Make Movie Night Memorable with Raya and the Last Dragon
I love movies. In my opinion, the best movies are entertaining and also offer up ideas to consider or lessons to take to heart. Also, I think movies offer parents a great opportunity to have fun family time, help kids make connections between larger ideas, and to even start important conversations in an organic way.
So, every now and then on the blog, I’ll be doing a post on a film you can watch with the kids on movie night, complete with a parent’s guide to the film, ideas for making the viewing experience more fun, and ideas for post-viewing conversations. We’re going to kick off with a relatively recent release from Disney, Raya and the Last Dragon.
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Viewing Guide
Run Time: 107 minutes
Rating: PG
Recommended Age: Common Sense Media’s review says 8+, but we watched this with my sons who are six and three and they loved it.
Premise: This film takes place in the fantasy world of Kumandra, where humans and dragons once coexisted. The prosperous land was being destroyed by the Druun, a ravaging force that turns all people it encounters into stone. So, the dragons embody a special gem with their power and wield it to save Kumandra. The humans are saved, but the dragons are no more. 500 years passes and the five tribes representing five parts of the body of the dragon (Fang, Talon, Spine, Tail, and Heart) become divided. Raya’s father is the chief of Heart, and they are the safe-keepers of the dragon gem. Believing the tribes can be Kumandra again, he invites the other tribes to a feast. Unfortunately, everything falls apart, and the Druun returns once again. For the rest of the film, we see Raya and her allies attempt to resurrect the dragons, stop the Druun, and save humanity.
Big Ideas in the Film: Trust, Socioeconomic Disparity, Revenge vs. Forgiveness, Working Together, Importance of Family
Where to Watch: Disney+, DVD/Bluray
Why Watch: The message of this movie is an important one about trust and the importance of the bonds between people. Also, the characters are compelling, especially (in my opinion) Sisu and Boun. And it’s funny and heartwarming and visually stunning. Perfect for your movie night!
Make Your Movie Night Special
If you want to make an event out of your movie night with Raya and the Last Dragon, here are some fun ways to extend the fun!
Make Soup
In the movie, a soup recipe is a symbol for unity, with Raya and each of her allies adding something to it to make it delicious. So, make your family’s favorite soup before viewing and allow each family member to add a specific ingredient while talking about what that person adds to your family. It’s a good opportunity to talk about each person’s unique space in the family and how the family is special because of each person. And comparing that to a recipe is something that can help it make sense even for little kids.
If you need a good soup recipe, especially one that connects to the culture of the film, check out this list of asian-inspired soups from Taste of Home.
Guide your kids in learning about dragons
- Give your kids a little background with this article about dragons I adapted from the American Museum of Natural History. And if you have older kids, have them dig into Southeast Asian Culture to learn about the groups represented in the movie.
- Make a dragon-themed craft. I love this list of craft options from Artsy Craftsy Mom! I have small kids so we colored the printable dragon mask, but there are some more complex crafts for older kids too!
- After the movie (or before), extend your kids’ interest in dragons with some great dragon books:
- Babies and Toddlers: Never Touch a Dragon
- Young Kids (4-8): Dragons Love Tacos
- Older Kids (8-12): Wings of Fire Series
- Teens: The Inheritance Cycle or The Dragon Riders of Pern Series
Opportunities for Important Conversations
This movie is great for starting conversations with kids about a variety of important topics. I’ve outlined a few below that I’ve discussed with my own children and nephew. For each, I have some questions you can ask to get the conversation going.
Trust
- When Raya is a child she trusts easily, but later on she does not trust anyone. So what happens to her that causes this change? And can you think of an example of something similar happening in real life?
- Who do you trust the most? Why do you trust them?
- Who are the people we should trust? And who shouldn’t we trust? So, what is the difference?
- Why do you think Sisu and Raya are different in their views about trust?
- What does Raya learn about trust on her journey in the movie? How does that change her? And what have you learned?
Socioeconomic Disparity
- Did you notice how sad Namaari was about not having been able to have rice in a long time? So, what is something you have that you would miss if you couldn’t have it? And, how would it make you feel if you didn’t have things you needed?
- Though some food is hard to get in Fang, Namaari does have beautiful clothes and jewelry like her Sisu necklace. Just like them, in our world there are many ways to be “rich” and “poor.” What are some ways that we are rich? Or are there things we don’t have that you have noticed others do?
- The other tribes are jealous of Heart because of their wealth and resources. So, how does this cause problems in the movie?
- Do you know anyone who doesn’t have the things they need? So, what could we do to help?
Importance of Family
- Though Raya and Namaari are enemies, they are similar in their family situation. Both are being raised by single parents. What is our family unit like? And what other kinds of families do you know about?
- Everyone in Raya’s group of allies has lost family to the Druun. How does this make them feel? And how does this cause them to make the choices they do?
- Raya and her allies end up interacting like a family even though they are not related. Who do we have in our lives that we consider family whether we are related or not?
Cultural Diversity
- Think about how Raya, Namaari, Boun, Tong, and Noi look different and dress differently. But they all come to view each other as being very similar. So how are they different and how are they alike? And how are your friends different from you and how are you alike?
- What are some things that happen in the movie that are similar to things we believe? And what are some things the characters do in their culture that we don’t?
- This movie is fiction, but it is based on some ideas that are part of the real culture of Southeast Asia. Now, is there anything you want to learn about the real people of Southeast Asia? Or, do you have any questions about what is fact and what is fiction?
What's Next for Movie Night Magic?
I hope this helps make your next movie night special and brings about fun family time, extended learning, and important conversations with your kids.
So, now, what movie should I do next? I’m open to older films or new releases! What’s your favorite to watch with your kids? Drop me a comment and I’ll pick one for next time!
Have a Good Day!
Note: Content of this post belongs to Jamie @whatagoodday.com. All images and content are copyright protected. Please do not use my images without prior permission. I’m happy for you to share this post but be sure to link to this post. Thank you.
Jamie, I love all your ideas!! I love watching movies especially with my granddaughters or anyone who will watch with me!! Thanks Jamie!!
Thank you, Melinda! I hope some of these ideas make your movie night even more special with your granddaughters!