Disney is releasing a new movie called Raya and the Last Dragon tomorrow. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would see a Disney princess look like me, but also be from the jungle home my parents grew up in. In fact, in my youth, I remember some of my family referring to me as a jungle child. This is so unlike the experience of my other Asian friends that I remember.
I haven't seen the movie yet, and I know it is not perfect, casting the voices predominantly with east Asian actors instead of persons from Southeast Asia, the region the story takes place. Still, despite this and more than just providing opportunities for Asian representation in film and animated stories, it provides a depiction of Asian people different from mainland China.
I've said this before when writing about the film Crazy Rich Asians: "For me, the movie is not just about Asian faces, but watching what I have always felt to be a minority Chinese view become mainstream on the big screen". I hope I will feel the same when I watch this movie tomorrow.