“Raya” is also notable for the simple fact that it features predominately Asian American voice actors - a first for Disney Animation. It’s not that it’s inherently bad, it’s just a lazy choice for a film that is otherwise so inventive. And it has chosen to have yet another middle-aged semi-dystopian female leader bedecked in all white with a severe gray haircut (Namaari’s mom, voiced by Sandra Oh). It does however hammer home a message about trust, which, you know, is fair enough. Raya is allowed to be awesome without the script shouting about it all the time and it’s better for it. It’s also the best kind of feminist film in that it’s one that doesn’t clobber you with the message. It’s a compromise and “Raya” is undoubtedly a visual feast. But hand drawn animation also wouldn’t be able to create the stunning vistas and astoundingly lifelike water. Sometimes extended shots of the humans talking can start to feel like the uncanny valley and it makes you miss the hand drawn elements of the form. The animation is both stunning and very computer generated. Along the way their brood grows with others displaced and orphaned by the Druun and Raya must confront her main foe, a Princess from another land, Namaari (Gemma Chan) who is part of the reason things went awry in the first place. Raya discovers Sisu is not quite the hero she is looking for, but that’s just part of the journey.

Once she sets out on her mission, things pick up considerably thanks in no small part to the introduction of Sisu, played by Awkwafina, who doesn’t try to disguise her wonderfully distinctive voice. “Raya” gets off to a bit of a slow start but stick with it. The result is a sweet-natured and wonderfully imaginative fantasy adventure that has shades of “Indiana Jones” and is suitable for the whole family.

The film comes from the odd but inspired pairing of co-directors Carlos López Estrada (who made the Sundance breakout “Blindspotting”) and Disney veteran Don Hall (“Big Hero 6”) and was co-written by Vietnamese playwright Qui Nguyen and “Crazy Rich Asians” co-writer Adele Lim.

Rays and the last dragon full movie