Raya is the first of Disney to heavily feature Southeast Asian culture but the animation company isn't a stranger to productions with an Asian influence.
Raya and the Last Dragon is inspired by traditional Southeast Asian cultures. The production team consulted with Southeast Asia Story Trust experts to ensure an accurate cultural representation in the film, and they emphasized the importance of avoiding stereotypical portrayals of Asian characters.
Raya is a fictional character in Walt Disney Animation Studios' animated film Raya and the Last Dragon (2021). Created by screenwriter Adele Lim, she is voiced by American actress Kelly Marie Tran. The daughter of the chief of the Heart tribe, Raya is a warrior princess who is appointed the guardian of the Dragon Gem.
As Raya is from a fictional land, the concept of race and ethnicity doesn't totally translate one-for-one, but, generally, she is Southeast Asian. Raya is voiced by Kelly Marie Tran, who is Vietnamese-American.
The Origin Story of Mulan, Moana, Jasmine & Raya | AANHPI Month | Disney Princess Club
Is Raya Vietnamese or Thai?
Raya is voiced by Kelly Marie Tran, who is Vietnamese American. The film is inspired by diverse Southeast Asian cultures. The screenplay was written by Qui Nguyen and Adele Lim, who both trace their roots back to Southeast Asia.
“Raya” takes its visual inspiration from many countries, including Laos, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines.
There wasn't a Korean Disney princess, so this Harvard student created one. 22-year-old Julia Riew wrote an entire screenplay and music for an animated film or Broadway musical and released parts of it on Tik Tok.
The film is a landmark moment for Southeast Asian representation in Hollywood: Raya is Disney's first Southeast Asian princess, and is voiced by Kelly Marie Tran, the first Southeast Asian actor to lead an animated feature from the studio.
Located at the heart of Southeast Asian region, the Kingdom of Thailand is founded to be one of the Far Eastern cultural countries, rich in history and diversity.
According to South Korean legends, Princess Suriratna, who is known as Heo Hwang-ok in the country, travelled to Korea about 2000 years ago and started the Karak dynasty by marrying King Kim Suro.
Topping our list is Princess Diya Kumari, born into the illustrious royal family of Jaipur. The daughter of Late Maharaja Sawai Bhawani Singh and Maharani Padmini Devi, she is a multi-faceted personality known for her strong support of various causes.
Disney is to close its six remaining linear TV channels in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Korea as the conglomerate puts a greater emphasis on direct-to-consumer streaming.
When Lim came across the name “Raya,” she was immediately drawn to the name. “In Malay, it means 'celebration' and evokes this joyful time where people come together around a lot of food,” she said. Lim also added that in Thai, it means the one who leads.
Although Moana is from the fictional island Motunui some 3,000 years ago, the story and culture of Moana is based on the very real heritage and history of Polynesian islands such as Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, and Tahiti.
Created by author Robert D. San Souci, Mulan is based on the legendary Chinese warrior Hua Mulan from the poem the Ballad of Mulan, making her the first Disney Princess not to be based on a fairytale or folktale but rather a legend.
MANILA, Philippines — Apart from being the first Black Filipino Disney Princess, there is more to H.E.R. than just being Belle in in the ABC TV special “Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration,” which will be available on Disney+ in January 2023. Fil-Am H.E.R.
The lead character, Bo Bayani, is Filipino-American, making this the first time Disney kids animation featuring a Filipino as its lead. The show doesn't play coy when it comes to Filipino representation or diversity for that matter.
1. Raya was inspired by a history of strong female leaders in Southeast Asia. According to co-writer Qui Nguyen, some of his inspirations include the legend of the Trưng Sisters, fearless Vietnamese warriors who fought to liberate the country from China's rule centuries ago.
