Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon is accused of failing to hire actors from Southeast Asian countries which inspired the film and ‘putting the entire region in a blender’
- Disney’s upcoming animation Raya and the Last Dragon has divided opinion
- Official trailer for the film was released by the American moviemaker yesterday
- The movie follows a warrior, Raya, as she tracks down the legendary last dragon
Disney’s upcoming animation Raya and the Last Dragon – which has been inspired by Southeast Asian cultures – has divided opinion after ‘hiring so little actors from the region’.
The official trailer for the film, which follows a warrior, Raya (played by Kelly Marie Tran), as she tracks down the legendary last dragon, was released by the American moviemaker yesterday.
But while many viewers shared their excitement for the forthcoming animation, labelling the sneak peek ‘wonderful’, others shared their frustration about the film’s casting.
Asian American celebrities like Awkwafina, Sandra Oh, as well as British actress Gemma Chan lend their popular voices to the animation. But critics pointed out that Kelly Marie is one of the few Southeast Asian actors in the film.
One person wrote on Twitter: ‘A friendly reminder that actual Southeast Asians are not thrilled for Raya and the Last Dragon. They basically put the whole region in a blender and hired so little Southeast Asian actors for the roles. It sucks, it feels like Disney didn’t care to respect us.’
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Disney’s upcoming animation Raya and the Last Dragon (pictured) – which has been inspired by Southeast Asian cultures – has divided opinion after ‘hiring so little actors from the region’.
The official trailer for the film (above), which follows a warrior, Raya (played by Kelly Marie Tran), as she tracks down the legendary last dragon, was released by the American moviemaker yesterday
She added: ‘Each country under Southeast Asia is very unique. You cannot walk up to us and say a person from Thailand is the same as a person from Indonesia.
‘We speak different languages and have different customs. This movie represents no one in particular.’
Another said: ‘I am actually very conflicted about the new Raya and the Last Dragon casting. I love all those cast members.
‘But basically everyone, except Kelly Marie Tran is East Asian. Imagine how big it would be they actually casted Southeast Asian actors. Southeast Asian actors are sorely lacking in Hollywood.’
A third added: ‘So, I loved everything about Raya and the Last Dragon with the exception of the casting. Disney’s #RayaandTheLastDragon has an East Asian problem.
But while many viewers shared their excitement for the forthcoming animation, labelling the sneak peek ‘wonderful’, others shared their frustration about the film’s casting (above)
‘Listen, I’m all for Asians playing other Asian ethnicities, but the roles of Southeast Asians have been little to none. With #RayaAndTheLastDragon celebrating Southeast Asia, I feel like it’d be a huge moment to have Southeast Asian actors being able to play their own heritage.’
MailOnline has contacted Disney for comment.
Southeast Asia is composed of eleven countries, including Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei and Vietnam.
However, it wasn’t all negative reviews following the trailer release. Others expressed their excitement for Southeast Asian culture to be represented in Hollywood films.
One Twitter user wrote: ‘This looks wonderful! The architectural details! Though Disney has a particular style of faces, there are little facial characteristics that looks like faces I grew up with.
‘Yay for little kids that get to see ourselves represented in Disney,’ the social media user added.
Asian American celebrities like Awkwafina, Sandra Oh, as well as British actress Gemma Chan lend their popular voices to the animation. But critics pointed out that Kelly Marie is one of the few Southeast Asian actors in the film (above)
However, it wasn’t all negative reviews following the trailer release. Others (above) expressed their excitement for Southeast Asian culture to be represented in Hollywood films
Another said: As a Filipina-American, I am heavily emotional over this trailer for Raya and The Last Dragon. I am so proud of this representation.
‘Using Arnis, wearing the salakot, holding the Moro sword… the different colors on their people. I’m crying. I am so proud.’
A third added: ‘Omg we’re finally getting a Southeast Asian Disney princess. Come through representation.’
Directed by Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada, Raya and The Last Dragon takes place in the fantasy world of Kumandra, where humans and dragons lived together in harmony a long time ago.
But when an evil force threatens the land, the dragons end up sacrificing themselves to save humanity.
Directed by Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada, Raya and The Last Dragon (above) takes place in the fantasy world of Kumandra, where humans and dragons lived together in harmony a long time ago
But when an evil force threatens the land, the dragons end up sacrificing themselves to save humanity. Now, 500 years later, that same evil has returned and it’s up to the lone warrior, Raya (pictured right), to track down the legendary last dragon and restore the fractured land and its divided people
Now, 500 years later, that same evil has returned and it’s up to the lone warrior, Raya, to track down the legendary last dragon and restore the fractured land and its divided people.
But along the journey, Raya learns that it will take more than a dragon to save the world, including trust and teamwork.
The computer-animated adventure fantasy is the 59th film produced by the studio and will drop on March 5, 2021.
With her voiced role, Tran makes history as the first Southeast Asian actress to lead an animated Disney movie.
The film had been scheduled for release in November of 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic the date was pushed back with the hopes that the delay would allow for it to be seen in theaters.
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