Raya and the Last Dragon
Long ago, in the fantasy world of Kumandra, humans and dragons lived together in harmony. However, when sinister monsters known as the Druun threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. Now, 500 years later, those same monsters have returned, and it's up to a lone warrior to track down the last dragon and stop the Druun for good.
Working with a significant budget of $100.0M, the film achieved a steady performer with $130.4M in global revenue (+30% profit margin).
Nominated for 1 Oscar. 13 wins & 62 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) demonstrates meticulously timed plot construction, characteristic of Don Hall's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 47 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Raya
Sisu
Namaari
Boun
Tong
Little Noi
Chief Benja
Chief Virana
Main Cast & Characters
Raya
Played by Kelly Marie Tran
A lone warrior princess from the Heart tribe seeking to reunite the fragmented land of Kumandra and restore the last dragon.
Sisu
Played by Awkwafina
The last dragon, an ancient water dragon with self-doubt who must help save Kumandra despite feeling inadequate compared to her siblings.
Namaari
Played by Gemma Chan
The warrior princess of Fang, daughter of Chief Virana, whose betrayal of Raya sets the story in motion but shares the same goal of saving the world.
Boun
Played by Izaac Wang
A young entrepreneur and captain of the Shrimporium boat who lost his family to the Druun and joins Raya's quest.
Tong
Played by Benedict Wong
A gentle giant warrior from Spine who lost his family and village to the Druun, initially distrustful but becomes a loyal ally.
Little Noi
Played by Thalia Tran
A con-artist toddler from Talon with her band of Ongis, using cuteness to steal and survive in a broken world.
Chief Benja
Played by Daniel Dae Kim
Raya's father and the Chief of Heart, an idealistic leader who believes in unity and trusts others despite the risks.
Chief Virana
Played by Sandra Oh
Namaari's mother and the Chief of Fang, a pragmatic leader who prioritizes her people's survival above all.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Young Raya trains with her father Chief Benja in the Heart Palace, a unified Kumandra where all five lands lived in harmony around the Dragon Gem. She is eager, hopeful, and trusts in her father's vision of unity.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Namaari betrays Raya's trust, signaling the Fang warriors. The chiefs fight over the Dragon Gem, it shatters, and the Druun return, turning Raya's father and most of humanity to stone. The world falls into darkness.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Raya finds and awakens Sisu, the last dragon. Sisu doesn't have magic to fix everything alone—they need to recover all five gem pieces. Raya commits to the quest, entering Act 2 with a partner and clear mission., moving from reaction to action.
At 52 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat The team successfully infiltrates Fang and recovers multiple gem pieces. Sisu gains powers with each piece. They have a false victory—momentum is with them, they're winning. But Namaari spots Sisu, raising the stakes irreversibly., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 79 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, At the bridge confrontation, Raya refuses to trust Namaari despite Sisu's plea. When Raya draws her sword, Namaari's crossbow fires in panic, killing Sisu. The last dragon dies—the literal "whiff of death"—and hope seems extinguished., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 85 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Raya realizes Sisu was right: "I trust them because you trusted me." She understands that trust must come first, even without guarantee. She chooses to give Namaari her gem piece—a radical act of vulnerable trust despite everything., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Raya and the Last Dragon's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Raya and the Last Dragon against these established plot points, we can identify how Don Hall utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Raya and the Last Dragon within the animation genre.
Don Hall's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Don Hall films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Raya and the Last Dragon takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Don Hall filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional animation films include The Bad Guys, Puss in Boots and Violet Evergarden: Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll. For more Don Hall analyses, see Strange World.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Young Raya trains with her father Chief Benja in the Heart Palace, a unified Kumandra where all five lands lived in harmony around the Dragon Gem. She is eager, hopeful, and trusts in her father's vision of unity.
Theme
Chief Benja tells Raya: "If we don't stop and learn to trust one another again, it's only a matter of time before we tear ourselves apart." The theme of trust versus division is explicitly stated.
Worldbuilding
Prologue establishes the world: dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity from the Druun, leaving the Dragon Gem. The five lands (Heart, Fang, Spine, Talon, Tail) fractured in distrust. Benja invites all nations to Heart to reunite over the gem.
Disruption
Namaari betrays Raya's trust, signaling the Fang warriors. The chiefs fight over the Dragon Gem, it shatters, and the Druun return, turning Raya's father and most of humanity to stone. The world falls into darkness.
Resistance
Six years later, adult Raya searches alone for the last dragon, Sisu, believing only dragon magic can restore the world. She debates whether to trust again, carrying deep wounds from Namaari's betrayal. Her companion Tuk Tuk accompanies her quest.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Raya finds and awakens Sisu, the last dragon. Sisu doesn't have magic to fix everything alone—they need to recover all five gem pieces. Raya commits to the quest, entering Act 2 with a partner and clear mission.
Mirror World
Sisu reveals she didn't create the gem's magic—her siblings did. She only channeled their trust in her. This introduces the B-story: Sisu embodies radical trust and believes in people's goodness, contrasting Raya's cynicism.
Premise
Raya and Sisu journey across the broken lands collecting gem pieces. They encounter Boun (entrepreneur kid), Noi (con-baby), and Tong (warrior). Despite Raya's reluctance, Sisu insists on trusting people, gradually building a misfit family.
Midpoint
The team successfully infiltrates Fang and recovers multiple gem pieces. Sisu gains powers with each piece. They have a false victory—momentum is with them, they're winning. But Namaari spots Sisu, raising the stakes irreversibly.
Opposition
Namaari pursues them relentlessly. Raya's trust issues create friction with Sisu, who wants to trust Namaari. The team faces increasing danger from both the Druun and Fang forces. Raya's inability to trust begins costing them.
Collapse
At the bridge confrontation, Raya refuses to trust Namaari despite Sisu's plea. When Raya draws her sword, Namaari's crossbow fires in panic, killing Sisu. The last dragon dies—the literal "whiff of death"—and hope seems extinguished.
Crisis
Sisu's death triggers a flood releasing the Druun everywhere. Raya, consumed by rage and grief, blames Namaari and prepares for revenge. The world descends into final chaos. Raya hits her dark night, having lost everything to her lack of trust.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Raya realizes Sisu was right: "I trust them because you trusted me." She understands that trust must come first, even without guarantee. She chooses to give Namaari her gem piece—a radical act of vulnerable trust despite everything.
Synthesis
Raya offers her gem piece to Namaari, trusting first. One by one, each person contributes their piece in an act of faith. The gem reforms not through magic, but through collective trust. Sisu and everyone return, the Druun vanish, and Kumandra is whole.
Transformation
Raya reunites with her restored father in a unified Kumandra where all five nations gather together in peace. The final image mirrors the opening but shows true unity—Raya has transformed from a lone, distrustful warrior into someone who leads with trust.