Wondering if Raya and the Last Dragon is ok for kids? Raya and the Last Dragon is rated PG for action and some animated violence. While there is definitely some buttkickery, martial arts, and some scary moments, overall Raya is a heroine that deserves to be seen. With impressive animation and a story full of heart, here’s what parents need to know in this Raya and the Last Dragon Parents Guide.
Is Raya and the Last Dragon Kid Friendly?
Long ago in the fantasy world of Kumandra, humans and dragons lived together in harmony. However, an evil force came to threaten that peace until only one dragon was left. Raya, (Kelly Marie Tran) is a proud Guardian of the Dragon Gem in the land of Heart, where her father is a Chief. Surrounding lands want that gem and when it’s broken, people turn to stone, including Raya’s father. The world is even more broken now.
Raya embarks on a journey to find Sisu (Awkwafina), the last dragon to save the world and her father, but her old frenemy, Namaari (Gemma Chan) wants to stop her.
Is Raya and the Last Dragon kid friendly? Parents need to know that there is some action, sword-fighting, and sad moments. However, if you’re a fan of the self-rescuing princesses that can kick butt (raises hand), Raya is for you.
Language
There is no profanity in Raya and the Last Dragon. There are a couple of potty words like butt, butt-kickery, badaxery, and dung for brains.
Mature Content
There are some scary moments that may frighten little ones, especially with the Druun, which is a dark mist-like monster. Think Dementor that turns you to stone as it passes by.
Some characters lose loved ones to the Druun and when talking about their stories are very sad. This may make your empathetic kids sad as well.
There is fighting with swords, hand-to-hand combat and martial arts.
Is Raya and the Last Dragon Appropriate for Kids Under 8?
Raya and the Last Dragon gets deep, but in a way kids can relate to and understand. I am here for the female leads who are tough and flawed. Between Raya, Sisu, and Namaari, this film is a plethora of girl power, but they show their femininity and strength in different ways.
The martial arts scenes are incredible, and I don’t think they are too much for young kids. The Druun is what I would worry about most, but like every Disney film, there has to be a villain. I would recommend Raya and the Last Dragon for kids ages 6 and up, but kids younger than that would also be fine if they are not especially sensitive to sad situations. However, it’s also a great teaching moment to talk about death, friendship, and trust, especially in the tumultuous times we live in.
Raya and the Last Dragon addresses the broken world of Kumandra with 5 lands – Heart, Fang, Talon, Tail and Spine – when they broke up, they took the names of the parts of a dragon. The Dragon Gem is in Heart, and the other lands believe that is why Heart is prosperous, but Chief Benja assures them it’s not. Angry and defiant, the leaders from the other lands attack and ultimately break the gem.
While some kids may not fully understand the symbolism or influence of the timeliness of this story line, adults can. Disney has brought us the beauty of Southeast Asia in a film, and I’m always so happy when I get to learn about other cultures. The animation is stunning, and to think that most of the shots were done at home during a pandemic, is incredible. I felt transported to another place, and shoot, I’ll take any travel during this pandemic.
Awkwafina as Sisu is a bit over-the-top, and that’s what makes me laugh. Listen, I’m friends with the people who are kinda extra. They’re my people, and so is Sisu. Chief Benja? Now that’s a loving father/daughter relationship, and I give it a standing ovation.
In fact, the whole cast is wonderful. There are moments that border on cheesy, but it’s Disney, I’ll allow it. As the wise Chief Benja said, “If we don’t stop and learn to trust one another again it’s only a matter of time before we tear each other apart.” And well, here we are.
Villains may not be villains, heroes may be at fault, and sometimes you have to take the first step to trust again, even if it means getting your heart broken. As I watched a character with righteous anger realize that she also may be at fault, this was when Raya and the Last Dragon won me over. Sometimes the best movies don’t have characters that break into song, and Raya and the Last Dragon proves you don’t have to.
Raya and the Last Dragon ranks up there with my favorite action-adventure princesses, Moana and Rapunzel, and I’ll hand over my $29.99 gladly to Disney+.
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