Sunday night during the Olympics coverage, a new trailer for Disney's upcoming princess movie "Moana" aired.
Ever since the first teaser trailer was released during the Tony Awards earlier this summer, Disney fans have been waiting impatiently to see this new princess's story.
"Moana" is described as a story about "a spirited teenager who sails out on a daring mission to prove herself a master wayfinder and fulfill her ancestors’ unfinished quest." In the film, Moana, the daughter of Chief Tui, sets out on a hero's journey, on which she teams up with a demigod and traverses the ocean and battles villains and, ultimately, finds herself. It's going to be an action-packed adventure and a touching story, and there are lots of reasons to get excited about it:
1. A new, diverse Disney princess.
Not only is it exciting to have a new Disney princess in general, but Moana breaks some ground for Disney princesses. She is Disney's first Polynesian princess and also the first to have a body type different from Disney's standard thin, westernized idea of beauty. Disney has done their best to make sure Moana embodies her own culture, which could possibly set new standards for portrayals of non-white characters and future Disney princesses.
2. The voice of Moana is a real Hawaiian teenage girl.
Moana will be voiced by Auli'i Cravalho, a fourteen-year-old girl from Oahu. While Disney princesses in the past have been voiced by established Broadway stars like Idina Menzel and Lea Salonga (Elsa and Jasmine) or famous actresses like Kristen Bell and Ming-Na Wen (Anna and Mulan), it's exciting to see a "real" girl portray a princess, and to have the actress near the same age as the character.
Also, it's important to note that Auli'i is the same ethnicity as Moana. While Moana is not specifically Hawaiian--her story is based on a mix of Pacific cultures--it's important that the actress who portrays her shares her ethnicity. Hollywood has a bad habit of whitewashing films about people of color, so the fact that Disney is doing it right could mean a turning point in representation for non-white actors and actresses.
3. Moana will not have a love interest.
Following the vein of Merida and Elsa, Moana will not have a love interest. The directors of the film said, "There will be no romance in the movie" because this is a story about a woman finding herself, and she doesn't need a boy to help her do that. Also, Moana is described as a "young" teenager (probably around fourteen), so it makes sense that she would not be romantically involved yet. While we all love the Disney princes, it's nice to have a story every once in a while about an independent princess, and that's what we're getting with "Moana."
4. A music score by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
You've probably heard of Lin-Manuel Miranda, the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer/composer behind the smash hit musical "Hamilton." He also wrote the 2008 Tony Award-winning musical "In the Heights" and co-wrote "Bring It On: the Musical." His music is fun, passionate, and moving, and his lyrics are always brilliant--the perfect recipe for the next best Disney movie soundtrack. He's been teasing fans on Twitter about the film for a while now, which, of course, only makes it more exciting:
"BAHAHAHAHA
If I pull off HALF of what I'm attempting with this new Disney villain tune, you're going to be very happy." (@Lin_Manuel 3/1/16)
5. And other great composers.
In addition to the musical genius of Lin-Manuel Miranda, composers Mark Mancina and Opetaia Foa'i will also score the film. The directors of the film seem to be very excited about the collaboration of these three men; they described the music as "a fusion of the three collaborators, with the Pacific roots of Opetaia, the sense of narrative from Miranda, and Macina's sense of 'world music.'"
6. 'Hamilton' star Phillipa Soo makes an appearance.
On June 6th, it was announced that Miranda will not be the only "Hamilton" star in "Moana." Tony nominee Phillipa Soo, who played Eliza Schuyler Hamilton on Broadway, joined the cast of "Moana" to play a villager in Motunui, which is Moana's home island. This will be Soo's first role in an animated film.
7. Award-winning directors John Musker and Ron Clements.
Probably one of the most exciting things about "Moana" is the film's directors. John Musker and Ron Clements have directed some of the most successful Disney movies, including "Aladdin," "The Little Mermaid," and "The Princess and the Frog." We can expect them to bring the same magic, adventure, and success present in these movies to "Moana."
8. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's character Maui.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson plays Maui, a demi-god who helps Moana along the way as she takes her hero's journey. The legend of Maui is present in many Pacific cultures, and the film has taken these stories and created their own powerful, helpful, and comical character. Although there's been some controversy over Maui's appearance, it seems he will be a strong character and a great source of comedy in the film.
9. A whole new set of colorful, hilarious Disney characters.
In addition to Maui and Moana, the film will be full of new, lovable Disney characters. Included is Moana's trusty sidekick and pet pig, Pua, and Heihei, the dimwitted rooster. The film also includes some interesting new villains, including a "comically villainous" crab who's got a deadpan sense of humor and an army of killer coconuts. With descriptions like these, we can only expect the best from this new cast of characters, and the same Disney charm we all love.
"Moana" comes to theaters this fall, on November 23, 2016. And as you can see, it's going to be one heck of an adventure.
