Raya and the Last Dragon 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Raya and the Last Dragon 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Randy Miller III May 24, 2021

Released alongside the standard 4K edition, Disney and Target have collaborated on an exclusive packaging variant for the 2021 animated film Raya and the Last Dragon. Available both in-store and online, this edition takes its visual cues from the studio's previous Target exclusives although, like most of their recent efforts, its "deluxe packaging" amounts to little more than a fancy slipcover. This is still a fun collectible for fans, though less essential than previous ones. A separate 4K Steelbook is also available from Best Buy, which likewise features exclusive design elements.

For a synopsis and review of the film, please see both Martin Liebman's review of the standard 4K edition and Brian Orndorf's slightly more positive theatrical review. I fall more in line with Marty's take on the film and thus maintain the same 3/5 rating as seen in his review. It's passable animated family entertainment; nothing more, nothing less.

Raya and the Last Dragon 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

For an analysis of this disc's 2160p transfer, please see Martin Liebman's recent review of the standard 4K edition, which also directly points to the Blu-ray edition that's also included with this release.

Raya and the Last Dragon 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

For thoughts on the default Dolby Atmos mix, please see Marty's review of the standard 4K edition.

Raya and the Last Dragon 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This two-disc edition looks like a Digipak from the outside but, like Target's recent exclusive Disney titles, is actually just the standard version in an exclusive slipcase. On-disc extras are identical to the standard 4K edition.

• Exclusive Packaging - More of a beefed-up variant slipcover than a full-on packaging overhaul, the kid-friendly slipcover opens to reveal a very attractive two-paneled collage of Raya imagery with four exclusive lithographs tucked into a sleeve on the left side. Measuring roughly 5x6.5" each in landscape format, these matte-finish prints feature artwork by production designer Paul Felix, who also includes a short note on the reverse side of one of them. Each print has a thin white border on all four sides, with a larger one on the bottom as well as a small logo from the movie. They look quite nice and would display beautifully if you're into framing, although a few more would have been welcome. Based on Target's promotional image and the item I received, all copies seem to include the same four prints. It's a decent packaging design overall, although I greatly prefer the front cover images used on both Best Buy's Steelbook and the standard edition, as well as this DMC variant.

Raya and the Last Dragon 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Raya and the Last Dragon is Disney's latest animated film and, while its visual design and settings are great, it only delivers the base-level "experience" you'd expect from the studio. In other words: it's good, but not great. Target's exclusive 4K variant likewise treads water with a decent but unremarkable packaging job, although the included lithographs might be more collectible than the usual "glossy art book" that comes with these. Otherwise, its A/V presentation and on-disc extras are identical to both the standard 4K release and Best Buy's Steelbook.