Raya and the Last Dragon trailer
Once upon a time, Most Disney Princesses are Europeans. Snow White and Rapunzel are German.Cinderella, Belle and Aurora are French.Merida is Scottish. Ariel is from Denmark while Anna and Elsa are from Arendelle which is an amalgamation of the Scandinavian nations.
In the last few decades the Disney Princess lineup had diversified. Jasmine is the first Arabian Princess.Pocahontas is the very first Native American Princess. Mulan is not a Princess but she join the lineup for the Asian Quota. Tiana is the first African American Princess. Recently we had Moana who is the first Polynesian Princess. Disney added more diversity with Raya, She is the very first Southeast Asian Princess. Her country of origin is not specified but it is an amalgamation of Cambodia, Vietnam,Myanmar,Burma,Thailand and Pre Colonial Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia. She represents South East Asia or Asean as a whole. Southeast Asian culture barely got represented in American media. Most Asian representation in Western media focuses on East Asians.
Just today, Disney had launched the trailer of this upcoming movie hit. From the creators of Moana and Frozen, Disney introduces their next heroine. Most Disney Princesses have an animal sidekick and Raya have a giant rolly polly named TukTuk and a dragon.
Vietnamese American Actress Kelly Marie Tran, who is a daughter of refugees will be playing Raya. Golden Globe Winner, Awkwafina will be playing Sisu the last dragon.
Tran is previously known for playing Rose Tico on Star Wars.This film will be her first lead role.This movie is the vindication she deserves after going through nonsensical cyberbullying.
Raya follows the footsteps of Warrior Disney Princesses like Mulan, Merida, and Moana. She won’t be having any prince to rescue her.
Raya and the last dragon will be in theaters at March 2021 if the Pandemic will be over.