5 Important Lessons from Raya and the Last Dragon + Discussion Questions and Review

5 Lessons from Raya and the Last Dragon Discussion Questions and Review written by the Elf. This post contains affiliate links, you can find out more on our policies page or in the disclaimer at the bottom of the blog.

5 Important Lessons from Raya and the Last Dragon Discussion Questions and Review

Know Before You Watch Raya and the Last Dragon

Movie: Raya and the Last Dragon
Rating: PG
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Family
Length: 1 hr. 36 mins (+ appr. 17 minutes of credits)
Age suggested: 5+
*You can download Disney’s free activity packet here!*
Release Date: March 5th, 2021
Themes: Revenge, Reconciliation, Power, Trust, Responsibility
Warnings: A good amount of cartoon violence, plenty of darker scary scenes and some bathroom humor. Mildy dark death scenes including parental separation. If your kiddo can handle the second Wreck it Ralph, they should be able to handle this one.

Quick Summary of Raya and the Last Dragon

Raya goes on a whimsical mission to save her family and the dragons. The dragons sacrificed themselves to save the humans, but hundreds of years later the druun is back to take down all of humanity too. Raya wants to bring back the dragons and unite her divided land. But she also doesn’t really believe that people deserve the dragons, unity, or saving. Will she be able succeed?

It’s an animated action movie with a whole lot of heart. The dragon isn’t what Raya was expecting and the dragon certainly wasn’t expecting Raya. Nothing is as it seems or expected, which is a big part of what makes this move such a fun adventure. A great family movie night watch! We absolutely believe it is worth purchasing premier access. It’s cheaper than what we would spend to see it at the movies and great entertainment.

Raya and the Last Dragon Review
(Contains Light Spoilers)

-Is Raya and the Last Dragon appropriate?-

There’s a few references to kicking butt. Some silly bathroom humor jokes thrown in for the younger kids, like the toot and boom bug. There were not any jokes that were too over the top in my opinion.
There are also some sad death scenes, including children watching parents being turned into stone.
Although they aren’t overly violent or sad, they can absolutely be triggering for some.
The druun might also be scary for younger, sensitive kids. In general we would say that it’s a pretty safe watch for 7+ years.

–Why Watch Raya and the Last Dragon-

Raya and the Last Dragon provides an hour and a half of fun and powerful storytelling. Not only does the movie show multi-ethnic stories and cultures, it also gives us another powerful princess. Most importantly, there are so many lessons that can be learned from the story of Raya. From forgiveness to trust and perseverance, Raya is simply a great role model for any child (and any adult for that matter). The lesson of unity and trust is so, so valuable right now for adults and kids.

Keep reading for more Raya and the Last Dragon parent review, lessons from the movie, and discussion questions!

-Plot/Characters-

Raya is a very likeable and powerful character. She is introduced as having a smart, nimble, and tough persona. Her character development is handled really well. Her character arch is powerful as she must learn forgiveness and trust for those seemingly unworthy of it. A big part of what makes he character so great is that she’s open to learning and acknowledges her mistakes as opportunities for growth.

Sisu simultaneously acts as the comedic relief and the emotional crux of much of the larger story of Kumandra. Having been trusted by her siblings with the last of the dragon power, she often feels unworthy of such an honor. She has such a compassionate heart that constantly tries to find the good in every single person she comes in contact with. This amazing dragon teaches us how important it is to try to work together- not just because it’s the right thing to do but because we all are gifted differently.

Raya’s world-saving team is certainly not the team she would have picked. But they are such a fun bunch. I was impressed with the depth of character development they were able to fit into this storyline for these characters. A con baby, a warrior, a chef, a dragon, and a princess- what a group!

-Favorite things about Raya and the Last Dragon-

I loved all the creative animals. The dragons were beautifully designed. The sneaky monkeys were hilarious. And they somehow managed to make a giant roly poly adorable- Tuk Tuk was SO cute!

The team was so unusual but they never would have succeeded without each other. Raya wasn’t just strong because she could kick butt, she was strong because she could adapt, admit her mistakes and grow.

Sisu’s banter with Raya and the other team members was SO natural and funny- I loved her character.

In the credits there was an acknowledgment that this movie was made in hundreds of homes instead of a studio. They thanked everyone for working so tirelessly together to make the movie even though they couldn’t always figure out how to work the mute button on team calls and the acknowledgment was just the best. Also the first song in the credits is great.

Raya’s dad considering what was best for the next generation over what seemed reasonable and practical.

There were so many great one liners and quotes from this movie! To check out our Disney quote pins, check out this Pinterest board.

The timeliness of this movie just could not be be better. Racist attacks, hateful language, and aggression against Asian Americans have increased exponentially since the start of the pandemic (start learning and getting involved here) And I think that it’s safe to say that all the way around the world, people feel very fractured and divided right now. So having an amazing princess warrior movie that features an Asian princess and focuses on unity- it’s awesome.

5 Lessons from Raya and the Last Dragon

1. Learning how to work with people you disagree with is invaluable. 
   In this particular movie we saw how far a little food, friendship, and hope can go. Also how our preconceived notions of other people can be wrong, especially when they’re based on where they come from. The team Raya puts together is an unlikely one full of people who should be enemies- and that turns out to be a great strength. We have to remember that we are all human and that we all make mistakes. And also that we all have different gifts and are better together than on our own.
2. We take the people around us for granted.
   Boun’s line really stuck out to me when he was talking about how much he missed his sister even though she irritated him. Hug your people, find ways to show them that you appreciate them. It’s also a GREAT reminder that being different and not having the same talents is a really positive thing, it makes us better together.
3. Not everyone has good intentions, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t trust people.
   Sometimes your trust will get you conned, other times it just might save someone.A little trust and hope go an awful long way. Just look at what a great help the con baby was to the team! Becoming bitter and not trusting anyone takes so much away from your community.
4. It’s good to own your mistakes and try to make them right.
   Things aren’t always what they seem and absolutely no one is perfect. One of Raya’s greatest strengths was her teachability and her admitting that she was wrong or to blame. Because she worked really hard to learn, fix her mistakes and be better.
5. Just because it seems impossible doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try.
   Take the first step even if you can’t see where your foot will land. You’ll never be a hundred percent ready to take on the world and nothing will ever go a hundred percent according to plan. Grab your team and get to saving the world, just be careful not to step out in rage!

Raya and the Last Dragon Discussion Questions

1) Which dragon power would you want to have?
2) Would you want a super monkey, dragon or Tuk Tuk as a sidekick?
3) Is it easy for you to trust others?
4) The team is made of people with different talents and skills. What skill do you have that your friends may not have? What skill do your friends have that you may not? How can you use your talents together to get stuff done?
5) What did it take for the 5 clans to unite again?

Thanks for reading our Raya and the Last Dragon review.
Before you go, check out these links:

– Family friendly Disney+ Streaming Suggestions, updated monthly!

– Lessons and discussion questions from the movie SOUL .

– Comparing the new Black Beauty movie to the book- plus a review and more!

– Lessons from the new live action Mulan movie.

-And find more Raya gear from shop Disney here.

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