Raya and the Last Dragon

Raya and the Last Dragon
Theatrical release poster
Directed by
Screenplay by
Story by
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
company
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 comedy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. It was directed by Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada, and written by Qui Nguyen and Adele Lim, and stars the voices of Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina, Izaac Wang, Gemma Chan, Daniel Dae Kim, and Benedict Wong. The film's plot follows the warrior princess Raya as she seeks the fabled last dragon, Sisu, 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 simultaneously on the streaming platform Disney+ for customers with Premier Access. The film was twice delayed from its November 2020 release date due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The film became the third-most-streamed film of 2021 and grossed $130.4 million worldwide. The film received positive reviews from critics and was nominated for several accolades, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature.