Raya and the Last Dragon

Bolstered by sumptuous visuals and empowered female leads, Raya and the Last Dragon is a multicultural animated adventure with universal appeal.

This rousing saga of bravery and determination provides a winning mix of familiar elements while conveying a timely social message of putting aside grudges and petty ideological differences for the greater good.

The story is set in the mythical world of Kumandra, where humans lived alongside dragons until monsters wiped out the fire-breathers 500 years ago, leaving the kingdom fractured into five feuding segments. The respective leaders are torn over possession of a valuable gem the dragons left behind.

Raya (voiced by Kelly Marie Tran) is a precocious teenager with warrior aspirations whose father, Benja (Daniel Dae Kim), is the caretaker of the stone in question. He believes in the idealistic notion of peaceful coexistence: “We can tear each other apart, or we can come together and build a better world.”

But when the evil forces return with tragic consequences, the gem is shattered and robbed of its potency. The leaves Raya to embark on a perilous journey to retrieve and unite the jewels.

Her voyage brings her into contact with an obligatory assortment of anthropomorphic creature sidekicks. But most importantly, she meets the eccentric Sisu (Awkwafina), an elongated dragon survivor whose shapeshifting capabilities could hold the key to survival.

For Raya and her ragtag team, collecting the gem pieces is easy compared to convincing her adversaries to surrender their ego-driven power in favor of collective harmony. That’s where the film derives its emotional depth.

Kids should be drawn to the resilience and resourcefulness of the courageous and somewhat mischievous heroine, and will likely appreciate the worthwhile lessons about trust and teamwork.

As directed by Carlos Lopez Estrada (Blindspotting) and Don Hall (Big Hero 6), the film showcases crisply detailed computer animation with vivid distinctions between the landscapes of the various realms. The pace remains lively without turning chaotic.

The screenplay tends to oversimplify and homogenize some of the cultural legends and traditions that seem to have inspired it. The film is a little clunky in terms of exposition, and a bit predictable once it maps out the journey toward reconciliation.

However, beneath its surface dazzle, Raya and the Last Dragon is a powerful example of how youngsters can teach adults a thing or two — if only we’re open-minded enough to listen.

Rated PG, 108 minutes.