Who doesn’t love an oddly grown-up baby teaming up with a bunch of monkeys to commit crimes? If that’s got you interested, then check out the trailer for Disney’s upcoming Raya and the Last Dragon, the studio’s next big animated film. The movie is coming to Disney+ and theaters, but on Disney+ it’s taking a cue from Mulan and costing subscribers an extra $29.99 under Disney+’s Premier Access programming.
There is plenty to say about Disney’s decision to charge extra for its theatrical-release films on Disney+, especially after WarnerMedia announced that all of its films would be landing on HBO Max simultaneously in 2021, but what can’t be denied is how stunning this film looks. A mix between a Disney family film and a kung-fu movie, the animation just looks incredible with stunning characters and a world you want to dive into. While the film is promoted in connection with Moana and Frozen and clearly stars a bad ass female “princess,” it won’t be a musical like most of Disney’s animated fare.
The story revolves around Raya as she looks for the last dragon living in the world after monsters called the Druun return to threaten the world. The Drunn were defeated centuries ago when all the dragons in the world sacrificed themselves, but now it’s up to Raya, voiced by Kelly Marie Tran; the dragon Sisu, voiced by Awkafina; and a ragtag group of heroes to save the world. Sandra Oh and Gemma Chan are also in the voice cast.
Raya and the Last Dragon will release in theaters and on Disney+ on March 5, marking one of the few major films to release in the first quarter of the year as studios flee to what they hope are more profitable times after COVID-19.
