Raya and the Last Dragon

Name: Raya and the Last Dragon - Christian Parent's Review
Item: Raya and the Last Dragon
Rating: 2
Author: StoryScanner

Here's what we found in Raya and the Last Dragon. Every family is different — get a report that reflects yours.

Screen for YOUR family

General Review

Parent's Guide to Raya and the Last Dragon

Raya and the Last Dragon is an animated fantasy action film that takes viewers to the mythical land of Kumandra. The story centers on Raya, a warrior princess, who embarks on a perilous quest to find the legendary last dragon and unite the fractured tribes of her world. Her mission is to retrieve the scattered pieces of a magical gem, the only power capable of stopping the monstrous Druun from turning all living beings into stone and plunging Kumandra into eternal darkness. Inspired by Southeast Asian cultures, the film weaves an epic tale of adventure and self-discovery. The film is generally recommended for audiences aged 8 and above, primarily due to its portrayal of fantasy action violence and some intense thematic elements. It delivers a visually stunning narrative with a strong female protagonist, emphasizing themes of trust, unity, and forgiveness. While lauded for its animation and positive messages, the blending of diverse cultural elements has been a point of discussion.

Things to Consider

Medium6

LGBTQ & Gender IdentityViolenceWitchcraft & OccultScary & Intense ContentDisrespect & RebellionAnti-Christian Themes

Low3

Romance and Sexual ContentProfanitySubstance Use

Medium6

LGBTQ & Gender Identity

The film does not explicitly confirm any LGBTQ characters or relationships. However, the voice actress for Raya, Kelly Marie Tran, has indicated her personal belief that Raya is gay and voiced the character with romantic feelings towards Namaari in mind. This interpretation has resonated within fan communities, leading to discussions about an implied romantic subtext between the two female leads.

Kelly Marie Tran, the voice of Raya, stated in interviews that she played Raya as if there were romantic feelings between Raya and Namaari. Fan communities and content creators have discussed the potential romantic subtext between Raya and Namaari, noting "brief handholds, shoulder touches, and sparkly eyes" between the two characters as evidence for an implied relationship, despite no official confirmation from Disney.

Violence

The film features frequent animated violence, including martial arts combat sequences and battles against the Druun. The Druun are dark, smoky spirits that turn living beings to stone, which is depicted as a form of death and causes significant loss. Fight scenes are choreographed with weapons like swords and staffs, but generally without graphic blood.

Raya and Namaari engage in several martial arts combat sequences with swords, staffs, and hand-to-hand combat, including a significant sword and fist fight where Raya collapses. The Druun are depicted as evil, smoky spirits that turn living beings, including Raya's father, Chief Benja, and ultimately many people including Raya's companions, to stone upon touch. This is presented as a traumatic and widespread form of loss.

Witchcraft & Occult

The story is set in a fantasy world with mystical dragons and a powerful Dragon Gem. Dragons possess various magical abilities, such as glowing, shapeshifting, and controlling fog, which are portrayed as inherent to their nature and benevolent. This magic is a central element of the world's mythology and is used for good against an evil force.

Scary & Intense Content

The film contains intense and potentially frightening elements, primarily through the antagonists, the Druun. These shadowy, amorphous creatures instantly turn living beings to stone, creating a constant sense of dread and loss. Several scenes depict characters facing this threat, including Raya witnessing her father's petrification, which can be upsetting for younger viewers.

The Druun are constantly present as a threat, appearing as purple and black smoky masses that instantly turn anything they touch to stone, which is equivalent to death in the story. Their appearances are often accompanied by loud, suspenseful music. Raya witnesses her father, Chief Benja, turn to stone from the Druun, and later, Raya's companions also face petrification, creating intense emotional moments.

Disrespect & Rebellion

The film's central conflict revolves around a profound societal breakdown of trust and unity among the five tribes of Kumandra, leading to animosity and conflict. Raya's personal journey is shaped by a deep-seated distrust stemming from a childhood betrayal by Namaari. While the film showcases acts of defiance and suspicion, its ultimate message is about overcoming these divisions through forgiveness and rebuilding trust.

Raya's central conflict stems from a profound distrust of others, particularly Namaari, following Namaari's betrayal that led to the shattering of the Dragon Gem and the return of the Druun. This distrust drives much of Raya's initial solitary quest. The film depicts the long-standing animosity and division among the five tribes of Kumandra, where leaders and people refuse to trust each other, leading to conflict and the re-emergence of the Druun. This societal disrespect for unity is a core plot point.

Anti-Christian Themes

The film presents a non-Christian, pagan worldview rooted in Southeast Asian mythology, centered on magical dragons and a powerful gem as the source of life and solutions for Kumandra's problems. It is not explicitly anti-Christian but features a distinct spiritual framework that differs from Christian beliefs, with a focus on trust in people and mystical forces rather than God.

The film's spiritual framework is based on the mythology of dragons and their magical powers, particularly the Dragon Gem, as the source of life and protection for Kumandra. This presents a polytheistic-like fantasy spirituality. Movieguide explicitly identifies the film as having a "strong Non-Christian, pagan worldview" centered on "mystical dragons and trust in people rather than trust in God."

Low3

Romance and Sexual Content

The film prioritizes themes of trust, friendship, and unity over romantic relationships. There is an absence of explicit sexual content, nudity (with one minor exception), or suggestive dialogue. The narrative focuses on Raya's journey to restore her world and heal divisions.

Profanity

Reviews and content advisories indicate a general absence of coarse language or profanity in the film. The dialogue is kept clean and appropriate for its target audience, aligning with typical Disney animated feature standards.

Substance Use

There is no depiction of characters engaging in alcohol consumption, drug use, or smoking. The film does not feature any illegal substances or scenes that promote or normalize substance abuse. Mentions of 'drinking' in external fan contexts refer to non-alcoholic beverages.

Want these personalized to YOUR family?

Raya and the Last Dragon presents several core themes that resonate with, and at times parallel, biblical values, alongside elements that require discernment for Christian parents. The central messages of the film emphasize the paramount importance of trust, unity, and forgiveness in a fractured world. Raya's journey to restore Kumandra directly reflects the brokenness caused by human distrust and division, aligning with Christian understandings of humanity's fallen state and the need for reconciliation. Characters like Raya and Sisu consistently advocate for extending trust and offering forgiveness, even after repeated betrayals, which mirrors Christian calls to love and forgive others, sometimes even those who have wronged us. Raya herself evolves from a suspicious and guarded warrior to one who learns the necessity of vulnerability and teamwork, demonstrating moral growth rewarded by the film's narrative. While the movie does not present an explicitly Christian worldview, it leans towards a transcendent view where collective human virtue—particularly trust and selfless love—is the ultimate power to overcome a great spiritual evil (the Druun). The consequences of vice, such as Namaari's initial deception, are clearly depicted through the suffering of Kumandra, though the film ultimately rewards her for choosing virtue and redemption. Redemption themes are strongly present, with the dragons themselves embodying sacrifice to save humanity from the Druun, and Raya's ultimate act of selfless trust in Namaari serving as a pivotal moment of grace that allows for the world's restoration. This profound emphasis on self-sacrifice and forgiveness offers powerful discussion points for Christian families regarding Christ's ultimate sacrifice and the redemptive power of grace. Family values are portrayed through the loving relationship between Raya and her empathetic father, Chief Benja, highlighting the positive influence of parental guidance. Conversely, Namaari's more guarded nature is partially attributed to her mother's influence, underscoring the impact of parenting on character development. The film implicitly champions strong family bonds and the pain of their loss. Regarding faith representation, 'Raya and the Last Dragon' draws inspiration from Southeast Asian cultures, featuring mystical dragons and spiritual practices, such as Raya making an altar and praying to Sisu. While a non-Christian spiritual framework is depicted, the film avoids any negative portrayal of Christianity, as God is not mentioned. Some Christian reviewers note that despite the absence of explicit Christian faith, the themes of sacrifice, forgiveness, and unconditional love echo fundamental gospel principles, allowing for meaningful conversations about faith and virtue within a secular narrative.

Additional Context

Best For Ages

PG for ages 8+. The MPAA rating is PG due to sequences of fantasy action violence and some thematic elements. Children under 8 may find the scary scenes and themes distressing, particularly the depiction of characters turning to stone, while older children (8-10+) should be able to process the content with parental guidance.

Good to Know

The film offers positive messages about the importance of trust, unity, and forgiveness. It features a strong, independent female protagonist and visually rich animation. While the narrative is compelling, parents should be aware of the film's non-Christian spiritual worldview and the intense scenes involving the Druun, which can be frightening for younger children. There are no notable sequels or adaptations that alter the core content or themes.

Related Reviews

View all movie reviews →

How does this review compare?

This review

9 standard concerns
General sensitivity level
One-size-fits-all perspective

Your report

Concerns you choose
Sensitivity levels you set
Tailored to your family

What are you watching next?

Screen any title in seconds — even ones no one else has reviewed.

Personalized to your valuesDetailed findingsAny title, instantly

Start with 10 free scans

No credit card required — join hundreds of families

Start free — 10 scans included