Moana is a
traditional Disney story from the vein of such classics as The Little Mermaid and Aladdin; and this makes sense since John
Musker and Ron Clements are the same team that directed those unforgettable
films. Co-directors Don Hall and Chris Williams are no strangers to emotional
storytelling either as they both were the team that directed Big Hero Six.
The
story follows Moana, the character for whom the film is named, through an
adventure of Odyssey-like proportions. Growing up on an island in Oceania,
Moana is constantly drawn to the sea. The beginning of the film is baby Moana
on a beach playing with the ocean. In Moana,
the sea is a sentient being much like the magic carpet from Aladdin, though it only responds to a
chosen few. Throughout the film the sea saves Moana and guides her to her
destiny of bringing her people back to sailing. Conflicting with this destiny
is Moana’s other destiny of succeeding her father as chief of her people. In
more relatable terms, Moana is the Disney princess who is conflict with what
her responsibilities and her desires; just like Ariel from The Little Mermaid. Where
Moana deviates from the story telling of The
Little Mermaid is romance is not what sends Moana on her journey, but
rather her love for her people and her village. In this way Moana is more like
a champion than a stereotypical princess. Her adventure includes killer pirates
the size of coconuts, a giant singing killer crab, entering the realm of
monsters, a lava demon, and the stubborn demigod Maui. That demigod Maui is to
Moana as the Genie was to Aladdin. Though Maui is the more powerful of the two,
it is Moana that calls the shots. It is her destiny that needs to be fulfilled
and Maui is just along to help.
Though
the character of Maui is just a side-kick, he is voiced by the film’s most
recognizable name: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (Fast & Furious 6, San
Andreas). Staring as the voice of the story’s hero Moana is talented
new-comer Auli’i Cravhalo. Auli’I Cravhalo was discovered by a casting director
who saw her sing on a video for a talent show and called her in to audition.
From that moment on, Ms. Cravhalo is the soul of Moana and really brings the
character to life. Another very recognizable voice is Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords, Muppets Most Wanted) who voices the
aforementioned giant singing killer crab named Tamatoa. And even new Disney good
luck charm Alan Tudyk (Frozen, Wreck-it-Ralph) lends his voice to the
not-so-intelligent rooster Heihei, Moana’s pet that follows along on the
journey.
Disney is a brand that is known for
its quality entertainment with its use of the most state of the art equipment
and assembling the best talent. In Moana,
a Disney Animated Musical, original songs were written by Lin-Manuel Miranda
(Broadway’s Pulitzer Prize-winning and multiple Tony-winning creator of
“Hamilton”). I now have two horses in this year’s Oscar race and both are for
best song from Moana; my only question
is whether it will be “We Know the Way” or “How Far I’ll Go.”
In a
world that doesn’t seem to make sense nowadays, the one thing you can rely on
is Disney’s ability to provide quality entertainment that is both fun and
relevant.
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