The result should have been a happy work environment of diverse male and female artists creating “Disney magic” in perfect harmony. Instead, what Lee created (whether intentional or otherwise) was a toxic work environment of artists walking on eggshells in fear of being outed by Lee’s snitches. For the Veteran Animators (The Old White Guys), they were left with the choice to either quit for mental health reasons, get fired for the most minor infractions, or shut their mouths and keep their heads down to keep their jobs. By the time Raya and the Last Dragon was completed, Lee’s nightmarish team was in place to “reimagine” Disney Animation.
The Box Office Thud Heard Round the Kingdom
Unfortunately, the box office success or failure (depending on who you ask) of Raya and the Last Dragon was and remains unclear. It was the first Disney animated feature to return to theaters after the COVID-19 pandemic. Disney saw Raya as a critical success. Much like Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Raya and the Last Dragon came out to critical acclaim with a 93% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. But what did paying audiences think?
Despite the critical acclaim, it is widely believed that the film marked the start of a downward box office trend. Though very subtle, Raya’s story was infused with what many Disney nay-sayers consider “woke” storytelling as the reason for the financial spiral. This was part of a trend that permeated all of Disney’s brands, including the Marvel and Star Wars franchises. The first change started way back with Ralph Breaks the Internet and its trend with the absence of a villain. Here, Raya and her squad worked together to overcome and defeat a mystical force. Secondly is the portrayal of female characters as strong leaders, also known as “girl bosses.” Raya and Namaari, both women warriors, take charge in the fight against this mysterious force. Third is the diminished role of men in Disney films. Male warriors are not exactly seen as equal or stronger fighters than the leads. According to some sources, specific measures were taken to emasculate all male characters. In Raya, no man came to her aid when she was beaten. It was either another female or the character’s intestinal fortitude. Any notion to elevate a male character was directly criticized for promoting misogynistic tropes and was immediately removed. THIS IS NOT AN UNDERSTATEMENT! Raya and the Last Dragon was made with an estimated budget of $120 to $150 million and earned $116 million ($54 million Domestic) at the box office and $23 million in physical media sales. Its inability to succeed at the box office was, of course, blamed on COVID-19. It was also part of the Disney Premier Access promotion, which allowed Disney+ subscribers to watch Raya on the platform for $29.99 on the same day as its theatrical release, a similar strategy to that of the live-action Mulan. The results were also disappointing.
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