Walt Disney Animation Studios’ epic adventure “Raya and the Last Dragon” is now available on digital, 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on May 18.

Fans of the film can enjoy never-before-seen bonus footage and deleted scenes in stunning Ultra HD quality and Dolby Audio.

To celebrate #DisneyRaya home release, I'm sharing these fun facts about the film for families to enjoy.

Disney Raya and the Last Dragon Fun Facts

CROWDS OF KUMANDRA

The five Lands of Kumandra are distinct and filled with their own unique cultures and creatures. To fill this fantasy world, the Crowds Animation department animated more than 72,000 individual elements, including 18,987 human characters and 35,749 non-human characters

FEMALE-DRIVEN TECHNICAL TEAM

The film boasts an all-female technical leadership team, which oversees all technology needs for the film, ensuring the artists have the tools and technical resources they need to achieve the directors’ vision. The team was led by Technical Supervisor Kelsey Hurley, and Associate Technical Supervisors Gabriela Hernandez and Shweta Viswanathan.

SOUP WITH HEART

Raya’s father, Benja, shows her how to make a bowl of soup inspired by Thailand’s Tom Yum soup. He even shows her—and the audience—how to combine the real-world ingredients of lemongrass, lime leaves and palm sugar to create Kumandra’s own warming dish.

The scene was inspired by head of story Fawn Veerasunthorn’s own experience in a Thai cooking class, when she realized the harmonius combination of sweet, sour and spicy flavors could reflect Benja’s vision for the Lands of Kumandra to coexist in the same beautiful way.


NEW APPROACH TO COSTUME DESIGN

Inspired by garments found throughout the cultures of Southeast Asia, the costumes in “Raya and the Last Dragon” used draping-based designs rather than the pattern-based designs used in previous films.

• Functionality was a key aspect of the costume design, so the teams created breathable draping styles inspired by the sabai top and sampot pant found in Laos, Cambodia and Thailand.

• Numerous fabrics were used to create the distinct styles found in each of the five Lands of Kumandra. In addition to cottons, linens and leathers, ten different varieties of rich, woven silk and brocade were used—many patterned in a style inspired by the Indonesian technique of batik.

• Raya’s hat includes dragon-scale detail and rises to a peak shaped as an homage to the stupas found at temples throughout Southeast Asia. Lao visual anthropologist Dr. Soulinhakhath Steve Arounsack consulted on the hat’s design.

FIGHTING WITH STYLE

Combat sequences throughout the film were inspired by martial art forms specific to the cultures of Southeast Asia, and were created through collaboration between the film’s co-writer Qui Nguyen (credited for additional fight reference choreography), the Character Animation team, and fight reference choreographer Maggie MacDonald.

• Nguyen recommended his longtime collaborator MacDonald to the filmmakers because of her expertise choreographing combat for film, television, video games and the stage; as well as to provide a strong female fighter for the Character Animation team to reference.

• Raya’s fighting style was inspired by Pencak Silat from Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as weapons modeled from Kali and Arnis martial arts found in the Philippines. Her distinctive sword was inspired by the keris, a blade that is revered in countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia.

• Namaari’s fighting style was inspired by Muay Thai kickboxing and Krabi Krabong configurations from Thailand.

Synopsis

Long ago, 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.

Featuring 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.

Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon | Official Trailer


Bonus Features* (bonus features vary by product and retailer)

• 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.

Screenplay by:Qui Nguyen, Adele Lim
Directors: Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada
Co-Directors: Paul Briggs and John Ripa
Producers: Osnat Shurer and Peter Del Vecho

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