WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Raya and the Last Dragon, now playing in theaters and on Disney+.
Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon borrows from Southeast Asian influences to create an epic adventure set in Kumandra, a richly imagined world where humans once lived alongside dragons. However, those aren't the only fantasy creatures that populate the five lands; there are animal hybrids that will no doubt remind viewers of those from Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra.
On The Last Airbender, protagonist Aang and his friends travel on a six-legged flying bison named Appa, a cross between a bison and a manatee. Appa and Aang have been friends since they were both young, and their bond is deep.
Raya and the Last Dragon has a similar companion/transport in Tuk Tuk, who's part-pill bug and part-pug. Raya has been friends with Tuk Tuk since they were small, and they do nearly everything together, from infiltrating temples Tomb Raider-style, to crossing a Mad Max-like apocalyptic wasteland. But rather than fly, Tuk Tuk curls into ball rolls at high speeds.
The world of Avatar also features a small, mischievous winged lemur named Momo, as well as an assortment of other animal mash-ups, ranging from lion turtles to cat deer to polar bear dogs.
Raya has its own counterpart to Momo in a troop of thieving Ongis (Dyan, Pan and Uka), a blend monkey and catfish. This troublesome trio forms a close bond with the orphaned toddler Noi, and prowls the streets and alleys of Talon land, searching for their next target.
Like the other animal mixtures found in Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra, Raya and the Last Dragon's creatures are uniquely combined versions of real-world animals. Some examples include the farting Toot 'n' Boom beetles or the animals that the warriors of Fang ride that resemble cats but are the size of a horse. While many fantastic influences inspired Raya and the Last Dragon, it is still a wholly original adventure. Its originality is also what has helped make the film such a hit for kids and adults alike.
Directed by Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada from a script by Paul Briggs and John Ripa, Raya and the Last Dragon stars Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina, Gemma Chan, Daniel Dae Kim, Sandra Oh, Benedict Wong, Izaac Wang, Thalia Tran, Alan Tudyk, Lucille Soong, Patti Harrison and Ross Butler.