This November, a great new wave rolled in, and her name is Moana. Voiced by the first time actress, Hawai'ian, Auli’i Cravalho, Moana is a fierce teenager with roots in Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga, all pacific islands between South America and New Zealand.
The voice cast is also very diverse with New Zealand natives Rachel House and Jemaine Clement, partial Samoan Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and academy award winner Lin Manual Miranda heading up the music team. They also included a “South Pacific Fusion” group Te Vaka in the writing and playing of songs.
The directors of the film even took several visits to the Pacific Islands to ensure that the film was true to the heritage and ideals of the culture.
"Moana" is about a rebellious daughter of the chief who longs for something more: sound familiar? The plot draws from "The Little Mermaid" and "Pocahontas" according to film makers, and I happened to see hints of Pocahontas riddled throughout. Although "Moana" quickly rose the ranks to being my favorite Disney flick, "Pocahontas" will never be outranked.
The animation in this movie is outstanding. There was an animation team for the hair and water elements, each just by themselves, as well as a specific program designed to illustrate the movement of water and hair so that they would move independently.
Without spoilers, Moana is chosen by the ocean to return a pendant to it’s rightful owner. The movie is about the journey there and her adventures with Hei Hei the chicken and Maui the Demi-God.
The soundtrack is an absolute gem written mostly by Lin Manuel Miranda and Opetaia Foa’i of Te Vaka. Miranda even included a tribute to Bowie in the song "Shiny" written for an extravagant decapod (look it up!)
If it isn’t apparent yet, I highly recommend this movie. I saw it on the 23rd, a month after it’s release, and I haven’t stopped singing along since. The soundtrack even features a lot of elements from Pacific Island languages which has inspired me to learn.
In the midst of this terrible year of fascist leaders and deaths of incredible idols, we can at least look up to the strength and perseverance of Moana, the girl who loves her island and the girl who loves the sea.
In the words of some very wise Pacific Islanders “The ocean does not divide us, it connects us.”
