Raya and the Last Dragon Ending & Real Meaning Explained

Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Raya and the Last Dragon!

Raya and the Last Dragon introduces a fictional world full of warriors and magic, but the ending dives deep into the movie’s overarching theme. Disney’s latest animated film takes viewers on a mystical journey inspired by the cultures of Southeast Asia. Directed by Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada, Raya and the Last Dragon propels the Disney formula to another level in putting the fate of an entire nation in the hands of one fierce warrior.

Raya and the Last Dragon follows the fictional world of Kumandra, which is split into five different tribes. 500 years before the events in the movie, dragons roamed the world until they sacrificed themselves to save humanity from monsters known as the Druun. When those deadly creatures return, it’s up to Raya (Kelly Marie Tran) to locate the last surviving dragon, Sisu (Awkwafina). In a search for the magic capable of saving Kumandra, Raya encounters compelling figures from tribes she once viewed as enemies.

On the surface, the ending gives viewers a satisfactory conclusion by allowing enemies to put their differences aside for the greater good. However, on a deeper level, Raya and the Last Dragon presents enthralling messages interweaved with the magical lore at the center of the film. By incorporating an immense amount of emotional weight on the core figures, the outcome of events develops an even greater meaning.

Why Raya Has To Find Sisu

Following Raya and the Last Dragon‘s opening sequence, the timeline jumps six years to document Raya’s perilous journey in locating Sisu. Though her mission seems quite clear, it’s more complicated based on Raya’s involvement in the return of the Druun. Before the monsters ravished Kumandra as they did five centuries prior, Raya and her tribe were responsible for protecting the Dragon Gem. Raya’s failure to acknowledge Namaari’s (Gemma Chan) true intent with their new friendship results in the gem’s destruction. As members from the other four lands fought for pieces, the Druun reawaken. Putting trust into the wrong person helped set off the chain of events that eventually lead Raya to lose her father when the monsters turn him to stone.

During the six years of searching for the last surviving dragon, Raya undoubtedly encounters countless humans who fell victim to the Druun. This overwhelming guilt gives Raya more motivation in finding Sisu as she believes locating the dragon could be the first step in eradicating the Druun for good. Though Raya wants to vanquish the Druun to revive Kumandra’s population, her thoughts are understandably focused on bringing back her father, Chief Benja (Daniel Dae Kim). There’s a sense of loneliness surrounding Raya. It’s not until she meets Sisu that she discovers the importance of friendship. Still, Raya can’t attempt to save her father or Kumandra until she finds Sisu.

Why Namaari & Fang Land Want To Stop Raya

Namaari serves as Raya’s most dangerous foe throughout much of Raya and the Last Dragon. Not only did the figure fool Raya to get a piece of the Dragon Gem when they were children, but she remains a thorn in Raya’s side in the years that follow. As the daughter of Fang Land’s Chieftess, Namaari possesses a lot of power. With an army of skilled assassins at her disposal, the princess of Fang makes it her responsibility to thwart Raya’s mission. Though there’s selfishness in stopping her foe, Namaari also tries to stop Raya for the future of her tribe.

If Raya manages to get all of the Dragon Gem pieces, she has the potential to eliminate the Druun to bring back Kumandra’s human population. Much of the nation suffered from the monsters, but not Fang. The tribe expanded their reach by building a canal, which subsequently protects the tribe from the Druun. Essentially, the turn of events brought on by the destruction of the powerful orb led to a new level of prosperity for Fang. If Raya finds Sisu and manages to put the Dragon Gem back together, Chieftess Virana (Sandra Oh) worries the blame will be put on her people. Her tribe caused the return of the Druun, and the possible ramifications could drastically harm Fang’s growth if the rest of Kumandra is revived. The confirmed existence of Sisu complicates matters, but Virana vows to claim the last dragon and every gem piece in the hopes of gaining full control of Kumandra. Thankfully, Namaari has a change of heart.

How Raya & Namaari Save Kumandra

Namaari initially offers to help Raya defeat the Druun to save Kumandra before betraying the young woman once again. This time, however, the betrayal results in Sisu’s death, which is a tad ambiguous in terms of who exactly was to blame. Diving deeper, one could argue both Raya and Namaari are responsible for Sisu’s death, seeing as they both make decisions based on selfishness. When they finally realize they have more in common than they thought, Raya and Namaari come together for what Sisu would have wanted. Since they both lost everything, the two fierce warriors put their affiliations aside for Kumandra’s fate.

With Sisu gone, it’s up to Raya’s team to use the Dragon Gem pieces to save Kumandra. When the group can no longer hold off the Druun, Raya understands the sacrifices that need to be made to complete the mission. By giving up her piece of the gem, Raya allows her allies to recognize unity is the key to saving their world. The others follow, giving their pieces to Namaari before turning to stone. Namaari also falls victim to the Druun, but the repaired gem eventually unleashes magic, eliminating the Druun and reviving Kumandra’s victims. The faith that Raya, Namaari, and Sisu put in one another emerges as the gem’s true magic.

How Raya’s Group Of Allies Foreshadow The Ending

While on the special mission, Raya encounters significant figures that emerge as allies. She meets Tong (Benedict Wong), Boun (Izaac Wang), and Little Noi (Thalia Tran) before all join her in the pivotal mission. Of course, there’s also Sisu, who holds the answers in connection to the Dragon Gem’s magic. Each member of Raya’s group lost their loved ones to the Druun, and a unified group brings a sense of belonging. When Namaari finally joins their efforts after initial reluctance, the others aren’t too keen on accepting her. It’s not until Raya puts her faith in Namaari that Boun, Noi, and Tong acknowledge her true intentions. By coming together, the mission becomes a success. Interestingly, each member of the group’s homeland plays into Chief Benja’s original aspirations for Kumandra.

At the start of Raya and the Last Dragon, Chief Benja reveals his plans of reuniting all five tribes to unify Kumandra. Though Raya’s mission becomes focused on bringing the population back to life, she simultaneously fulfills her father’s wishes with the help of her new allies. Whereas Sisu represents the dragons, Boun is from Tail, Noi helms from Talon, Tong serves as the sole survivor from Spine, and Namaari comes from Fang. Since Raya calls Heart home, each tribe is present within the group that ultimately saves the day. Despite returning to their homes, the group convinces the rest of their tribes to peacefully come together, just as Chief Benja always wanted.

The Real Meaning Of Raya & The Last Dragon’s Ending

Raya and the Last Dragon features an ending that ties up loose ends. Sisu is resurrected by her dragon siblings as the species is fully revived. Meanwhile, the rest of Kumandra happily celebrates after coming together as one nation. While family, unification, and acceptance of one another are all important themes, the ending cements the significance of trust. If it weren’t for Raya putting her faith in Namaari to repair the Dragon Gem while the Druun was overrunning the group, the plan would have never worked. That trust is what truly allowed the orb to vanquish the Druun and the discord among the tribes.

The reason Raya even elects to trust Namaari is due to Sisu’s influence. The dragon even suggests “the world’s broken because you don’t trust anyone” when speaking to her new human friend. That distrust between Raya and Namaari tragically leads to Sisu’s death. But the dragon’s legacy and beliefs are what bring the two women back together. Centuries before, Sisu’s siblings combined their powers and entrusted Sisu to use it as a way to stop the Druun. If it weren’t for that faith in Sisu, the monsters wouldn’t have been eradicated. History repeats itself in Raya and the Last Dragon, but this time, the overwhelming amount of trust repairs the broken world.

About The Author

Kara Hedash
(1744 Articles Published)

Kara Hedash is a features editor and writer for Screen Rant. From time to time, she dives into the world’s most popular franchises but Kara primarily focuses on evergreen topics. The fact that she gets to write about The Office regularly is like a dream come true. Before joining Screen Rant, Kara served as a contributor for Movie Pilot and had work published on The Mary Sue and Reel Honey. After graduating college, writing began as a part-time hobby for Kara but it quickly turned into a career. She loves binging a new series and watching movies ranging from Hollywood blockbusters to hidden indie gems. She also has a soft spot for horror ever since she started watching it at too young of an age. Her favorite Avenger is Thor and her favorite Disney princess is Leia Organa. When Kara’s not busy writing, you can find her doing yoga or hanging out with Gritty.

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