Disney’s ‘Moana’ is a smart tale of a modern heroine

David Derrick is a story artist doing his first work for Disney after nearly a decade at DreamWorks, and he has some very personal reasons for being excited for the new film.

The film perhaps spends a little too much of the first act establishing Moana’s home island, considering that after her departure we spend nearly none of the remaining film there, but it does do a good job of establishing Moana as a character who desperately cares about the well-being of her people. Yes, Moana is an animated children’s movie, but it is important for children of color to be able to see movie audiences sit in awe of their people’s stories.

“Moana” explores the ancient tradition of way finding – or navigating the vast and handsome waters of the Pacific Ocean – through the eyes of the title character, who is next in line to lead her people. This also ties in nicely with the cultural element featured throughout the film and what Clements, Musker and the animators do with the ocean is highly inventive. “And as we were working on the film, we were all really united in our mana to make this movie the best it could be, independent of ‘Frozen” or any other movie”. Moana is a hilarious and gorgeous film that will warmly fill your heart and soul. With as many films that Dwayne Johnson has been in, Moana is Johnson’s best acting performance yet.

IF YOU NEED hope for the next generation, look no further than Disney’s latest. Though it’s chock full of marketable, playset-ready trappings, “Moana” happily pursues more than one simple theme.

“We were conscious when we were doing it and encouraged by our producers”. But Moana’s people distrust the ocean and outsiders and keep themselves isolated from the rest of the world. I think it’s absolutely unbelievable. Maui – who has been stuck on an island for hundreds of years, and who is still arrogant despite having lost some of his powers – is one such obstacle.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about the characters is how human they are. You can easily find hundreds of articles on why people believe Disney princesses aren’t good for young girls, regardless of the strength they funnel into many of their much newer characters.

Moana’s part is played by 16-year old Auli’ i Cravalho, who 2 years ago was a high school freshman. Cravalho has the charm and chops to stay in the lead role even when Johnson starts wielding his considerable charisma, and her Moana is the kind of smart and tenacious heroine who can inspire girls and boys alike. If movies are meant to be a getaway, “Moana” is like a vacation. The pages burst with complicated black-and-white, Pacific island-inspired works and whimsical tattoo-style designs. But this story in particular seemed to demand a more idiosyncratic touch.

Musker: They used to be a voyaging society, which is based on the real fact.

Amy Smeed, the co-head of animation on Moana (and the first woman to hold that title on a Disney film), said the animation team’s goal was to make the character’s superhuman feats look feasible. This group became known as The Oceanic Trust, and the Trust provided feedback, guidance, and criticism to the filmmakers in order to make sure that the movie’s portrayals of Polynesian culture – including wayfinding – were accurate. “She can do all these athletic moves whether it’s while she’s out at sea or on land”, said Smeed.

Upon that story, directors Ron Clement, John Musker, Don Hall, and Chris Williams paint the most lovely film you’ll ever see this year.