Raya and the Last Dragon

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 demonstrates 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. Significantly, 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., indicates 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.