For Raya for screenwriters Adele Lim and Qui Nguyen, the goal was more than portraying an epic journey full of dragon magic and warrior princesses. The duo wanted to share tales from which the audience can learn, thanks to the inspiring and powerful heroines that come in human and dragon form.
Raya (voiced by Kelly Marie Tran) is more of a lonely warrior than a classic princess. She prefers to brandish a sword rather than start singing. After losing her homeland to the Druun, she decided to find the only surviving dragon (Sisu de Awkwafina) to bring harmony back to Kumandra.
Lim, a Malaysian-born American screenwriter from Crazy Rich Asians fame, and Nguyen, a Vietnamese-American playwright, share how it was valuable for them to create a character that they would have admired in their youth.
“I grew up as a huge Stan Lee fan and always wanted to make superheroes and the chance to make the superhero that really looks like mine and Adele’s son a dream come true,” said Qui Nguyen The Hollywood Reporter.
“I would have given my eyes to a film like this growing up in Malaysia, and it is a film that my daughter, who is like a little ninja warrior, would love to see,” adds Lim.
Lim also notes how it would be culturally relevant for Raya, as well as for other female characters in the film, to have such strength and perseverance.
“In Southeast Asia, there is a great tradition of female leaders, military and war leaders and leaders of their kingdoms,” says Lim. “And also the stories of Nagas and dragons, especially with water. In Malaysia, we have the warrior Tun Fatimah , and we have stories of Naga Tasik Chini, who is the dragon of Lake Chini. Nagas and strong females are present within many cultures in Southeast Asia, so we knew these were topics that would really resonate within the film. “
As for Raya’s formidable opponent, Namaari (voiced by Gemma Chan), who is a rival princess of Fang, Nguyen explains that he has always been interested in villains whom one could “sympathize” – like Killmonger of Black Panther. “You understand their circumstances and you’re like, ‘Oh, if their philosophy changed a little bit, they would be the heroes of the film,'” says Nguyen.
The writer observes the Raya and Namaari are similar in many ways.
“The only difference between [Raya and Namaari] is that they had the same prejudices, they had the same responsibilities to take care of their countries, “says Nguyen.” Raya has Benja, his father, and also knows Sisu. If Namaari had met Sisu first, this film could have been just the opposite. Namaari could be trying to simplify the kingdoms and having to become Raya. So, it was really the journey of two kindred spirits, two people who wanted to be friends, but because of the responsibilities they had, they thought that the only way to be successful was to fight against each other. And the journey of this film was really about them discovering that they could do better together than apart. “
What helps Raya and Namaari to abandon their prejudices is a peculiar dragon that is much good at swimming – Sisu. Lighting up while discussing the legendary water dragon, Lim and Nguyen share how the film’s “last dragon” was “probably one of the most difficult characters to decipher”.
“It was a constant evolution,” says Lim. “We always knew that she would be peculiar and eccentric. But there was a lot that the character had to do too, because inspired by Southeast Asia, the Nagas and dragons are that god. They are auspicious. and bring generosity and water and life to the land. So, in fact, behind this incredible mood, there is also this wisdom hidden for her … Sisu is able to reconnect you to what is joyful. “
Sisu’s ability to help Raya and Namaari see the good in humanity and the benefits of the community opens up one of the film’s exciting conclusions. Kumandra is fragmented and fighting because people no longer trust each other and each region despises the others because of their differences.
“Even though Kumandra is this fantasy land, the problems that [Raya] that you’re facing are basically the problems that we’re facing right now. Any child can look around the world and see that we are divided, “says Lim.
It was important for Lim and Nguyen to ensure that Raya’s journey was not fixed as easily as a magical dragon showing up and all the world’s problems being resolved immediately.
“The dragon is a metaphor for really being able to inspire that spark in you, and you recognize that spark in someone else,” says Lim. “This act of reaching out, this act of trust, is not a simple and unique act. You have to keep doing it, even if you can be betrayed by someone. Even if you can lose everything that is special and dear to you. you have to keep getting up and extending your hand, because that is the only way to get through this crazy world together. And that is the big lesson that I hope children will see. “
Raya and the Last Dragon‘S debut comes amid the one – year anniversary of the new coronavirus pandemic and the increase in hate crimes against the Asian community. With how divisive the world feels now, Lim and Nguyen agree that the film can offer a much-needed call to unity, while offering more visibility to the Southeast Asian community.
“If you don’t see your story on the screen, it’s sometimes easy for some people to feel invisible,” says Lim. “My hope with Raya and ideally more films like this is that the world sees us as the rich, textured and varied people that we are. That is not an exaggeration and should not be an anomaly. That this is the world. Once you know something and bring it to your heart, it feels less awkward, less awkward. “
Nguyen adds that, although the focus of Raya it was first of all “making an epic story about heroes and trust and unity”, to possibly “adding an ingredient for healing is an incredible gift that we can give now.”
Raya and the Last Dragon is available on Disney + and in theaters.