WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Raya and the Last Dragon, playing now in theaters and on Disney+.
Unlike most modern releases from a major studio, Disney's new animated fantasy adventure Raya and the Last Dragon doesn't lay the groundwork for an obvious sequel. It tells a complete story, with all of the main characters -- and, indeed, all of the kingdom of Kumandra -- poised to live happily ever after, reunited with loved ones lost to the threat of the supernatural Druun.
Nevertheless, the film introduces a rich fantasy world, populated by engaging protagonists and adorable creatures that audiences, and Disney, may find too good to abandon.
Right before the credits roll, the film evokes a sense of hopefulness and excitement for for the future. It's a feeling that deserves to be explore. While it may be best for Raya to remain a standalone film, there's plenty of potential for a spinoff series ripe for Disney Channel or Disney+.
Kumandra is set up like an open-world video game. A spinoff series might benefit from tackling the series in a similar approach, with a handful of episodes or seasons that take the viewer from one part of Kumandra to the other. With those episodes, the viewers can learn a bit more about the lands of Heart, Fang, Talon, Spine and Tail.
Considering each member of Raya's crew represented one of the lands, these episodes could also focus on those characters. Tong, for example, returned to a village and family he hadn't seen in six years. It would be exciting to see how he has adapted to having his family back and how his village has learned to live in harmony with the other lands.
However, if the series doesn't want to follow the land structure, it could borrow techniques from other film franchises turned TV shows. This includes more hair-raising adventures with Raya and her friends as they uncover more mysteries of Kumandra. Not only does it provide endless storytelling, but it still offers a look at the other lands.
Following the characters would also open up the door for fun filler episodes. They could focus on some of the animal characters like Tuk-Tuk or the Ongis. However, it is also a great opportunity to spend more time with the dragon, Susi, and learn more about her family and what it is like to be the youngest sibling in a family of dragons. Thankfully, the film left the doors open for many adventures in the land of Kumandra, should the creators choose to explore it further.
For now, it looks like Raya and the Last Dragon will remain a standalone film. Not only is that perfectly fine, but it also fits the trend of other Disney classics that are now getting shows years later, like Big Hero 6 and Moana. This may not be the last time viewers see these characters again due to its critical success. A spinoff series based on the movie would be an amazing addition, but only if it makes sense and the time is right.
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.