Chinese talent behind Disney heroine

Creative duo use mythology and regional knowledge to bring a fascinating tale to life, Xu Fan reports.

Turning 98 in October, Walt Disney Animation Studios has recently welcomed its first Southeast Asian heroine, Raya.

Also the first original animated tale created by Disney in five years, Raya and the Last Dragon has opened across Chinese theaters on March 5, in both the original English language and the Mandarin voice-over version for which A-list actress Zhao Liying has lent her vocal cords to the protagonist.

Interestingly, there is perhaps one less-known fact that also connects the film with the audience. Two Chinese animators have been part of the yearslong project to bring to life the fantasy.

Benjamin Huang and Joyce Tong are part of the creative team that have put together such a compelling story.

Born in Jiujiang, Jiangxi province, Huang studied in a Tianjin university before he moved to the United States to receive a further art education at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.