• In "Raya and the Last Dragon", a determined heroine tries to save her world.

  • The magicians at Disney have given him a unique companion that is both a mount and a pet.

  • They invented this cute animal from scratch.

But how are the Disney studios doing? In all of their animated films, they manage to create adorable new creatures that the viewer will fall for.

Raya and the Last Dragon

by Don Hall and Carlos Lopez Estrada, available on Disney + this Friday, is no exception. Tuk Tuk, both a pet and a means of transport, is a major asset for the film and for the heroine of this feminist tale.

"We don't think in terms of 'cute' and we don't force ourselves to do anything about it," Don Hall told

20 Minutes

.

But I believe it's in our DNA.

Tuk Tuk blew us away before we even considered its effect on audiences.

»We see this baby and then adult creature when Raya uses it as a mount to seek out the dragon which will allow him to unify and then save his world.

Unique as the heroine of the film

"Our main imperative was to create an animal companion for Raya that corresponds to her universe and who also has a role in the storytelling," explains screenwriter Adele Lim. Since we have not found a satisfactory one in nature, we have used our imaginations. “Supported by the other creatives of the studio, the two young women gave life to an imaginary creature. But everyone has gone out of their way to make Tuk Tuk as realistic as possible. “His appearance and the way he moves have been the subject of serious studies to make it credible,” recalls Don Hall. We wanted viewers to be able to doubt whether or not there is one. And we ask ourselves the question throughout the film.

“Tuk-Tuk is a hybrid: a mixture of armadillo, insect and pig, reveals the screenwriter.

He is one of a kind like Raya and is therefore a perfect accomplice for her!

We also think of a hedgehog when it curls up and shows its paws and soft belly.

Tuk Tuk is also built for adventure.

In the midst of more or less majestic dragons and playful monkeys, this all-terrain creature seems out of place in the sumptuous landscapes traversed by the young woman.

We wouldn't be surprised if it soon became a new favorite in the Walt Disney bestiary.

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  • Cinema

  • Disney

  • Disney +

  • Animation Film

  • Dragon