The world of Disney princess movies has been steadily changing. Characters like Raya and the Last Dragon.
The movie is a little darker than some Disney movies of the past, putting Raya in an apocalyptic-like setting on the hunt for a dragon that can help her save the world. Raya proves that heroism comes in many forms though as she's not just a fighter. She also is practical and has to learn how to trust all over again.
Benja Has Complete Faith In Raya
"Raya, Princess Of Heart, My Daughter, You Are Now Guardian Of The Dragon Gem."
When the audience first sees Raya as a 12-year-old masterfully encounter traps and make her way to the gem hidden in the kingdom of Heart, it's all a test set to her by her father. She's incredibly skilled, clearly trained her entire life for the job, and when she bests her father in combat for the gem, he pronounces her its guardian.
It's incredibly early in the movie, but it's the first time the audience sees that the princess of the movie is also perfectly capable of holding her own in a physical altercation immediately. That doesn't often happen. Mulan has to train to become a fighter, Merida uses a bow from a distance, and most of the Disney princesses fall into the trope of being graceful, but clumsy. Raya is physically capable of taking on multiple fighters at the same time.
Raya Calls Tong Out
"What Are You Planning On Doing With Us... You Have No Idea, Do You?"
When Sisu and Raya find themselves caught in Tong's trap, Raya isn't even phased by the situation. She takes in their surroundings and tries to figure out a plan. She's lucky that her allies are looking for her and she doesn't even have to come up with a plan after all.
Raya is completely unimpressed with the fact that Tong just died them up with no idea of what to do next. Considering she's already tracked down a missing dragon and two other dragon gem pieces at that point though, she has a reason to be unimpressed.
Raya its Her Mistakes
"If I Can Be Honest, I Really Need Your Help. I Made A Mistake."
Not every Disney princess just wanders into a bad situation and has to be saved. Plenty of Disney princesses engage in bad acts that actually make their situation worse. Raya sees the splitting up of the dragon gem as her fault since she led Namaari right to it.
When Raya calls to Sisu though, she's able to it that the fault for the Druun loose in the world is partially her own. That's a big step. The best princesses in Disney's movies are able to it when they've messed up and take heroic actions to fix those mistakes.
Raya Stands Up To Royal Representatives
"I Have Something To Say; Who's Hungry?"
At just 12 years, Raya finds herself in a unique position. Her father brings representatives from all of the kingdoms to Heart to try to negotiate with them. While all of the royals and representatives argue amongst themselves, Raya steps forward and says that she has something to say - which is to offer them all food.
Despite everything that happens after that makes Raya not want to trust anyone, she begins her time wanting to trust people, and wanting to be the bigger person in a room full of adults. Raya wants people to be united instead of at one another's throats, and there's little more heroic than that.
Raya Values Honesty
"So, It's None Of My Business, But Using Your Baby Charm To Rip People Off Is Super Sketchy."
Despite Raya being tough, and having to lie to multiple people to get access to the dragon gems, she prefers to be honest. She doesn't want to trick people into helping her or getting what she wants. That's part of why being tricked by an actual toddler bothers her so much. Raya just wanted to help the small child, and ended up being robbed instead.
When Raya actually gets Noi and the ongi to help her out, the group becomes part of her band of allies to save the world, leading to Raya to tell her just how wrong her con artist act is. It might not be a huge heroic moment in the grand scheme of the movie, but it's Raya getting to try to teach a kid to be better than her.
Raya Stands Up To Namaari
"...My Sword Here Says We're Not [Going With You]."
When Namaari tracks Raya down throughout the movie, it's because she's after the same thing as Raya. She wants the dragon gem pieces to bring prosperity to her kingdom. Namaari thinks she has the upper hand because she always has soldiers as backup, but Raya never backs down.
Raya refutes that Namaari is ever going to take her prisoner because she's just as good with her sword as Namaari. The two even bonded over their enjoyment of training with blades as kids, something other Disney princesses didn't really have in their backgrounds. Her willingness to stand up to Namaari, even if she's completely on her own and Namaari is flanked by professionals, is irable.
Raya Encourages Her Friends To Trust
"It's Not About Her Magic; It's About Trust."
Raya and her allies are nearly torn apart at the end of the movie when her lack of trust in Namaari puts Sisu's life at risk. The others are convinced that without the dragon, they can't beat the Druun. Raya realizes that all they really have to do is put their trust in one another instead of in a dragon's magic.
Raya's leap of faith is born from the knowledge that the Druun feed on the strife amongst humans, and that Sisu has been encouraging them to trust one another all along. Her learning to trust again after spending years seeing the worst of humanity is a tough hurdle for her to overcome, but she does it.
Namaari Knows How Tough Raya Is
"I'd Like To Take The Royal Army And Intercept Her... She's More Capable Than You Realize."
Namaari has a clear idea of just where Raya has to search for all of the dragon gems. She goes to her mother to outline a plan that involves taking the royal army after her. Namaari wants to use the army to track down and stop a single woman.
Her mother does eventually grant her the use of the soldiers, but it's a stark reminder of just how capable the world sees Raya as. She's evaded Namaari (and presumably representatives from other kingdoms) for the six years since her father was turned to stone. Namaari might be incredibly skilled, but even she isn't sure she can stop Raya without the help of an entire army.
Raya Sacrifices Herself
"Let Me Take The First Step."
One of the most heroic acts a Disney princess can do is step out of the way and allow someone else to be the hero when needed. Raya decides to lead by example when she realizes that she's not going to be able to get everyone to trust Namaari to do the right thing.
When Raya decides to "take the first step," she gives her piece of the gem to Namaari and allows herself to be turned to stone with complete faith that others will follow and Namaari will save the world. It's definitely a big step since she's not been able to trust Namaari since she was 12.
Raya Acknowledges Her Father's Dream
"Ba, Welcome To Kumandra."
Throughout the movie, Raya freely its that she doesn't think the world can unite again. Her experiences have left her cynical. Her father was more of an idealist than she was.
By the end of the movie, however, she's seen the good in humanity, and with her friends, they've made her father's ideal into a reality. Being able to bring an entire world together that didn't trust one another is truly one of the most heroic acts by any character - Disney princess or not.
