Rewatched Raya and have forgotten how much I love her!!
I have also forgotten how much tension they had?? Why were they constantly flirting with each other like that 😭 Honestly had me gasping from the start, how did Disney fumble this so bad-
Some time ago I had a conversation in which I came to the conclusion that Raya could still find it hard to sleep since she got used to being alert during the 6 years she was alone, which led me to want to draw her taking a nap feeling protected by the rest of the gang
Besides, I wanted to draw Boun and Noi because there aren't enough fanarts where the two of them are
*I have pending to draw tong at least once but it will be later*
I HATE to be that guy, but I'll say it: Raya's concept art is SO much better than the final product. I try not to pick favorites, but this may have been a film that needed to be made in 2D
Nevermind the fact that some of it reminds me of Studio Ghibli's art style--it's giving me "Princess Mononoke" meets "Spirited Away" vibes. I hope they go for that if they ever do a Japanese-inspired film (which I've created a mood board for). I'm curious as to what the plot was gonna be--if I'm not mistaken, a lot of this comes from the mid to late 2010s, years before the final product came out. A sad part of this film is that you can never really enjoy all the culture of each land since:
it's an amalgamation of SEA countries
Raya is constantly on the move and the world is ending, so you can't really take your time exploring.
I will say that I'm glad the final product omitted some of the more sci-fi elements of some of the concept art, as well as making Raya older than she's portrayed in some of this; we need more Disney leads in their late teens/twenties.
Raya: *Drunk af and hanging off Namaari* Ya know, we should make out right now. *drunken, snorting giggles*
Namaari: *amused blushing* That sounds pretty gay, Raya. *holds her closer*
Raya: *twirling her finger around in big, ever decreasing circles* Yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyou're a pretty gay. *boops her nose* :D
Namaari: *blushing harder* O-oh...thank you. Um...so are you! Hahahahahaahha! Is it hot in here? *awkwardly tugging at her collar*
Raya: You're hot in here! Hueheuehuehuehuehuehuehueheuhe. ;)
Namaari: *blushing even more deeply*
Sisu: Aren't you two like, married?
Namaari: *speaking through her teeth as Raya climbs all over her and gets handsy* That's not the point, Sisu!
After the Spine fight, Raya explaining her six year journey and what all happened so far...
Raya: so when I didn't find Sisu in the boat I—
Tong: wait. So, you're telling me that you've stolen from Fang, bribed a kid, raided the Talon chief's house and now what's left? Plotting against Fang!?
Raya, nervous chuckle: .... ah well... it's not really plotting its—
Tong, shrugs: you don't have a very good legal record for a princess if you ask me.
Raya, snapping back: HEY! THOSE THINGS MAY BE ILLEGAL BUT I DID THEM LAWFULLY!