Note: Minor spoilers may be present throughout this article.

Disney has come a long way since Snow White, a princess who fell into a deep sleep until her prince charming kissed her awake. As of late, Disney has been rolling out princesses who have more to them than finding their true love with a few acts of bravery thrown in. Their newest princess, Moana, highlights the importance of following your dreams and not backing down when a challenge is put in front of you.

"Moana" tells the story of a Polynesian princess who sets out to find a demigod, Maui, in hopes of restoring life to the dying islands. Moana, who has a connection with the sea, ignores the stigma of her people who do not have any intention of going past the reef that surrounds their single island, to do the right thing. Paired with catchy songs, incredible animation and another unintelligent bird (a trend that Disney seems to be harping on right now), "Moana" is a phenomenal film.

As there was with Queen Elsa of "Frozen," there is never any mention of marriage in order to assume power within "Moana," but instead the princess' family advises her of the duties she will assume when she takes power—putting responsibility and strength directly in her hands rather than that of a future husband. The lesson of independence continues as Maui faces hardship while on their journey across the ocean, leaving Moana to fend for herself during a critical point in the completion of her voyage.

The film also emphasizes strong family bonds, especially when highlighting the relationship between Moana and her grandmother. With the grandmother serving as a guide and confidant for Moana, she remains a very integral part of Moana's life for the entirety of the film. Even the relationship between Moana and her parents is one of intense strength. While in the beginning of the film her parents may be steering her in a different direction than the one she wishes to follow, Moana's mother assists her when it comes to her doing what she believes is right.

Ultimately, the film is a great addition to the princess films Disney has already released, and one can only hope the trend continues and more films highlighting independent characters and loopy birds continue to surface.