November 8, 2025

🎬 Raya and the Last Dragon: Legends Reborn (2025)

The kingdom of Kumandra awakens once more. Four years after the success of Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon (2021), Walt Disney Animation Studios returns with Raya and the Last Dragon: Legends Reborn (2025) — a dazzling, emotionally charged sequel that expands the mythos of Southeast Asia’s most beloved cinematic realm. This is not merely a continuation; it is a rebirth of courage, trust, and destiny.

A World Reborn from the Ashes

Set several years after the events of the first film, Legends Reborn follows Raya, now the Guardian of the Dragon Gem, as she struggles to maintain peace in a newly unified Kumandra. The once-fractured tribes — Fang, Heart, Spine, Talon, and Tail — live under a fragile alliance. But whispers of a returning darkness threaten to shatter the harmony Raya fought so hard to create.

When mysterious tremors begin to split the lands, Raya discovers that the Gem’s power has awakened something ancient — something even the dragons feared. To save her world once again, she must reunite with her loyal companions and embark on a perilous quest beyond the edges of Kumandra, into lands never before seen.

Plot Overview

The film introduces a new realm known as Sundra, a lost civilization that predates the rise of the five tribes. Deep within Sundra lies an ancient force — a draconic being known as Naraka, the Shadow Dragon**, said to have once been the twin of Sisu’s ancestor.

As the Gem’s power grows unstable, Raya realizes that the balance between light and shadow has been disrupted. To restore it, she must summon the courage to awaken new dragons and confront the darkness within herself. The journey pushes her to question whether unity can truly last when old fears resurface — and whether even legends can fade.

Returning Voices and New Additions

The voice cast brings back many beloved stars, led by:

Kelly Marie Tran as Raya — now a wiser, more burdened leader torn between diplomacy and destiny.

Awkwafina as Sisu — the last dragon returns, bringing her humor, hope, and heart to balance the film’s emotional weight.

Gemma Chan as Namaari — the fierce warrior queen of Fang, now Raya’s uneasy ally whose loyalty will once again be tested.

Joining the ensemble are several new characters:

Stephanie Hsu as Lina, a spirited dragon scholar from the ancient city of Sundra.

Donnie Yen as General Varun, a warrior from Spine who guards the hidden mountains.

Michelle Yeoh (in a rumored mentor role) as Asha, the spirit guide who once served the dragons.

Themes and Emotional Core

At its heart, Legends Reborn continues Disney’s exploration of trust, unity, and cultural heritage — but this time through the lens of legacy and rebirth.

Raya, once a lone warrior, now faces the challenges of leadership: the burden of peace, the weight of expectations, and the fear that history will repeat itself. The story asks, Can harmony survive without sacrifice?

Sisu, in turn, becomes a symbol of hope reborn — reminding Raya and audiences alike that strength lies not in perfection, but in forgiveness. The relationship between Raya and Namaari evolves into one of deep understanding — two women standing on opposite sides of destiny, yet bound by respect and empathy.

Visuals and Animation

Disney animators return to Kumandra with a reimagined artistic palette inspired by Southeast Asian architecture, textiles, and mythological iconography. The sequel’s color design leans toward deeper hues — golds, indigos, and stormy silvers — reflecting the duality of creation and destruction.

The dragon designs are more elaborate than ever, with new creatures representing elements beyond water — wind, light, and shadow. The animation blends hyperrealistic water physics with ethereal dragon energy, creating a visual experience that’s both grounded and dreamlike.

Music and Soundtrack

Oscar-winning composer James Newton Howard returns, this time collaborating with Southeast Asian artists to integrate authentic instruments like the gamelan, kulintang, and angklung. The score is described as a “fusion of ancient rhythm and modern symphony,” symbolizing the meeting of tradition and evolution.

A new original song, “Rise of the Dawn,” performed by Olivia Rodrigo, is rumored to headline the soundtrack — a soaring anthem about courage and renewal.

Behind the Scenes

Directed by Carlos López Estrada and Fawn Veerasunthorn, who co-directed the original, the film continues Disney’s commitment to cultural authenticity. The creative team worked closely with historians, linguists, and cultural advisors from across Southeast Asia to ensure the mythic yet respectful representation of the region’s diverse influences.

Production reportedly began in mid-2023, with early footage receiving standing ovations during private Disney previews. Test audiences praised the film’s emotional storytelling and breathtaking scope — describing it as “Avatar meets Moana, wrapped in ancient myth.”

Why It Matters

Raya and the Last Dragon: Legends Reborn is more than a sequel — it’s a statement. It represents Disney’s growing dedication to diverse voices and mythologies, bringing Southeast Asian culture to the global stage with authenticity and reverence.

It also marks a shift in tone for Disney Animation: balancing epic fantasy with mature, introspective storytelling. While the first film focused on forgiveness, this one explores what comes after forgiveness — how to protect what’s been healed.

Release and Expectations

The film is slated for a November 2025 global release, coinciding with Disney’s 100th anniversary celebrations continuing into its new storytelling era. Analysts predict it will be one of Disney’s major year-end blockbusters, expected to rival Frozen 3 and Moana 2 in scale and emotional depth.

Final Thoughts

Raya and the Last Dragon: Legends Reborn (2025) promises to be an emotionally resonant and visually spectacular return to Kumandra — a tale of courage reborn, legends reawakened, and unity tested once again.

As the tagline reads:
“Legends never die — they rise again.”