History of Raya and the Last Dragon in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: June 30, 2024

"Raya and the Last Dragon" is a 2021 animated fantasy film by Walt Disney Animation Studios. Directed by Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada, the story follows Raya, a warrior princess, on her quest to find the last dragon. Raya's goal is to defeat the Druun, evil spirits threatening her land, Kumandra, and rescue her father. The film features a talented voice cast including Kelly Marie Tran and Awkwafina.

October 2018: Deadline Hollywood Reports on Upcoming Disney Film

In October 2018, Deadline Hollywood reported on Disney's development of a new fantasy animated film, which would later become "Raya and the Last Dragon."

October 2018: Development Begins on "Raya and the Last Dragon"

In October 2018, development for "Raya and the Last Dragon" began at Walt Disney Animation Studios.

August 2019: "Raya and the Last Dragon" Announced at D23 Expo

During the August 2019 D23 Expo, Disney officially announced "Raya and the Last Dragon."

August 2019: Voice Cast Announcement for "Raya and the Last Dragon"

During the August 2019 D23 Expo, Disney revealed the initial voice cast for "Raya and the Last Dragon," including Cassie Steele as Raya and Awkwafina as Sisu.

January 2020: Kelly Marie Tran Cast as Raya

Kelly Marie Tran was officially cast as the voice of Raya in January 2020.

August 2020: Cast and Crew Changes for "Raya and the Last Dragon"

In August 2020, Disney announced changes to the "Raya and the Last Dragon" team, with Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada replacing Paul Briggs and Dean Wellins as directors, and Kelly Marie Tran replacing Cassie Steele as the voice of Raya.

November 2020: Postponement of "Raya and the Last Dragon" Release

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the release of "Raya and the Last Dragon" was delayed from its initial November 2020 date.

November 25, 2020: Initial Release Date for "Raya and the Last Dragon"

Initially, "Raya and the Last Dragon" was scheduled to be released on November 25, 2020.

January 26, 2021: Release of Trailers for "Raya and the Last Dragon" & Controversy over Southeast Asian Representation

On January 26, 2021, trailers for "Raya and the Last Dragon" were released. The trailers sparked debate about the film's representation of Southeast Asian cultures.

February 26, 2021: Release of "Raya and the Last Dragon" Score

"Raya and the Last Dragon's" score, composed by James Newton Howard, was released on February 26, 2021.

March 5, 2021: Theatrical and Disney+ Release of "Raya and the Last Dragon"

On March 5, 2021, "Raya and the Last Dragon" premiered in theaters and on Disney+ Premier Access.

March 12, 2021: First Adjusted Release Date for "Raya and the Last Dragon"

The release of "Raya and the Last Dragon" was initially moved to March 12, 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

April 2, 2021: Digital Release of "Raya and the Last Dragon"

On April 2, 2021, "Raya and the Last Dragon" was released for digital download.

June 4, 2021: "Raya and the Last Dragon" Available for Free on Disney+

Starting June 4, 2021, "Raya and the Last Dragon" became free to watch for all Disney+ subscribers.

2021: Raya and the Last Dragon Streaming Success

"Raya and the Last Dragon" emerged as a streaming success story in 2021, capturing the attention of viewers worldwide.

2021: Raya and the Last Dragon Theatrical Release

In 2021, "Raya and the Last Dragon" was released in theaters in US, Canada and internationally. While it initially faced some challenges due to Disney's rental terms with certain theater chains, it ultimately performed well, becoming the most-popular film at the box office for several weeks.

2021: Release of "Raya and the Last Dragon"

In 2021, Walt Disney Pictures released "Raya and the Last Dragon," an animated fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios.

January 2022: Akamai's Report on Most-Pirated Films

In January 2022, Akamai, a technology firm, released a report identifying "Raya and the Last Dragon" as the ninth most-pirated film of 2021.

January 21, 2022: Deadline Hollywood and Nielsen Holdings Streaming Report

On January 21, 2022, Deadline Hollywood and Nielsen Holdings released their official list of the most-watched streaming titles of 2021. "Raya and the Last Dragon" secured the third position on this list, accumulating an impressive 8.34 billion minutes watched.