullying, the Pressures of Representation, and Raya and the Last Dragon". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 5, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  19. ^ Thomas, Millicent (August 28, 2020). "Disney changes Raya and the Last Dragon directors, writer, and leading actress". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on September 25, 2020. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  20. ^ Yang, Rachel (August 27, 2020). "Get a first look at Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon starring Kelly Marie Tran". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on March 5, 2021. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  21. ^ Burt, Kayti (March 2, 2021). "How Blindspotting Led Carlos López Estrada to Raya and the Last Dragon". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on March 3, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  22. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (August 27, 2020). "Disney's 'Raya and the Last Dragon' Recasts Kelly Marie Tran as Lead". Variety. Archived from the original on March 6, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  23. CinemaBlend. Archived
    from the original on February 6, 2021. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  24. ^ Robinson, Joanna (March 3, 2021). "Kelly Marie Tran on the Empowering Anger of Raya and the Last Dragon". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on March 21, 2021.
  25. ^ Yang, Rachel (March 5, 2021). "Daniel Dae Kim, Awkwafina on 'secrecy' behind Raya and the Last Dragon casting, resemblance to their characters". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on March 6, 2021. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  26. ^ Tuttle, Brittani (March 5, 2021). "Cast and crew of 'Raya and the Last Dragon' talk about the challenges of making a movie from home". Attractions Magazine. Archived from the original on March 6, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  27. ^ Velasquez, Olivia (April 9, 2021). "'Raya and the Last Dragon' - A Home Run for Disney?". The Echo. Olivet University.
  28. ^ a b Hurley & Shurer 2021, p. 12.
  29. ^ Dry, Jude (October 22, 2021). "Raya and the Last Dragon: How the Writers Upended Asian Stereotypes in Animation". IndieWire. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  30. ^ Hurley & Shurer 2021, p. 58.
  31. ^ Hurley & Shurer 2021, p. 60.
  32. ^ a b Hurley & Shurer 2021, p. 20.
  33. ^ Hurley & Shurer 2021, p. 21.
  34. ^ Hurley & Shurer 2021, p. 22, 25–26.
  35. ^ a b Hurley & Shurer 2021, p. 42.
  36. ^ Hurley & Shurer 2021, p. 49.
  37. ^ Hurley & Shurer 2021, p. 50.
  38. ^ Hurley & Shurer 2021, p. 53.
  39. ^ Hurley & Shurer 2021, p. 76.
  40. ^ Hurley & Shurer 2021, p. 64.
  41. ^ Hurley & Shurer 2021, p. 71.
  42. ^ a b Hurley & Shurer 2021, p. 82.
  43. ^ a b Hurley & Shurer 2021, p. 92.
  44. ^ Hurley & Shurer 2021, p. 106.
  45. ^ Hurley & Shurer 2021, p. 118.
  46. ^ Hurley & Shurer 2021, p. 126.
  47. ^ Hurley & Shurer 2021, p. 133.
  48. ^ Rajendran, Gopinath (March 9, 2021). "Raya and the Last Dragon was mostly made from our homes". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on March 9, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  49. ^ Idelson, Karen (March 17, 2022). "How Oscar-Nominated Animated Features Made 2D Work". Variety. Archived from the original on July 13, 2022. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  50. S2CID 236937048
    .
  51. .
  52. .
  53. .
  54. .
  55. ^ Hurley & Shurer 2021, p. 142.
  56. ^ Hurley & Shurer 2021, p. 85.
  57. ^ Grobar, Matt (February 26, 2021). "Composer James Newton Howard On Penning 'News Of The World's "Broken" Western Score & Returning To Disney Animation With 'Raya And The Last Dragon'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 5, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  58. ^ Mamo, Heran (February 19, 2021). "Preview Jhené Aiko's 'Lead the Way' in Disney's 'Raya and the Last Dragon' First Look". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 8, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  59. ^ Gwee, Karen (March 2, 2021). "KZ Tandingan to sing Disney's first-ever Filipino-language song for 'Raya and the Last Dragon'". NME. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  60. ^ "KZ Tandingan sings Disney's first Filipino song, 'Gabay'". Rappler. March 2, 2021. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  61. ^ Moniuszko, Sara M. (January 27, 2021). "Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon trailer receives mixed reactions on social media". USA Today. Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  62. ^ "Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon sparks mixed reactions on Asian representation". NBC News. January 26, 2021. Archived from the original on April 1, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  63. ^ "All the Best Toys From 'Raya and the Last Dragon'". Fatherly. March 3, 2021. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  64. ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 5, 2021). "'Raya And The Last Dragon' Slaying Opening Weekend At Box Office, Fueled By Authentic Asian Promotional Partners". Deadline. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  65. ^ "Raya and the Last Dragon". British Board of Film Classification. Archived from the original on May 8, 2021. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
  66. ^ Shepherd, Jack (January 26, 2021). "New Raya and the Last Dragon trailer finally reveals Awkwafina's dragon". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  67. ^ Fuster, Jeremy (April 13, 2020). "Disney Moves 'Soul,' 'Raya and the Last Dragon' Release Dates". TheWrap. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  68. ^ Alexander, Julia (December 10, 2020). "Disney to release Raya and the Last Dragon on Disney Plus and in theaters on the same day". The Verge. Archived from the original on July 6, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  69. ^ Pateman, Daniel (May 26, 2021). "Disney Plus Premier Access: what is it, how do I get it and what can I watch?". TechRadar. Archived from the original on June 14, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  70. Gold Derby. Archived
    from the original on June 4, 2021. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  71. ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (February 15, 2021). "Disney To Release Theatrical Animated Short 'Us Again' Alongside 'Raya And The Last Dragon'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 2, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  72. ^ Lane, Carly (March 15, 2021). "'Raya and the Last Dragon' Gets 4K, Blu-ray & Digital Release Dates With Epic Bonus Features". Collider. Archived from the original on March 23, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  73. ^ "'Us Again' and 'Raya and the Last Dragon' Now on Digital". Animation World Network. April 2, 2021. Archived from the original on April 2, 2021. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  74. ^ Evangelista, Chris (May 28, 2021). "New on Blu-ray: 'Speed' 4K, 'Raya and the Last Dragon', 'Last Action Hero' 4K, 'Big Fish' 4K, 'Minari', and 'The Father'". /Film. Archived from the original on June 13, 2021. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  75. ^ Emberwing, Amelia (April 2, 2021). "Check out this deleted scene from Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on April 5, 2021. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  76. from the original on October 14, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  77. from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  78. from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  79. from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  80. from the original on October 21, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  81. from the original on October 21, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  82. from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  83. ^ "Raya and the Last Dragon". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Archived from the original on July 2, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2022.Edit this at Wikidata
  84. ^ "Raya and the Last Dragon (2021)". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Archived from the original on March 22, 2021. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  85. ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 7, 2021). "'Raya And The Last Dragon' Lacks Fire With $8.6M Debut As Pic Hits Disney+ & NYC Reopens: Why The Industry Is Worried – Sunday Update". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 15, 2021. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  86. ^ Brueggemann, Tom (March 3, 2021). "From the Alamo Drafthouse Bankruptcy to Refusing to Play Disney, It's All About Exhibitor Survival". IndieWire. Archived from the original on March 4, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  87. ^ Watson, R.T. (March 7, 2021). "Disney's 'Raya and the Last Dragon' Undercut Without Cinemark". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on April 22, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  88. ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 14, 2021). "Raya And The Last Dragon Takes $5.5M Second Weekend B.O. As Exhibition Slowly Repairs – Sunday Update". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  89. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 21, 2021). "L.A. Weekend Box Office Clears $1M+; Kelly Marie Tran & Carlos Lopez Estrada Welcome 'Raya' El Capitan Fans As Pic Posts Firm No. 1 Hold – Update". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 13, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  90. ^ McClintock, Pamela (March 7, 2021). "Box Office: Raya and the Last Dragon No. 1 With Soft $8.6M Debut". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 25, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  91. ^ Lang, Brent (March 7, 2021). "Raya and the Last Dragon Tops Sluggish Box Office With $8.6 Million". Variety. Archived from the original on March 7, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  92. ^ "Raya and the Last Dragon Leads Box Office as L.A. Theater Revival Boosts Ticket Sales". Reuters. March 21, 2021. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  93. ^ a b Welk, Brian (July 1, 2021). "Raya and the Last Dragon 2nd Most-Watched Streaming Title After Premium Disney+ Run Ends". TheWrap. Archived from the original on July 1, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  94. ^ Hayes, Dade (July 1, 2021). "Lucifer Repeats Atop Nielsen U.S. Streaming Chart, Beating Out Disney Feature Raya And The Last Dragon". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 2, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  95. ^ Hayes, Dade (January 21, 2022). "Lucifer Tops Squid Game On Nielsen 2021 Original Series Chart In U.S., Luca Is No. 1 Movie". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 22, 2022. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  96. ^ Ortiz, Andi (January 26, 2022). "Zack Snyder's Justice League, Black Widow Among 2021's Most Pirated Movies". TheWrap. Archived from the original on February 2, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  97. ^ "Raya and the Last Dragon". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Archived from the original on April 24, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2023. Edit this at Wikidata
  98. Fandom, Inc. Archived
    from the original on April 24, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  99. ^ Li, Shirley (March 6, 2021). "The Flawed Fantasy World of 'Raya and the Last Dragon'". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on March 7, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  100. ^ a b Katz, Brandon (March 1, 2021). "'Raya and the Last Dragon' Is Disney's Best Animated Film Since 'Moana'". Observer. Archived from the original on June 1, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  101. ^ a b Johnson, G. Allen (March 1, 2021). "Review: Disney's 'Raya and the Last Dragon,' with an Asian spirit, is an instant animated classic". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on June 30, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  102. ^ a b Duralde, Alonso (March 1, 2021). "'Raya and the Last Dragon' Film Review: Disney Animated Epic Offers a Dynamic, Complex Saga". TheWrap. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  103. ^ Rubins, Dan (March 1, 2021). "Review: Raya and the Last Dragon Is a Gorgeously Rendered Celebration of Hope". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on January 24, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  104. ^ Truitt, Brian. "Review: Disney fantasy 'Raya and the Last Dragon' features intense action, amazing Awkwafina". USA TODAY. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  105. ^ Fear, David (March 4, 2021). "'Raya and the Last Dragon' Is Disney Princess Empowerment as a Pan-Asian Pop Mash-Up". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  106. ^ Tallerico, Brian. "Raya and the Last Dragon movie review (2021)". RogerEbert.com. Archived from the original on April 19, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  107. ^ "'Raya and the Last Dragon' Is a Lush, Satisfying Action-Adventure". Vanity Fair. March 1, 2021. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  108. ^ Willmore, Alison (March 4, 2021). "Raya and the Last Dragon Is Slick and Sometimes Transcendent". Vulture. Archived from the original on August 15, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  109. ^ "'Raya and the Last Dragon' Is Disney's Best Animated Film Since 'Moana'". Observer. March 1, 2021. Archived from the original on June 1, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  110. ^ "Review: 'Raya and the Last Dragon,' featuring Disney's first Southeast Asian heroine, is a moving adventure". Los Angeles Times. March 1, 2021. Archived from the original on April 26, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  111. ^ a b Li, Shirley (March 6, 2021). "The Flawed Fantasy World of Raya and the Last Dragon". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on March 7, 2021. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  112. ^ a b Debruge, Peter (March 1, 2021). "'Raya and the Last Dragon' Review: Disney Woos Teens With Asian-Themed Toon". Variety. Archived from the original on October 14, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  113. ^ a b Brady, Tara (March 5, 2021). "Raya and the Last Dragon: Good fun with cute critters". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on July 3, 2022. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  114. ^ a b Romano, Aja (March 5, 2021). "Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon is a sumptuous fantasy — but it makes a mess of Southeast Asian culture". Vox. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  115. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (March 27, 2022). "Oscars: Full List of Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 28, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  116. ^ Urban, Sasha (January 25, 2022). "The Power of the Dog Sweeps Alliance of Women Film Journalists Awards". Variety. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  117. ^ Giardina, Carolyn (January 27, 2022). "Belfast, King Richard, No Time To Die Among American Cinema Editors Eddie Awards Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 27, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  118. ^ Tangcay, Jazz (March 5, 2022). "King Richard, Tick, Tick... Boom! Top ACE Eddie Awards". Variety. Archived from the original on March 6, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  119. ^ Giardina, Carolyn (March 12, 2022). "The Mitchells vs. the Machines Wins Big at Annie Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 13, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  120. ^ Tangcay, Jazz (January 24, 2022). "Art Directors Guild 2022 Nominations Headed by Nightmare Alley, Cruella, No Time to Die, In the Heights". Variety. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  121. ^ Giardina, Carolyn (March 5, 2022). "Dune, Nightmare Alley, No Time to Die Win Art Directors Guild Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 6, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  122. ^ Coates, Tyler (March 23, 2022). "Casting Society Artios Awards: Encanto, Don't Look Up, CODA and Zola Among Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 24, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  123. ^ "2021 BMI Film, TV & Visual Media Awards". Broadcast Music, Inc. Archived from the original on April 3, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  124. ^ Giardina, Carolyn (January 25, 2022). "Dune, West Side Story Among Cinema Audio Society's Sound Mixing Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 26, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  125. ^ Hipes, Patrick (March 19, 2022). "Cinema Audio Society Awards: Dune Wins Top Film Prize; Encanto, Yellowstone Also Score – Full Winners List". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 20, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  126. ^ Jackson, Angelique; Shanfeld, Ethan (March 13, 2022). "Critics Choice Awards 2022: The Power of the Dog, Ted Lasso, Succession Win Big (Full Winners List)". Variety. Archived from the original on March 14, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  127. ^ a b c d e f Dietz, Jason (October 21, 2021). "Best of 2021: Film Awards & Nominations Scorecard". Metacritic. Archived from the original on May 1, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  128. ^ Feinberg, Scott; Gajewski, Ryan (January 9, 2022). "The Power of the Dog, West Side Story Top Golden Globes in Private Ceremony Amid Ongoing Boycott". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 14, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  129. ^ Giardina, Carolyn (March 13, 2022). "Dune, Nightmare Alley, West Side Story Receive Sound Editors' Golden Reel Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 14, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  130. ^ Crist, Allison; Perez, Lexy (July 22, 2021). "Golden Trailer Awards: A Quiet Place: Part II, Black Widow Among Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 13, 2021. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  131. Hollywood Critics Association. Archived
    from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  132. ^ Vonder Haar, Peter (January 4, 2022). "The Power of the Dog Is Compelling Enough to Lead the 2021 Houston Film Critics Society Nominations". Houston Press. Archived from the original on January 4, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  133. ^ Vonder Haar, Peter (January 20, 2022). "Houston Film Critics Society Announces Their 15th Annual Award Winners". Houston Press. Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  134. ^ "IFMCA Award Nominations 2021". International Film Music Critics Association. February 3, 2022. Archived from the original on February 5, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  135. ^ Lewis, Hilary (February 25, 2022). "NAACP Image Awards: Black-ish, Colin in Black & White, Power Book II: Ghost Among Winners on Night 5 of Non-Televised Ceremonies". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  136. ^ Gajewski, Ryan (April 9, 2022). "Kids' Choice Awards: Spider-Man: No Way Home Wins Big; Dr. Jill Biden Speaks". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  137. ^ Coates, Tyler (December 7, 2021). "People's Choice Awards: Dwayne Johnson, Black Widow and Shang-Chi Among Top Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  138. ^ Donnelly, Matt (March 19, 2022). "CODA, Succession Take Top Prizes at Producers Guild Awards". Variety. Archived from the original on March 20, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  139. ^ Hipes, Patrick (March 1, 2022). "ReFrame Stamp Recipients Hit 28 In 2021 Including Oscar Nominees CODA, Power Of The Dog, West Side Story". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 9, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  140. ^ Hipes, Patrick (January 18, 2022). "VES Awards Nominations Led by Dune, Encanto, Loki". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  141. ^ Pedersen, Erik (March 8, 2022). "VES Awards: Dune & Encanto Lead with Four Wins Each; Foundation Tops TV – Full Winners List". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 9, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  142. ^ "Belfast Finds Everlasting Love with WAFCA Critics" (PDF). Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association. December 6, 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 6, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2023.

Works cited

External links