When you don’t see yourself reflected in the world around you, you lose out on a lot. I was born in the Philippines and I didn’t even learn about Arnis until I was in college in the US. If a lot of that is unfamiliar to you, I don’t blame you. The epic combat scenes in the film also draw from fighting styles from Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.
Her sword is reminiscent of the Indonesian kris.
In a teaser that almost made me cry (and I’m not a cryer), Raya wields what look like bamboo Arnis sticks - weapons used in Filipino martial arts. She gets around by riding atop her animal sidekick named “Tuk Tuk,” who shares its name with Cambodia’s iconic motorbike-powered carriages (you’ll find similar sets of wheels across much of Southeast Asia). Raya’s name means “celebration” in Malay. That’s one reason why there are so many cool cultural easter Eggs to find in the film. The screenplay was written by Qui Nguyen and Adele Lim, who both trace their roots back to Southeast Asia.
The film is inspired by diverse Southeast Asian cultures. Raya is voiced by Kelly Marie Tran, who is Vietnamese American. Growing up in America, I hardly ever saw Asians in movies or television
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