powerful
Text and art by ZANDER LEONG
A
princess
‘RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON’ REPRESENTS
F
IRST, YOU HEAR A “THUNK.” cinematography of “Raya” is smooth, ly malleable,” senior Charlize Nguyen, who Within seconds of “Raya and the sweeping and powerful. It tilts and turns identifies as Southeast Asian, says. “If you Last Dragon,” Disney’s latest an- with the landscape, jumps and jolts with expose kids to a lot of different people of imated movie, your jaw drops to the action. The filmmakers weren’t afraid to different races [and] ethnicities, I think that the floor. There’s a forgotten fountain, a use unorthodox angles, adding movement will make them more open-minded.” lush jungle, a red and majesty to In many ways, Raya embodies a blend afternoon sun. A already-stunning of strength, determination and empathy. strong protagonist A lot of what we see in scenes. She doesn’t sit around in despair when conveying forceBut it’s not things go wrong, but confronts problems the media impacts the ful messages. And a only the visuals with a logical mind and sharp sword. She’s beautiful backdrop norms that we hold ourthat add beauty to not afraid to be vulnerable either, and of culture and reprethe film. The mov- that makes her character much more real. selves to.” sentation that, while ie is filled with im- Through Raya, Tran’s voice is strong, clear missing vital pieces, — CHARLIZE NGUYEN, senior pactful messages, and filled with humanity. Every huff of exreaches new heights from the impor- ertion or breath between tears adds dimenfor Disney. tance of family to sion to her character that pulls the audience Released on March 5 in theaters and breaking century-old gender stereotypes. deeper into her story. on Disney+ for an additional fee, the film While Raya is a princess, that doesn’t “When you see a lot of Asians in the follows Raya, a warrior who sets out to find mean she floats around in fancy clothes media, we’re either foreign, or we’re seen the last remaining dragon in order to stop looking for love. Instead, she trains to be as hypersexualized,” sophomore Johannah evil forces from destroying her Southeast a warrior and guardSeah says. “ObAsian-inspired land called Kumandra. Fea- ian of a family artiviously Asian turing a cast of Asian voice actors including fact. And she’s not When you see a lot of women aren’t Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina and Daniel alone. The antago- Asians in the media, we’re some subhuman Dae Kim, the film is the first Disney movie nist of the movie is group — we’re to feature a Southeast Asian princess. Namari, the princess either foreign, or we’re still people. And of a neighboring seen as hypersexualized.” I think repreBeautiful in more than one way land. Like Raya, senting that ac— JOHANNAH SEAH, sophomore curately and efCompleted from homes during the she’s a warrior who’s pandemic, “Raya” presents a moving sto- on the path to lead fectively is going ry through stunning visuals. Whether it’s her people. The two collide when their to be so powerful for changing that disgustdust rumbling off the desert floor or rain goals clash, delivering a compelling mes- ing narrative.” trickling down a stone statue, the movie is sage about responsibility and individuality. packed with beautiful details that add a jolt “I think that the main thing is to get Creating from culture of life to the fictional world. kids into seeing people of different backThe movie draws from Southeast Asian As fluid as the water it captures, the grounds, because their perspectives are real- cultures and fantasy inspiration to weave an
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40 APRIL 2021
