Film

Raya and the Last Dragon

Name: Raya and the Last Dragon
Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Family
Released: 2021
Cast: Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina, Gemma Chan, Alan Tudyk, Izaac Wang

Raya and the Last Dragon is a gorgeously animated Southeast Asian-inspired adventure about a warrior searching for the last dragon to heal a fractured world. It's a rousing quest film with genuine humour, stunning action sequences, and real stakes alongside its warmth. Perfect for families who want spectacle and heart without talking down to anyone.

TMDb rating

3.9

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you love animated adventures built on prickly friendships, lush world-building and set pieces that feel hand-painted, with a heroine who is more stubborn than sweet.

Skip it if you want a light, quick family outing, since the middle stretches of the journey can feel episodic and the emotional beats land more heavily than the jokes.

What it asks of you: It runs about an hour and forty-five minutes and spends most of that time on the road, so settle in for a patient, wide-screen journey rather than a tight plot.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

How to Train Your Dragon2010

A dragon-and-human bonding story that nails the emotional core: two outsiders learning to trust each other. The aerial sequences are breathtaking, the humour works for actual adults, and it builds something genuinely moving.

But The sequels got bloated and the franchise wore out its welcome. If you've had enough dragon content, this won't convert you.

Moana2016

Same DNA: a solo hero on a quest across stunning, varied landscapes, discovering strength through companionship. The animation is sumptuous, the mythology is lived-in rather than performed, and it trusts its audience to handle real stakes.

But If you find the Disney musical formula exhausting, the song structure here won't surprise you.

Avatar: The Last Airbender2005

An animated series that builds an entire world across three seasons with genuine character arcs, high-stakes storytelling, and action that matters. It proves animation can sustain complex narrative for forty-one episodes and still earn its ending.

But You'll hear it's perfect and want to manage expectations accordingly. It's very good; it's not a religious experience.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Raya and the Last Dragon

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Promare2019

Both are essentially about fractured groups learning to work together through an unexpected partnership, told through stunning, kinetic action sequences.

A Japanese anime film about two opposing forces—one trying to stop disaster, one causing it—learning they need each other. The action is visceral, the animation is a fireworks show, and it has Raya's core tension: enemies forced into alliance.

But It's loud, conceptually dense, and will overwhelm you if you're not expecting an assault of colour and noise. The plot is secondary to the spectacle.

Tomb Raider2018

Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft: a capable, scrappy action hero on a globe-hopping quest to solve an ancient mystery. It respects the intelligence of its protagonist and doesn't bog the adventure down with unnecessary plotting.

But The pacing drags in the second act and some set pieces feel obligatory rather than earned.

The Dragon Prince2018

An animated series about fractured lands, divided peoples, and the slow work of building trust across old wounds. Visually inventive, genuinely funny, with real character development and surprising emotional depth.

But The first season's animation budget shows; it improves, but some might bounce off the earlier look.

Kubo and the Two Strings2016

Stop-motion adventure with an Eastern aesthetic, stunning hand-crafted visuals, and a story about the power of stories themselves. It's sincere without ever becoming precious, magical without losing emotional weight.

But The pacing is deliberate and won't satisfy anyone hunting pure spectacle-driven action.

The Jungle Book2016

Favreau's live-action adaptation understands that a good quest film needs spectacular landscape moments and a compelling guide. Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson as animal voices anchor the story beautifully.

But It's visually crowded and sometimes prioritizes technical wow over clarity. The runtime drags occasionally.

Coco2017

A family adventure set across two worlds with stunning visual worldbuilding and genuine stakes wrapped in humour and heart. It honours its cultural specificity while telling a universal story about connection and legacy.

But The central plot twist is visible from orbit if you've seen a few animated films.

Atlantis: The Lost Empire2001

A pulp adventure with a diverse crew, practical action sequences, and a brisk pace that respects your time. Underrated fun with real charm and a willingness to let things be weird.

But The animation budget shows its age and the plot takes some eyebrow-raising turns. It's janky in a dated way.

Arcane: League of Legends2021

Both explore how division between communities isn't simple and how individuals on opposite sides might have more in common than their circumstances allow.

An animated series (League of Legends adaptation, but you don't need to know that) about two sisters on opposite sides of a divided city. It's visually inventive, emotionally devastating, and proves animation can handle moral complexity and genuine tragedy.

But The tone is much darker and more adult than Raya. If you're seeking family-friendly warmth, this will hit differently.

Warriors of the Wind1984

Raya is spiritual heir to this template: a female warrior hero whose actual mission is reconciliation and understanding in a world that's been taught to fear and fragment.

A 1984 anime film—a lone warrior navigates a devastated world trying to broker peace between warring factions. It's visually extraordinary for its era, genuinely thrilling, and built on the premise that understanding is harder and more important than victory.

But The animation is hand-drawn and shows its age; the pacing is measured, not propulsive; it's philosophically dense in ways that slow the plot.