by Alice Micheli, Contributing Writer
We all have that feeling. You know the one: you finish watching a movie and something about it hits you in just the right spot. Whether it was the theme, the story, or even the characters, there was a quality about it that almost makes you want to turn around and go back a second, third, or even fourth time!
Bar the reality of living in the movie theatre for the rest of your days, you turn to the rest of pop culture and start to look for other avenues where you can find that same feeling.
Well I’m here to make this plight easier for all. Each month, I will take a piece of pop culture that was prevalent in the social consciousness — whether it is a movie, tv show, or something else — and then recommend other forms of media for those who want to stay in that world a little bit longer.
Welcome to your One Stop Pop, internet!
This month we’ll be exploring the Disney film, Raya and the Last Dragon.
An exploration into South Asian culture, this film is a story of trust, expectation, and dragons. With dynamic combat, a thrilling score, and a purveying message about what it means to be able to move on from great tragedy, it’s definitely a different beast from most of Disney’s oeuvre — and they’re certainly better for it.
However, you already know all that. You’re not here to read a review for something you’ve probably already seen. You want to know where you can find more across the pop culture stratosphere! And I’m here to tell you.
TV Show: Avatar: The Last Airbender (and The Legend of Korra)
Starting off with my “Captain Obvious” hat on, if you enjoyed Raya, I can assure you with every fiber of my being that you will enjoy the adventures of Aang and his friends in the Nickelodeon classic, Avatar: The Last Airbender.
As with Raya, Avatar explores Asian culture through some diverse and intricate storytelling centered around a person who feels the weight of the world on their shoulders. There are some fantastic combat sequences that, while magical, also incorporate actual martial arts methods within the design to be true to the depicted culture. Add to that a memorable, yet loveable cast of supporting characters and you’ve pretty much got Raya and the Last Dragon in television form.
With over 100 episodes to choose from (including The Legend of Korra, which, of course, you must), there is plenty to get stuck into immediately. Need further convincing? Titular character Raya’s very first outfit is almost identical to the iconic look of the Water Tribe in Avatar — enough said.
If you want to begin your journey, you can find the entire series on Netflix.
Music: Kubo and the Two Strings (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
A definite standout from the film Kubo and the Two Strings is the music. Highly kinetic, full of energy, and perfectly paired with every scene, there’s something transcendent about James Newton Howard’s score.
While I could recommend a typical album from some famous rock band or alt group that would get the juices flowing just as well, I’m sticking in the same realm this time as I feel that there’s a particular element to the Raya score that is imperative to its enjoyment: its ability to tell the story just by listening.
That is why fans of the Raya score should turn to Kubo and the Two Strings’ equally as vibrant collection of musical accompaniment. Strongly leaning on the instrument at the film’s heart (the shamisen), the 52 minute long album will immediately transport the listener to another world.
Constantly balancing a rebellious and almost rock and roll soul with delicate and very soulful playing, there is never any doubt where composer Dario Marianelli wants the mind and heart to be at any point. It’s truly a score unlike any other, and a perfect pairing to fans of Raya’s music.
So if you’re in the mood, listen to these tunes on Spotify or your favourite music player.
Book(s): The “Riordanverse”
If the exploration into a mythological story full of fantastical natures and wondrous beasts is really what got your heart singing, then the Rick Riordan book universe is where you should turn next. With the most popular collection being the Percy Jackson series, many will be surprised to know that the story actually doesn’t stop there. In fact, it goes on for quite a while afterwards.
For context, this universe began with a story about a boy, Percy Jackson, who finds out that he’s actually the Greek god Poseidon’s son and goes on to face many trials and tribulations that go hand in hand with his new demigod hero status. He’ll meet a variety of characters, battle massive foes, and change the fate of the world more times than one along the way.
However, following Percy’s initial adventures in the first five books, there are about 40 more yet to follow. While the first novels centre around Greek mythology, the following series go into pretty much any realm you could ever think of including Roman, Norse, Incan, Native American, Islamic, Chinese and oh, so many others. And the clincher is that they all interact!
What’s great about the whole thing is you can choose to be like me and commit yourself to reading all 40-plus books that exist, or you can pick your favourite and just stick there.
Have you always had a fascination with Viking history and Norse mythology? The Magnus Bane trilogy is the one for you. Have you wanted to read up on West African culture and learn about its legends? Well then, it’s time to check out the upcoming Tristan Strong series. Always been interested in the mysteries of Ancient Egypt? The Kane Chronicles are where you should set a spell.
It’s also very important for me to say that while these stories are great explorations into ancient history, they’re also just really great stories with some of the best characters you’ll ever get to know.
So head on over to your favourite book store and pick up your first volume today!
Video Game: The Spyro Reignited Trilogy
Now some of you may be thinking that I’m ignoring the elephant in the room here (or should I say, the dragon?). Yes, obviously a major element of the Raya film is in fact that the large, serpentine, legendary magical creature — one that actually has a lot of impact on the story, and is where its emotional center arguably lies.
So, for audiences who loved seeing a non-threatening dragon be a hero for once, and also really enjoyed the design, I would turn your minds to another legendary figure: Spyro.
This series of games features the titular young purple dragon protagonist as he aims to bring back long lost peace by defeating an array of malicious enemies.
Another similarity here, besides the fact that it’s a game based around a dragon, is that Spyro is in fact the last dragon around because all others have turned to stone. So he must now collect gems to complete his quests so that he can restore the world and bring his family back — sound familiar?
With easy, fun, colourful, and classic single-player platformer gameplay, The Spyro Reignited Trilogy is a remastered edition of the three key games in the Spyro universe. Jump, fly and explore the expansive realms as you dive into a world of magic, dragons, fire, and unmitigated possibility.
Available on all the major gaming platforms including PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PC, check it out now for some unadulterated dragon fun.
So whether you’re a massive mythology nerd or just love dragons, continue your exploration into the elements of Raya and the Last Dragon that you loved with the suggestions above.
Hopefully that should keep you busy for a month. I’ll be back in May with all your pop culture recommendations around something new, exciting, and inviting.
Until then, thank you for visiting SiftPop’s One Stop Pop, and we hope to see you again soon!