#raya the the lost dragon

[justanothercinemaniac]

Having seen Wish and Strange World, I think this batch of Disney films are going to age VERY well.

I know they haven't been received the warmest or had a great box office run, but I keep thinking back on the Disney movies that came out when I was a kid. The Emperor's New Groove, Atlantis, Brother Bear, Treasure Planet, all of them were received similarly. Critics didn't love them (except Treasure Planet I think) and they didn't make a lot of money. They were written off as duds.

But for everyone my age, those were our favorite Disney movies because those were OUR Disney movies. Wish and Strange World may be no Encanto (what is?), but they're a lot better than I see them getting credit for. And honestly, I'm going to through Raya and the Last Dragon in here too. That was received better by critics but it seems like we don't talk about that as much even though it's awesome. Just like Treasure Planet!

In ten or twenty years, the kids who grow up on these movies will sing their praises as underrated classics. So even as they're written off as, "let downs," today, they won't be forgotten. They'll be loved and cherished by a generation. Knowing some kid will love them as much as I love Treasure Planet and thinking about their inevitable staying power, that makes me REALLY happy.

[incorrectdisney-meea]

Nancy: Where's Charlotte?

Honeymaren: *remembers that Charlotte got her head stuck in a tuba after Nancy told her to not touch it, and that she's supposed to cover for Nakoma and Namaari as they work together to get Charlotte's head out of the tuba while Audrey comes back with the tools to help*

Honeymaren: Who's Charlotte?

[blade-liger-4ever]

Just for funzies.

[canonrenaissance]

CR • Holding Out For A Hero

[oveliagirlhaditright]

I just watched "Raya the Last Dragon" for the first time, which is another wonderful movie. And man, am I sad that so many people didn't get to see it because it was overshadowed by Covid:(

[raurquiz]

#HappyBirthday @danieldaekim #danieldaekim #actor #gotanaretz #startrek #voyager #BlinkofanEye #CorporalChang #Enterprise #lost #HawaiiFiveO #angel #insurgent #TheGoodDoctor #crusade #er #spiderman2 #hellboy #Miral #RayaandtheLastDragon #newamsterdam #AvatarTheLastAirbender #joyride #startrek57 @startrek @startrekonpplus @streammaxla @netflixlat

[jesncin]

Thinking about Disney and how we talk about Cultural Representation

(concept art by Scott Watanabe)

Old essay originally written on Cohost in November 2023. With additions.

With all the promo stuff about Disney's upcoming animated film Wish, I can't help but think about Raya and the Last Dragon again. I spent a year intensively researching things about that movie and the discourse surrounding it for a series of videos on Xiran Jay Zhao's channel, and oh boy did that reveal a lot about the current way we talk about cultural representation in casual media criticism.

Lately we've grown a habit of looking at signifiers to culture, things like a cultural dish, a nod to a martial arts style, a piece of clothing, maybe a hairstyle, a weapon and so on, and then projecting a bunch of intentions onto the work regardless of authorial intent. I witnessed this a bunch of times in discussions surrounding Raya and the Last Dragon.

You basically get a bunch of 4d chess-style justifications for the lazy implementation of culture in Raya.

random examples cuz there's too many to name:

The movie will do something like make the leaders of the villain nation women, and people immediately assumed it was some kind of bespoke reference to Minangkabau matriarchical society.

the art book of Raya specifically stated that they purposely misplaced things as a stylistic fantasy choice "we could take something that is known and place it in an unexpected location, like coral in the desert and cacti in the snow". But when people saw a water buffalo placed in the desert they assumed it was some super clever environmental story decision.

The movie will tell you it includes things like Borobudur, Angkor wat, Keris, and most people will take their word for it without hesitation. Never mind that Southeast Asians could barely recognize these nods to our culture through how amalgamated the designs are.

(early concept art by Scott Watanabe)

Moving forward, I think we need to talk less about "what" parts of a culture are being represented in these movies, and more about HOW they're being included, we need to ask:

What is this piece of media's relationship with the cultures it represents?

Because Raya and the Last Dragon is not a cultural movie, it's a monolith film pitched and written by white people and a Mexican director with 2 SEA writers added later in production to avoid backlash. Culture serves the purpose of aesthetic set dressing in the film, as opposed to something that informs its themes and characters.

it wasn't even initially pitched as a Southeast Asian movie. The white writers who pitched it were going for a vague East Asian sci fi fantasy story under the working title "Dragon Empire". Southeast Asian culture was an aesthetic change added much later.

This is what happens when a corporation tries to put representational value on a shallow aesthetic. Because of the way Disney constantly marketed Raya as this big authentic cultural film, it primes its audience to read cultural intention in the most benign details. And when we get lost in the details, we lose sight of the bigger picture.

Contextualizing Cultural media criticism

(visual development art by April Liu)

We need to start demanding more context in our analysis. The next time we see a reference to culture in media we consume, take a step back and ask what purpose it serves in the narrative. And most importantly!! What Is Its Relationship With The Culture It Represents? We shouldn't just accept things at face value.

start asking yourself,

through what lens is this cultural dish and its spicy flavors being presented to us? Are the customs surrounding the food being respected?

If martial arts or dance is represented, how is it translated in the adaptation? Are you getting generic hollywood-fu or are you seeing specific movements with purpose and motivation? Are the philosophies or spiritual contexts of these traditions present in the text?

Are the clothing, hairstyles, and presentation of the characters being de-yassified through a colonial filter? Is the non-conformity of the cultures' different framework for gender presentation being adjusted to fit a more recognizable binary?

If language is present, what role does it serve? Is it presented as other through being exclusively used by villainous beings? Is it being made a monolith as one "non-English" language?

is this temple actually a place of worship or is it just a set piece for a goddang Indiana jones booby trap action fight sequence

This way, instead of unquestionably defending a piece of media because a character wore a traditional outfit one time, or because some characters took their shoes off at a temple, or because there were Arnis sticks in that one fight scene, we can approach the text with a more nuanced and holistic understanding of how culture informs narrative.

To quote Haunani K. Trask (author of From A Native Daughter):

“Cultural people have to become political… Our culture can’t just be ornamental and recreational. That’s what Waikiki is. Our culture has to be the core of our resistance. The core of our anger. The core of our mana. That’s what culture is for.”

[imhidingfromcastorrr]

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･There goes the last great american dynasty

Mireya ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡ she/her ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡ minor ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡ ENFP-T ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡23rd January ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡ desi ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡ Aquarius ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡ rp accounts are @mireya-the-awkward-extrovert and @that--lavender--haze

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･Who knows, if she never showed up what could've been

Music ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡Singing ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡ Piano ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡ Books ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡ Photography ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡ Writing ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡ Stargazing ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡ Theatre ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･There goes the maddest woman this town has ever seen

Engene ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡ Moa ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡ Stay ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡ Onedoor ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡Weve ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡ To moon ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡ Fearnot ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡ Army ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡Blink ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡Carat ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡ And a lot more kpop bands I can't keep count... ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡ Swiftie ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡ Voila ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡ And a lot more music artists... again... I can't keep count ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡ pjo/hoo/toa ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡ Kane chronicles ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡ Minecraft ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡Empires ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡ Hermitcraft ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡dream smp ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡life series ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡ Miraculous ladybug ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡Encanto ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡ Raya and the lost dragon ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡ Descendants ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡ MLP ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡WINX ☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡Harry Potter☆ﾟ｡✧°ﾟ｡ Manyyyy more....

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ She had a marvellous time ruining everything

♪My mooties<3

I couldn't tag everyone becahse i have over a 100 so if you want to be added lmk~ʕ^ᴥ^ʔ

@whoslug

@daydreamingmia

@peapea-0405

@evie-going-insane

@your-average-toast-enjoyer

@the-depths-of-the-coral-sea

@cceanvvaves

@hellincarnation

@darkly-stagnating-fish-tank

@f1zzy-s0daa

@ethan-is-sleepy

@im-on-crack-send-help

@momhwa1117

@jeahreading

@narkissistikos

@just-a-silly-jellyfish

@totally-not-castor

@blackcherriestxox

@boba-pearl

@tamanna-and-her-struggles

@lovely-rants-alot

@sentimental-bits

@neo-kid-funk

[dovesdreaming]

Between the tides

Summary: You’re the daughter of Raya and Namaari. You find yourself entangled with Harry hook and can’t get him out of your mind.

Request

Masterlist

-

The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a golden glow over the bustling streets of Auradon. Students of Auradon Prep milled about, excitedly discussing the upcoming events of the day. For most, it was just another day filled with classes, but for you, it was the culmination of everything you had worked for. As the daughter of Raya and Namaari, you had inherited not only the fierce spirit of your parents but also a strong sense of justice that often made you feel like more of a villain kid than an Auradon child. Your childhood friendship with Lonnie had brought you to Auradon, but it was your own desire to carve out your own identity that led you to the Swords and Shields team. The captain, they called you, and you wore that title with pride.

Though the people of Auradon saw you as a hero, you often operated in the gray, doing what you felt was right even when it didn’t align with the rules. You were an antihero in the making, forging your own path. And today, that path would lead you back to the Isle of the Lost. It had been a year since you last saw Harry Hook, Captain Hook’s son, during the chaotic rescue mission to save Ben. The memory of that day replayed in your mind like a vivid dream. The way he had fought you, the thrill of the battle, and the spark of something electric that had ignited between you, something you had dismissed at the time.

As you and Lonnie prepped for the mission, you could still recall the smirk on Harry’s face as he parried your ice sword with his hook, a glint of admiration dancing in his eyes as you expertly maneuvered around him. It was a thrilling encounter, one that had left you breathless and, if you were being honest, kind of intrigued. “Ready for this?” Lonnie asked, snapping you out of your thoughts. She adjusted the straps of her armor, her expression a mixture of excitement and determination. “More than ready” you replied, tightening your grip on the handle of your ice sword. You summoned a small dragon made of shimmering water, which floated beside you, its azure scales sparkling in the light. You had named her Glimmer, and she had been by your side through thick and thin. “Just remember: we’re going in to rescue Ben, not to pick a fight with Harry”. “Easier said than done” Lonnie said with a smirk. “I know you still think about him” You rolled your eyes, brushing aside her comment. “That was one fight, Lonnie. Just because we had some banter doesn’t mean I’m going to swoon over him”. “Sure, keep telling yourself that” she teased.

The journey to the Isle of the Lost was intense. As you stepped off the boat, the familiar scent of saltwater and the sound of waves crashing against the rocks welcomed you. Your heart raced with anticipation and adrenaline. The Isle was chaotic, filled with the remnants of villainy and danger lurking around every corner. You and Lonnie led the charge, making your way through the winding streets of the Isle, dodging the startled glances of the locals. You could feel the tension in the air as you approached the docks, where you knew Ben was being held captive. But before you could reach him, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was Harry, leaning against a wall, his trademark smirk plastered across his face. The way the setting sun highlighted his features made your breath hitch, and for a brief moment, all you could think about was that thrilling duel from last time.

“Look what the tide washed in” he called out, eyes gleaming with mischief. “A princess and her sword-wielding friend. Here for a fight, are we?” “We’re here for Ben” you shot back, holding your ice sword aloft. “You won’t stop us, Hook.” His smirk widened, and he stepped forward, his hook glinting ominously in the fading light. “Is that so? Last time I checked, you were the one who started the fight”. You raised an eyebrow, recalling how the tension had built during your last encounter. “I didn’t start anything. You were the one who couldn’t resist a challenge”. He chuckled, the sound sending shivers down your spine. “And you couldn’t resist rising to it”.

The battle erupted as you clashed with Harry once more. The two of you danced around each other, your movements fluid and precise. You conjured ice, shaping it into sharp blades that shot toward him, but he countered with his hook, slicing through the air with deadly accuracy “You’ve improved” Harry noted, dodging another ice attack. “But are you still just a pretty face?”“Pretty faces can pack a punch, Harry” you shot back, throwing an ice shard that he narrowly avoided. The thrill of battle surged through you as adrenaline fueled your movements. The world around you faded into the background as you lost yourself in the fight, the tension crackling like electricity between you. As you fought, you couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something deeper than rivalry igniting between you, a connection that simmered beneath the surface.

Finally, with one swift movement, you disarmed him, sending his hook flying through the air. He stumbled back, caught off guard, and you took the opportunity to close the distance, ice forming around your hands as you held him at bay. “Yield?” you asked, a grin breaking through the fierce determination on your face. He paused, a genuine grin breaking through his usual bravado. “Aye, ye’ve bested me this time. But I’ll be back”. You lowered your weapon, panting slightly, feeling a rush of exhilaration wash over you. “Next time, maybe we can skip the fighting and talk?”

Harry’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Aye, I’d like that. But ye know, the only thing I wish for is for a bit of fun”. You chuckled, shaking your head. “You’re incorrigible”. As the mission concluded and you successfully rescued Ben, the lingering tension with Harry stuck with you. You couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something unspoken between you, a bond formed in the chaos of the Isle, a connection that transcended your roles as hero and villain.

Months later, as preparations for the next adventure began, you found yourself standing on the shores of Auradon, Glimmer coiled around your wrist like a protective charm. You had decided to join the VKs in their quest to bring more unity between the Isle and Auradon, to help those who were struggling to find their place. But deep down, you knew you were also doing it for Harry. The thrill of the chase, the tension of your fights, and the uncharted waters of what could be were too tempting to ignore. And as you looked out at the horizon, you felt a rush of anticipation. Because somewhere out there, on the Isle, Harry Hook was waiting for you, ready to stir the tides of fate once more.

[autisticshadowthehedgehog]

It’s Sonic Gang Disney Movie Night! And it’s the Unstoppable Forces vs Immovable Objects! Let’s meet our competitors:

Knuckles “the last of his kind on a noble quest to protect a gem with trust issues, badass fighting skills, and a water-based spirit most of his lost culture was based around who wants to live out his fantasy of his people coming back and enemies turning into friends via continued applied trust” the Echidna who wants to watch Raya and the Last Dragon

Tikal “the curious and empathetic chief’s daughter who was really close with her now-dead grandma who yearns to return to a culture her people once had but have now abandoned and works to make peace with the dieties of her culture while being best friends with sentient water who wants to live out her fantasy of resolving her daddy issues and bringing her people and gods to peace” the Echidna who wants to watch Moana

Blaze “the heir to an entire kingdom with a lot of huge expectations placed on her by her deceased parents desperately trying to keep her deadly and dangerous powers under control which is an issue because they burst out when she’s emotional and she’s been repressing quite a bit of emotions only for an energetic, bubbly person to bring her out of her shell and prove that she can be herself without hurting anyone else” the Cat who wants to watch Frozen

Elise also wants to watch Frozen so two points for Blaze

Shadow “an alien scientifically created to be a living weapon meant to destroy who ends up befriending a little girl who teaches him to have humanity, after which he begins to appreciate life on Earth and fights to protect both it and the found family he’s pieced together for himself” the Hedgehog who wants to watch Lilo & Stitch

Sonic who wants to watch Wreck-It Ralph because he’s in it and things go fast

Amy Rose who wants to watch Sleeping Beauty because it’s “romantic” and “beautiful” but also so she can wait until the dragon scene and then start blasting “What I’m Made Of” and scare the shit out of everyone

Silver “was left alone in a barren wasteland for far longer than he wants to admit and honestly probably longer than he can remember who ends up finding one last bit of hope and who wants to live out his fantasy of bringing life back to his planet and seeing society grow around him as he finds a family of his own” the Hedgehog who wants to watch WALL-E. he’ll also settle for Lightyear he guesses

Cream who wants to watch Snow White because pretty princess sing to animals and spin around

Sally “the heir to an entire kingdom with some severe dead dad issues who ends up on the run as a child only to return and find her kingdom decimated by someone she once trusted who now has to raise a rebellion with her childhood sweetheart to dethrone the usurper and retake the land before he can destroy the entire environment” Acorn who wants to watch The Lion King

Vector who wants to watch The Great Mouse Detective and say “that’s what we do. we do that”

Shahra who wants to watch Aladdin. do i even have to

oh and Jet wants to watch Aladdin too but that’s just because he thinks stealing things is funny

Merlina actually does not want to watch Sword in the Stone it makes her uncomfortable however she will BITE someone if they don’t watch Coco next

Marine who wants to watch Finding Nemo because oooh water ooh australia oooh look at the fishies go. no she doesn’t have abandonment issues why do you ask

alternatively, Marine will make everyone watch The Pirate Fairy

Tekno who wants to watch Big Hero 6 because look at those robots go

Omega who wants to watch The Black Cauldron cause it has the most death in it

Rouge who would rather watch everyone argue than see any movie

Mighty and Ray just wanna watch Bambi guys

Big who wants to watch Fantasia because it calms him down. Omega does a quick ecosia search of Night on Bald Mountain and immediately likes this plan

Belle who wants to watch Pinocchio for obvious reasons

Charmy who wants to watch Peter Pan just to point at the tv when Tink is onscreen and look Belle dead in the eye and say “that’s you”

Espio who wants to die

Miles “Tails” Prower who can’t decide if he wants to watch Dumbo or Meet the Robinsons or if both will just bring up a lot of traumatic memories

and finally, Sticks the Badger, who wants to beat the TV to death with a wooden club and then burn Disney HQ to the ground

who will win!! vote now on your phones

[thyme-in-a-bubble]

a list of some summer movies/series 🌞

hi hi hi!! it's just me, your friendly neighbourhood little organisation freak of a goblin here to give you yet again a list of some seasonal movies and series. this time, say it with me folks, summer! as always, just close your eyes and point somewhere on this little list, or even put the numbers in a generator and go with whatever the result is ♡

autumn | winter | spring

🐚 ‧₊˚ ⋅ movies ⋅˚₊‧

roman holiday (1953)

jaws (1975)

friday the 13th (1980)

Indiana jones (1981-)

dirty dancing (1987)

the princess bride (1987)

paris is burning (1990)

point break (1991)

jurassic park (1993-)

before sunrise (1995)

a goofy movie (1995)

clueless (1995)

birdcage (1996)

boogie nights (1997)

i know what you did last summer (1997)

my best friend's wedding (1997)

parent trap (1998)

bilboard dad (1998)

tarzan (1999)

the talented mr. ripley (1999)

10 things I hate about you (1999)

the mummy (1999)

cast away (2000)

almost famous (2000)

our lips are sealed (2000)

charlie’s angels (2000 + 2003)

holiday in the sun (2001)

the wedding planner (2001)

the fast and furious franchise (2001-)

princess diaries (2001-2004)

lilo and stitch (2002)

blue crush (2002)

crossroads (2002)

how to lose a guy in 10 days (2003)

under the tuscan sun (2003)

the lizzie mcguire movie (2003)

pirates of the caribbean franchise (2003-2017)

sisterhood of the traveling pants (2005-2008)

monster in law (2005)

aquamarine (2006)

she’s the man (2006)

the cheetah girls 2 (2006)

high school musical 2 (2007)

camp rock (2008)

vicky cristina barcelona (2008)

fool's gold (2008)

mamma mia (2008 + 2018)

adventureland (2009)

bride wars (2009)

hannah montana the movie (2009)

the last song (2010)

letters to juliet (2010)

eat pray love (2010)

one day (2011+2024)

a little bit of heaven (2011)

soul surfer (2011)

the impossible (2012)

magic mike (2012+2025+2023)

the big wedding (2013)

lovelace (2013)

endless love (2014)

chef (2014)

the longest ride (2015)

mad max: fury road (2015)

the shallows (2016)

it (2017)

girls trip (2017)

baywatch (2017)

jumanji: welcome to the jungle (2017)

gifted (2017)

call me by your name (2017)

crazy rich asians (2018)

adrift (2018)

ibiza (2018)

every day (2018)

bad times at the el royale (2018)

tomb raider (2018)

the red sea diving resort (2019)

midsommar (2019)

we summon the darkness (2019)

spider-man: far from home (2019)

the devil all the time (2020)

palm springs (2020)

the last letter from your lover (2021)

raya and the last dragon (2021)

luca (2021)

uncharted (2022)

glass onion (2022)

do revenge (2022)

the lost city (2022)

the gray man (2022)

death on the nile (2022)

barbie (2023)

bottoms (2023)

anyone but you (2023)

la passion de dodin bouffant (2023)

road house (2024)

the challengers (2024)

players (2024)

twisters (2024)

🍦 ‧₊˚ ⋅ series ⋅˚₊‧

the o.c. (2003-2007)

america's next top model (2003-2018)

project runway (2004-)

h2o: just add water (2006-2010)

gossip girl (2007-2012)

private practice (2007-2013)

rupaul’s drag race (2009-)

the walking dead (2010-2022)

new girl (2011-2018)

the fosters (2013-2018)

black-ish (2014-2022)

jane the virgin (2014-2019)

grace and frankie (2015-2022)

critical role (2015-)

stranger things (2016-)

the durrells (2016-2019)

big little lies (2017-2019)

she's gotta have it (2017-2019)

the bold type (2017-2021)

queer eye (2018-)

station 19 (2018-2024)

euphoria (2019-)

roswell, new mexico (2019-2022)

valeria (2020-2023)

911: lone star (2020-)

outer banks (2020-)

bridgerton (2020-)

sex/life (2021-2023)

the white lotus (2021-2025)

daisy jones and the six (2023)

[incorrectdisney-meea]

Disney Princesses' C Age/Zodiac Sign/Height

(BLOG-CANNON)

Nakoma

Birth Year: 2001

Zodiac Sign: ♉️ Taurus

Height: 1,79

Audrey

Birth Year: 2004

Zodiac Sign: ♈️ Aries

Height: 1,59

Nancy

Birth Year: 1997

Zodiac Sign: ♑️ Capricorn

Height: 1,70

Charlotte

Birth Year: 2000

Zodiac Sign: ♌️ Leo

Height: 1,67

Honeymaren

Birth Year: 1999

Zodiac Sign: ♎️ Libra

Height: 1,78

Namaari

Birth Year: 2002

Zodiac Sign: ♏️ Scorpio

Height: 1,77

[synergysilhouette]

Is Disney Animation in it's "Lost Identity" era?

For a few years, Disney has seemed strangely off for the most part with their creative output. I wanted to open the floor for this discussion, opining that after the HUGE success they achieved in the early to mid-2010s, if executive interference and other factors started to encroach upon creative freedom with their storytelling. I was gonna start with "Raya and the Last Dragon," but I opted to start with "Frozen 2" due to the eye-opening documentary on it. This post will include both information about the production of some of Disney's recent films as well as my own theories.

Frozen 2--The sequel to the highest-grossing Disney film ever (not adjusted for inflation), "Frozen 2" was an even bigger phenomenon than it's predecessor. That said, it didn't have as much staying power, with criticism towards the clunky and confusing story. It was revealed during the documentary "Into the Unknown: The Making of Frozen 2" that while wanting to write a more mature, darker story, screenwriter Jennifer Lee was thrown a curve ball when an early screening of the film included families with kids of as young as four years old. She commented that they wouldn't understand what they were seeing, and this proved to be somewhat true, as the kids left feedback for more Olaf. Lee then rewrote the script to be simplified, and included more of Olaf. There was also shown to be a bit of disarray in their studio; other creatives at Disney mentioned the film's confusing nature, and even those in charge of the story were still trying to figure out the kinks. Scrapped concepts (though I'm not sure if they were related to the early screenings) include an alternate prologue with more detail into Agnarr and Iduna's pasts, a scene where Anna and Elsa uncover Iduna's secret room with books and notes on magic, a scene where Iduna and Agnarr discuss telling Anna about Elsa's powers, and a deleted song where Kristoff struggles to propose to Anna (though IDK if this is just for the scene or if it carries on like in the final product). Overall, the desire to come up with something epic as well as Disney's feedback seems to have made this film trip over it's own feet.

Raya and the Last Dragon--First reported in 2018, RATLD is Disney's forray into a fantasy story inspired by Southeast Asian culture. While the diversity was praised, the way it was implemented was not, with East Asians voicing many of the characters, and the film coming off as an amalgam of the region rather than a specific SEA country/countries. While there aren't really notes that suggest too much exec influence, the film did have it's own unique production experience. For one, the film underwent heavy changes seven months before the film was released, including Paul Briggs and Dean Wellins being replaced as directors by Don Hall and Carlos Lopez Estrada, with the former two becoming co-directors, though John Ripa later replaced Wellins as co-director, Qui Nguyen joined Adele Lim as a co-writer, Peter Del Veccho joining Osnat Shurer as co-producer, and Cassie Steele was replaced by with Kelly Marie Tran as Raya (due to changing Raya from a loner to giving her more swagger). That's...a LOT of changes in the crew less than a year before the film is supposed to be released. I do also want to note that they chose NOT to make the film a musical because it took away from the seriousness of the film, yet the film features a good amount of comedy, meaning that there's some kind of dissonance here. It also sounds surprising that Disney wasn't interested in doing another musical given the success their musicals have had throughout their tenure, especially at the time RATLD was set to come out. And the directors even told "Empire" when the film was close to release that there was a cut of the film with broken bones. While they might have been joking (at least the source I saw thought they may have been joking), it wouldn't be surprising if the film came off as too violent to Disney or their test audiences, and they had the story softened. Another thing I find odd is the ending; it's been commented that Namaari's redemption arc isn't really solid, and the message of trusting others ends up being muddled. A personal theory of mine is that the story had better execution of the message originally, or perhaps Namaari was never planned to be redeemed, but Disney wanted a happier ending and either pressed for Namaari to be redeemable or wanted her to be fully forgiven by the end of the film. If that was the case, it may have been a last-minute choice, given that she doesn't really show this in the final product.

Encanto--Given that this film was a critical and commercially successful film (at least for COVID) with staying power, there isn't much for me to note/theorize on the film, since it doesn't seem to suffer from the same issues the prior two films do. After Jared Bush, Byron Howard, and Lin-Manuel Miranda discussed having extended families, they opted to focus on a musical surrounding one. Disney resisted the idea of focusing on 12 characters at first (and Miranda wasn't surprised since they removed Moana's 8 brothers, reasoning that she had other priorities to focus on), and like many films, went through variations. Co-director and Co-writer Jared Bush mentioned that it was difficult to contend with, and seeing how condensed Luisa, Isabela, and Dolores' storylines were in the film, I do wonder if Disney continued to pressure them to remove characters and/or shorten the storylines. Given that the Madrigal family was originally much larger and there was a deleted fistfight between Isabela and Mirabel, I wouldn't be surprised.

Strange World--Okay, for this one, I REALLY don't have much to say. The film comes off as very generic, and the concept art and deleted scenes (that I've seen, anyway) don't seem to suggest why Disney greenlit this film, though the generational themes does seem right up their alley, and the environmentalism message is timely. I'd blame it on the massive change done with Raya, as Hall and Nguyen were brought onto that team, and then once that was done, only had about a year left to work on "Strange World," which...well, as "Moana 2" will tell you, having only a year to do things--even with a cool idea--is not going to amount to much success.

Wish--It's all been said before, and there's no defense for why this shouldn't have been spectacular besides exec influence for whatever reason. Deleted concepts here include Amaya as the sole villain, an Amaya/Magnifico villain couple, a removed member of The Teens, Star having a human form and being Asha's soulmate (though what that means is anyone's guess; we were all hoping it was romantic), and Star actually having a model, meaning him being removed was probably a last-minute thing. Add to that the fact that character designs changed, personalities were simplified, and Julia Michaels said that she and Benjamin Rice were only given a storyboard to go off of each time they did the songs, despite meeting with execs every Tuesday. Seeing how bland "Wish" was, exec interference shouldn't be ruled out. Such a shame that Disney did this for their anniversary film.

Moana 2--Originally planned as a TV show announced in 2020, it was revealed on February of this year that it was planned to be reworked into a film, with the crew behind the show only being alerted of this in January. They literally had ten months to refit the series into a film, and I'm sure they still had to deal with pushback. The only reason they were able to do this is because animation usually happens roughly a year before the film is released. As such, they had to deal with technically being behind schedule with their animation, leaving little--if anything--to rewrite and fix.

Overall, it seemed the past half-decade has been turmoil for Disney struggling to give their creatives time and room to breath when storytelling, more concerned with their brand than long-lasting success. Really hope "Zootopia 2," "Frozen 3," and their 2026 original film don't suffer from these issues. Kinda hopeful since Z2 test screenings went well and F3 was pushed from 2026 to 2027.

(Oh, and some shameless promotion for my account: check out how I'd rewrite the revival era, as well as individual posts that go into the specifics on my guide page: https://www.tumblr.com/synergysilhouette/741045631364235264/my-alternate-takes-on-disney-films?source=share)

[canonrenaissance]

CR • I'm Coming Out

[fr3sh-tragedies]

Headcanons

[Raya and the Last Dragon] Raya x Female Reader

Summary: General and romantic headcanons for Raya with a female S/O.

Word Count: 1.63k Content + Warnings: None

Enjoy!

General

Overall, Raya is relatively laidback in terms of temper. Sure, she gets into fights relatively easily, though she usually takes a sarcastic way out of it if she can

With the people she loves and trust, she isn’t afraid to admit when she’s in the wrong in order to deescalate any random argument that might happen between them

With people she despises, however, she wants to be in the right. She may start bickering with them and come across as playful, but she’s internally getting more and more frustrated and will get physical if it gets there

There are times where she has to be pulled back or calmed down in some other way in order to avoid a fight, regardless of the fact she can win the majority of them

Trust is not something that comes easy to her

She had trusted someone blindly once before, and it resulted in the world breaking under the wrath of human discord and, of course, the Druun

After she and the others managed to put the dragon’s gem back together again and the world became Kumandra again, (with the help of Sisu) she learned to start trusting people again

It’s still hard for her, considering she lost everything by trusting the wrong person, but she’s working on it

She can be very patient, though this mainly comes from her years training both under her father’s guidance and while she lived on her own for six years

However, she’s generally only patient with fighting because she knows that she could easily be overpowered if she didn’t choose her steps wisely

With other people, specifically after they’re all brought back from the Druun invasion, she learns to be patient, knowing there’s so much left to fix once everyone’s freed from their stone prisons

This girl is sarcastic, and that’s clear throughout the film, though she knows when to bite back her jokes and snarky remarks

Her humor mainly stems from the way she grew up joking around with her father

Loves dragon-based jokes, though she has to watch which ones she repeats around Sisu

Training was a daily thing for her growing up. She was meant to be the next defender of Heart, so of course she was brought up learning how to do so

Even after her father was petrified by the Druun, she still made sure to make it a daily habit to train on her own, working on her strength and strategy as she grew up alone over the years

She’s not one to back down from a fight, and she unfortunately initiates quite a bit of them because of her distrust in others. Even after she starts to let down her walls when the Druun are defeated, she can be snappy towards other people, even if they aren’t intentionally trying to upset her

Raya is a strong woman, both mentally and physically. She has a good head on her shoulders, and after being hardened by survival the six years she was on her own, her physical strength grew as well

She can hold her own in a fight (granted she’s not bombarded with a large group) and knows when to call for help

Aside from training, I can see her having a few random hobbies here and there. She couldn’t really indulge in them during the six years she was fending for herself, but she was finally able to experiment more after peace was restored to Kumandra

She would definitely like either collecting weaponry or coming up with designs for her own

Reading up about dragons is one of her favorite pastimes, and after she makes amends with Namaari, they’ll both indulge in it together each time the different lands come together for a meal or a meeting

Romantic

Love language (giving) would likely be acts of service and quality time

She enjoys spending time with those she loves, and she wants them to know that she’ll do anything for them, even something as trivial as taking care of their chores for the day

Love language (receiving) would be the same: acts of service and quality time

She wants to know that her girlfriend will do the same for her and is willing to put the same amount of effort into their relationship as she is

Not sure if she’d necessarily be touch-starved, but I also can’t see her being opposed to it as long as it’s offered by someone she loves and trusts

However, because of how much she endured those six years she was left on her own and how many attackers she had to fight off, she might be a little iffy on more intimate gestures of physical affection such as cuddling or sitting in one another’s lap

With a bit of time and patience, she’ll warm up to it and even initiate those forms of affection herself

Because of how isolated she was for years growing up, both before and after the attack of the Druun, she has no experience with romantic relationships

It’s not hard for her to understand how they work, though. She’s a fast learner and is able to tell the right and wrong things to do, as well as how to bring them to light

She’s not really impressed by most gifts, though if you give her something she’s shown interest in – such as a blade she’s had her eye on or a tapestry or book of dragons – she’ll adore it forever

Gifts won’t be refused by her, but she really only cares for them if they actually have a lot of meaning behind them

Arguments with her are random, though they’re usually nothing serious. They’re either small petty bickers, or they’re over something silly like forgetting to fold the laundry or something

However, there are a few times where arguments with her can get bad. If she’s worried that something is going to happen or someone is going to hurt you, she’ll get very protective to the point where she’ll keep you in her room until the threat has passed

Whether or not you know how to fight doesn’t really matter to her in those moments. All she wants to do is keep you safe

She had lost so much so quickly when she was betrayed by Namaari, and although things were fixed over time, she can’t help but still be paranoid here and there

If you grow tire of it and confront her, she’ll initially brush you off and tell you there’s nothing to worry about. If you continue to press her for an explanation, she’ll snap at you and essentially tell you she can’t trust you leaving the room because she won’t be able to keep an eye on you

A few harsh words might be shared in those moments, but once you both take some time apart to breathe and calm down, she’ll return to you with apologies for what she’s said to you

You’ll have to work with her on it, and with a lot of time, understanding, and long breaks to avoid another outburst, she’ll gradually feel more comfortable with you wandering about on your own

Her people are there to look out for each other, and she knows they’ll look out for you too

She’ll put her trust in them, but most of it is put into you

Although she can be fairly awkward at times, she’s able to cheer people up relatively easily, or at the very least she can reassure them about whatever they may be worrying about

There’s no exception to her ability to comfort people when it comes to you

She’ll stop at nothing to make sure you feel safe and happy

If you have any worries about being alone or getting hurt somehow, she’ll stay by your side until you feel better

If you’re feeling insecure about yourself, prepare to be bombarded with compliments and small stories of the things she adores about you

If you’re just having a bad day, she’ll have something set up in the bedroom to make you feel comfortable while you try to unwind for the night (i.e. extra blankets, pillows, your favorite books, a tray with your favorite snacks, etc.)

Dates with her are common, though they’re more casual. She just wants to spend time with you, so even doing something as simple as taking a stroll around the village is considered to be a date in her mind. Here and there, she may take you to Boun’s family ship for a meal, or she’ll pay him a little extra to ride out to the rivers to spend time alone from the entire village

In a normal fight, of course she’s too focused on trying to watch her back to show off. She needs to keep her eyes on the target and make sure she doesn’t leave any part of herself vulnerable

During training, however, she can get a little bit flashy here and there if she knows you’re watching

She might exaggerate some of her movements, throw out a new trick she knows is better visually than it is strategically, or even just flex her arms a bit to show off the muscle she’s built over the years

Ultimately, she’s a great partner. She’ll make sure you’re safe and will do everything in her power to cheer you up, even if it means she ends up getting on someone else’s nerves. There are times where she can get overprotective due to her past, but if you’re willing to put in the time and effort to work through those issues with her, she’s willing to let her guard down and trust you to be left to your own devices, knowing the people in her village are there to look out for you the same way she would

[geeky92]

Walt Disney Animation Films I Rank By Era

Golden Age:

Fantasia

Pinocchio

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Bambi

Dumbo

Wartime Era:

The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad

Melody Time

Make Mine Music

Saludos Amigos

Fun and Fancy Free

The Three Caballeros

Silver Age:

Lady and the Tramp

Sleeping Beauty

One Hundred and One Dalmatians

Alice in Wonderland

Cinderella

The Jungle Book

Peter Pan

The Sword in the Stone

Bronze Age/Dark Age:

The Great Mouse Detective

The Fox and the Hound

Robin Hood

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

The Rescuers

Oliver & Company

The Black Cauldron

The Aristocats

Disney Renaissance:

The Lion King (My Favorite)

Beauty and the Beast

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Aladdin

Mulan

Hercules

The Little Mermaid

Tarzan

The Rescuers Down Under

Pocahontas

Post-Renaissance/Experimental Era:

Lilo & Stitch

Atlantis: The Lost Empire

The Emperor’s New Groove

Meet the Robinsons

Treasure Planet

Fantasia 2000

Brother Bear

Dinosaur

Home on the Range

Chicken Little

Revival Era:

The Princess and the Frog

Zootopia

Wreck-It Ralph

Moana

Frozen

Tangled

Big Hero 6

Winnie the Pooh (2011)

Bolt

Post-Revival Era:

Encanto

Frozen II

Raya and the Last Dragon

Wish

Ralph Breaks the Internet

I haven’t seen Moana 2 or Strange World, but I imagine them ranking pretty low on my list.