Raya from the upcoming film “Raya and the Last Dragon” (Image: Screengrab from YouTube/Walt Disney Animation Studios)
Disney gave a glimpse of its newest heroine in the first teaser trailer for its upcoming Southeast Asian-inspired film “Raya and the Last Dragon.”
The company premiered the two-minute video on its YouTube page yesterday, Oct. 21. It shows the warrior princess Raya venture into a temple with her trusty friend Tuktuk, who seems to be an armadillo-like creature.
She eventually arrives in a large room with a glowing item in the center. However, it is guarded by a masked warrior wielding a sword. Raya then fights the guard with what appears to be a pair of Arnis sticks, which is the national martial art of the Philippines.
“My whole life, I trained to become a guardian of the Dragon Gem, but this world has changed,” she says as the scene changes to her riding across a desert.
The short video also shows various tribes in the fictional land of Kumandra.
“And its people are divided,” the heroine adds. “Now, to restore peace, I must find the last dragon.”
Raya is the first Disney princess inspired by Southeast Asian culture and will be voiced by American Vietnamese actress Kelly Marie Tran. Along with Tran, Akwafina will also lend her voice to Sisu, the legendary dragon Raya must find to save her land.
Filmmakers Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada will be directing the movie alongside Paul Briggs and John Ripa.
“Raya and the Last Dragon” is set to premiere in March 2021. /ra
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