Raya and The Last Dragon Blu-Ray Review

 

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, to track down the last dragon in order 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.

Video Quality:

The 1080p MPEG-AVC 2.39:1 aspect ration is stunning. Colors are accurate and bright but this causes the black levels to be a lighter shade of black and not a deep and inky black. The details however are stunning from textures of clothing, to hair and the water look extremely realistic. As always, another first-rate video transfer from Disney!

Audio Quality:

There is a 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio Track here. The dialogue takes center stage and is crisp and clear. The score from James Newton Howard plays dynamically across the channels. Sound effects and atmospheric sounds are subtle but overall this is a well done audio mix.

Bonus Features:

• An Introduction to “Us Again” – Director Zach Parrish takes you behind the scenes of the Walt Disney Animation Studios short.
• “Us Again” – An elderly man and his young-at-heart wife rekindle their passion for life on one magical night.
• Taste of Raya – Dine along with Kelly Marie Tran and the film’s creative team--virtually--over a Southeast Asian menu inspired by the countries that influenced the film as they discuss their experiences creating the world of Kumandra.
• Raya: Bringing it Home – When the global pandemic of 2020 hit, production of “Raya and the Last Dragon” moved to the houses of over 450 people. We open a window into their lives and learn how they overcame massive obstacles to make an animated feature from home.
• Martial Artists – Get a kick out of learning about the martial art forms and weapons used in the film as co-screenwriter Qui Nguyen and visual anthropologist Dr. S. Steve Arounsack share the inspiration behind the film’s action-packed elements.
• We are Kumandra – Meet members of the Southeast Asia Story Trust and discover the cultural influences that inspired the film...and how important this representation in a Disney animated film is to the people of the region.
• Outtakes – Step into the homes and behind the mics of the cast of “Raya and the Last Dragon” as they experience voice-over sessions in closets and shaky internet connections, which made recording this film unlike any other.
• Fun Facts & Easter Eggs – Take a look at some of the hidden surprises and behind-the-scenes secrets of “Raya and the Last Dragon.”
• The Story Behind the Storyboard with John Ripa – Co-Director John Ripa invites you to get an inside look at his thought process as he pitches a storyboard sequence from the film and talks about his amazing career with Disney Animation.
• Deleted Scenes:
  • Introduction – Head of Story Fawn Veerasunthorn introduces deleted scenes from “Raya and the Last Dragon.”
  • The Bridge – Raya confronts an early version of the Druun in this deleted storyboard sequence.
  • Escaping Namaari – See an early version sequence of an introduction to Namaari as an adult.
  • Dragon Blade – Discover an early version of Raya’s sword, when it used to have magical powers.
  • Meet Boun – Meet an early version of Boun before he was a chef and shrimp boat captain.
  • The Heart of the Dragon – Co-Director John Ripa introduces a deleted scene which brought the theme of hope into the film.
  
  

Overall:

Raya and The Last Dragon is a wonderful action-adventure fantasy film filled with humor and heart. A satisfying audio mix combined with a practically perfect video transfer along with some quality bonus material makes this blu-ray a must have to your collection. 

Raya and the Last Dragon hits stores on blu-ray on May 18th. 

*The review copy was supplied by Disney but the opinions expressed are my own*

“US AGAIN, ” THE FIRST NEW THEATRICAL SHORT FROM WALT DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS IN FIVE YEARS DEBUTS IN THEATERS WORLDWIDE WITH “RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON”

BURBANK, Calif. (February 15, 2021) - “Us Again,” a vibrant and original new theatrical animated short from director Zach Parrish that brings together dance, music, emotional storytelling and inspired animation, is set to debut exclusively in theaters worldwide beginning on March 5, playing on the same bill as Walt Disney Animation Studios’ (WDAS) newest animated feature, “Raya and the Last Dragon.”  The film is Disney Animation’s first new theatrical short since the 2016 release of “Inner Workings,” which accompanied “Moana” on the big screen.  “Us Again” is scheduled to make its streaming debut in June on Disney+.

 

Parrish is an eleven-year veteran of Disney Animation who served as head of animation on “Big Hero 6” and director of the Short Circuit film, “Puddles,” in addition to his numerous animation credits on features for the Studio.  Award-winning choreographers/dancers Keoneand Mari (featured performers on “World of Dance,” and renowned for their collaborations with such top talents as Justin Bieber and Billie Eilish), and acclaimed composer Pinar Toprak(“Captain Marvel”) brought their unique talents to this experimental and musical fantasy. The film is produced by Brad Simonsen (associate producer on “Big Hero 6,” “Zootopia” and “Ralph Breaks the Internet”), and executive produced by Jennifer Lee, chief creative officer for Walt Disney Animation Studios (WDAS).

 

Commenting on the announcement, WDAS President Clark Spencer said, “We’re thrilled to be premiering our first new theatrical short in five years, ‘Us Again,’ exclusively on the big screen alongside our incredible new feature, ‘Raya and the Last Dragon.’ Zach has tapped into elements from his personal life, and collaborated with the very best in the world of dance and music to create this very special film.  We are so proud of what they have accomplished and look forward to sharing it with movie theater goers in March, and then in June on Disney Plus.”

Lee added, “One of my priorities has been to bring back theatrical animated shorts and to give artists at our Studio an opportunity to explore new ideas.  ‘Us Again’ has so much spirit and energy, and pushes the boundaries of our short form storytelling.”

Set in a vibrant city pulsating with rhythm and movement, an elderly man and his young-at-heart wife rekindle their youthful passion for life and each other on one magical night.  The years fade away as the joy of dancing propels them across the exciting cityscape of their youth and revives fond memories and ambitions.  “Us Again” is told entirely without dialogue and set to an original funk and soul musical score reminiscent of the mid-60s.

“Working with Keone and Mari was the key to making this film work,” recalls Parrish.  “From the very beginning, I knew that I wanted this film to be music driven.  And I felt that dance is a universal language that can translate into any culture.  I loved that their dance style felt like it was made for animation, and that there was this genuine, honest and organic connection between them because they were actually a married couple in real life.  The story itself was inspired by my own grandparents, who faced getting older in different ways, along with my own physical limitations in playing sports resulting from getting older and injuries.  I started thinking about how someone might look at the world differently as things change and they grow older.”

 

Simonsen adds, “It was fascinating to see the process and the close collaboration between the music, the choreography and Zach’s vision for layout and animation.  The film has a timeless and life-affirming message and an emotional resonance that is uniquely entertaining.  Zach’s love of dance and animation, and his willingness to take chances as a filmmaker, made this a true labor of love.”

 

Keone observes, “Mari and I have always dreamed of having our particular style of movement being incorporated within animation.  Our style is very new and young and we were like kids in a candy store working with Zach and the team to capture it and see our movements realized through the characters in the film.”

 

“From the first time we saw the storyboards, I was already tearing up,” adds Mari.  “The characters were easy to relate to and to empathize with.  As a married couple, we tried to imagine being their age, and we also thought about our own grandparents in bringing the characters to life through dance.”

 

A SPECIAL LOOK AT “RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON” DURING THE BIG GAME

 

Today, during the Big Game, viewers got a thrilling, special look at  Walt Disney Animation Studios’ epic fantasy-adventure “Raya and the Last Dragon.” This special look is available now to share with your readers!

 

Advance theater tickets and Premier Access on Disney+ pre-orders for “Raya and the Last Dragon”  are available here:

 

Advance theater tickets for “Raya and the Last Dragon” in select theaters are now on sale at http://bit.ly/RayaTix

 

Pre-order “Raya and the Last Dragon” Premier Access on Disney+ for $29.99 at http://disneyplus.com/raya

NEW “RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON” POSTER AND TICKETS & DISNEY+ PRE-ORDER NOW AVAILABLE

 

Starting today, fans can pre-order Premier Access on Disney+ and purchase movie tickets to Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Raya and the Last Dragon” to be among the first to stream or watch the film in select theaters on Friday, March 5. 

 

For the first time ever, Disney+ is offering pre-orders for Premier Access to “Raya and the Last Dragon” for an additional one-time fee of [$29.99] on disneyplus.com. Once subscribers get Premier Access to the movie, they can watch it as many times as they want on any platform where Disney+ is available, with an active Disney+ subscription. 

 

Pre-order Premier Access on Disney+ for $29.99: disneyplus.com/raya

 

Fans can also purchase advance theater tickets through Fandango to see the movie on the big screen in select cinemas.

 

Advance theater tickets now on sale at http://bit.ly/RayaTix

NEW TRAILER & POSTER DEBUT FOR DISNEY’S “RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON”

 

Today, Walt Disney Animation Studios launched a thrilling new trailer for the fantasy-adventure “Raya and the Last Dragon.” 

 

“Raya and the Last Dragon” features an outstanding voice cast, including Kelly Marie Tran as the voice of the intrepid warrior Raya; Awkwafina as the legendary dragon, Sisu; Gemma Chan as Raya’s nemesis, Namaari; Daniel Dae Kim as Raya’s visionary father, Benja; Sandra Oh as Namaari’s powerful mother, Virana; Benedict Wong as Tong, a formidable giant; Izaac Wang as Boun, a 10-year-old entrepreneur; Thalia Tran as the mischievous toddler Little Noi; Alan Tudyk as Tuk Tuk, Raya’s best friend and trusty steed; Lucille Soong as Dang Hu, the leader of the land of Talon; Patti Harrison as the chief of the Tail land; and Ross Butler as chief of the Spine land.

"Raya and the Last Dragon” takes us on an exciting, epic journey to the fantasy world of Kumandra, where humans and dragons lived together long ago in harmony. But when an evil force threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. Now, 500 years later, that same evil has returned and it’s up to a lone warrior, Raya, to track down the legendary last dragon to restore the fractured land and its divided people. However, along her journey, she’ll learn that it’ll take more than a dragon to save the world—it’s going to take trust and teamwork as well.  

 

Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada are directing, with Paul Briggs and John Ripa co-directing. Osnat Shurer and Peter Del Vecho are the producers, and Qui Nguyen and Adele Lim are the writers on the project. 

 

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Raya and the Last Dragon’' will be available on Disney+ with Premier Access in most Disney+ markets, at the same time as it is released in theaters on March 5, 2021. Premier Access for the title will be priced at $29.99.

 

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DISNEY’S “RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON” NEW TRAILER AND POSTER

 

Check out the exciting, new trailer for Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Raya and the Last Dragon,” featuring Kelly Marie Tran as the voice of Raya, a lone warrior whose mission is to track down the legendary last dragon in a bid to save Kumandra and unite its lands.

Long ago, in the fantasy world of Kumandra, humans and dragons lived together in harmony. But when an evil force threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. Now, 500 years later, that same evil has returned and it’s up to a lone warrior, Raya, to track down the legendary last dragon to restore the fractured land and its divided people. However, along her journey, she’ll learn that it’ll take more than a dragon to save the world—it’s going to take trust and teamwork as well. From directors Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada, co-directors Paul Briggs and John Ripa, producers Osnat Shurer and Peter Del Vecho, and featuring the voices of Kelly Marie Tran as Raya and Awkwafina as the last dragon Sisu, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Raya and the Last Dragon” opens in U.S. theaters on March 12, 2021.

DISNEY’S “RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON” FIRST-LOOK IMAGE

 

Today, Walt Disney Animation Studios unveiled the first look at warrior Raya and her trusty steed Tuk Tuk, from the upcoming  “Raya and the Last Dragon.” 

 

It was also revealed that Kelly Marie Tran will voice Raya, joining Awkwafina as the voice of the dragon, Sisu. 

 

Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada are directing, with Paul Briggs and John Ripa co-directing. Osnat Shurer and Peter Del Vecho are the producers, and Qui Nguyen and Adele Lim are writers on the project. 

 

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Raya and the Last Dragon” opens in U.S. theaters on March 12, 2021.