My Facebook and Twitter feed are filled to the brim with memes or anguished status posts about "Moana" being jilted at this past Academy Awards.
And I do not agree with any of it.
Disney's "Moana" was nominated for Best Animated Feature alongside three lesser known works and the eventual winner "Zootopia," another Disney film. Before the ceremony, there was a lot of hype surrounding "Moana" from everyone insisting it was the obvious winner to "Moana" star Dwayne Johnson announcing if "Moana" won he would celebrate at his local In-n-Out joint immediately after with an absurd amount of food.
"Moana" was a decent Disney film. It was beautifully animated, the story was cute, the characters marketable, and catchy songs with one of them being nominated for best original song. The film did not manage to win any of it's nominations and "Zootopia" eventually prevailed — leaving the internet essentially in outraged.
Apart of people's misguided hype surrounding the film is how "Moana" manages to showcase and beautifully appropriate the Pacific Region culture. It deals with its mythology and fashion, and its characters are by no means white washed, adding a refreshing twist to what we usually expect out of Disney films.
The problem is it is not the first film to do so. Thirteen years ago, Disney released the classic "Lilo and Stitch," which takes place in Hawaii. While still part of the United States, that film still incorporates the Pacific scenery, Hula dancing as more than just a novelty, and cultural values involving the family. "Moana" isn't even the first Disney film to star people of color with "Princess and The Frog", "Mulan", "Aladdin", and others all predating it. "Moana" was a celebration of a culture that is for the most part pushed aside, but it is by no means groundbreaking.
That is why "Zootopia" won. It's central theme is tolerance and holds many hidden meanings in it's dialogue about accepting others' differences, celebrating them, and coexisting peacefully. It features animals as opposed to people of color, but that is only to make the discrimination against "carnivore vs non-carnivore" more politically correct and more child friendly.
It is brilliantly written and most importantly, blends in allusions to the highly relevant topic of the flaws in the police system and their conflicts with civilians. Not to mention its many nods at redefining gender roles and being able to pull off having their female rabbit lead be a feminist icon. This, with its humor written for all ages, makes it worth watching for the adult who accompany their children to the movies, a factor all animated features strive for.
While "Moana" psychically has diversity, "Zootopia" praises it and calls for action to protect it. "Zootopia" has all the supplies to make this a period piece for 2016 and a timeless classic for years to come, which is more than enough to justify it's big Oscar win.
