Disney Reaches New Heights for 3D Animation with ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’ Teaser
The first trailer SHOWCASes AN INCREDIBLE VISUAL FEAST FOR Disney’s UPCOMING FANTASY TALE.
Despite the COVID-19 outbreak forcing the creators of “Raya and the Last Dragon” into working remotely since virtually the beginning of its production, the team of 300+ people behind Walt Disney Animation Studios’ 59th film don’t seem to have had their artistry hampered one bit. The reigning champions of animation released the first teaser for “Raya” on Wednesday, giving audiences a first taste of some of the most stunning 3D animation in film to date while avoiding significant plot reveals.
The first half of the teaser depicts a “Tomb Raider”-esque sequence where a young Raya (Kelly Marie Tran) evades traps in a dark temple with the assistance of her sidekick, Tuk Tuk, an adorable armadillo-like creature who is tiny enough to pass through each trap without being caught in them. The trailer implies that this sequence, as well as a subsequent fight between Raya and a masked assailant, are part of her training.
It’s in the second half where the impeccable work of the animation team really gets to shine, featuring a now-adult Raya navigating gorgeous vistas of the desert that evoke historical epics set in the Middle East. Everything is rendered and animated with loving detail, right down to the finest particles of sand that blow past Raya in every shot. Also teased is the film’s 2.39:1 aspect ratio - a first for Disney’s animated films - that further accentuates the cinematic quality of the animation.
Within the teaser is a voiceover from Raya that gives very vague, basic information about the story. Showing that the film takes place over a significant amount of time - Raya having grown up, and Tuk Tuk having grown so large that Raya rides him across the land - is arguably the biggest plot reveal in the entire teaser.
Interestingly, the teaser doesn’t appear to feature Awkwafina’s character - a water dragon who is supposedly the last of her kind - in any capacity, nor does it contain any spoken part other than that of Kelly Marie Tran. Disney have instead used the teaser for “Raya” to showcase what seems to be a new frontier for their animation team, while also endearing us to its titular hero in less than two minutes.
“Raya” teams up Don Hall (“Moana”) and Carlos López Estrada (“Blindspotting”) as co-directors. The screenplay was co-written by Adele Lim (“Crazy Rich Asians”) and Qui Nguyen in his feature film screenwriting debut. Osnat Shurer and Peter Del Vecho are credited as producers.
“Raya and the Last Dragon” was originally slated for release this year, but due to delays caused by COVID-19 as well as Pixar’s “Soul” being pushed to Christmas day, the film is now set to release on March 12, 2021. Be sure to check out the first teaser below.