It's no secret that Disney movies are hits more often than not. Just having the Disney logo in a film's trailer can drive audiences to flock to theaters as soon as it opens. This is no different with the latest Disney release, Moana. In fact, the film's box office numbers rivaled those of the company's previous blockbuster, Frozen, in its opening weekend. But Moana has more than just another set of catchy tunes and a Disney affiliation. This movie has themes that are rare in a film of its kind, and are arguably more important to be aware of now than ever.
For starters, Moana has a strong female lead. The title character, who insists she isn't a princess, embarks on a journey all her own. It can be argued that she couldn't have succeeded without her demigod sailing partner Maui, but even when he bails on her, she doesn't falter, Now, Disney is no stranger to a strong female character, though it is unfortunately not commonly seen in their films. The one that may immediately come to mind is Mulan but that might be it. Maybe Ariel? But Moana takes this to a whole new level, refusing to back down to Maui who is easily five times her size, and even bossing him around. She's badass, there's really no other word for it. Young girls are always in need of a strong female role model, especially in this day and age, and this powerhouse not-princess fits the bill.
Not only is Moana a strong girl, but she's a strong girl who doesn't need a man. There is not a single reference to a love interest for our heroine in this entire film. Again, when was the last time we saw that in a Disney film? Mulan? There was never a moment of romantic undertones in her relationship with Maui (which would have been admittedly creepy but I was half-expecting it). Moana's independence is something that should be showcased way more in films of this type. Young women deserve to know that they do not need a man to suceed.
Finally, the cultural representation in this film is unprecedented (again...has this happened since Mulan?). It is apparent that the team did extensive research on Polynesian culture, and while I can not speak for this culture, it is always refreshing to see a group of non-white people being positively represented in the media. Not only did Disney represent this culture in Moana, but they cast actors who were of Polynesian descent to play the iconic roles. Moana herself is portrayed by Auli'i Cravalho who is a native Hawaiian, and Maui is voiced by famous wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who is of Samoan descent. Even down to the voices in the ensemble, Disney hit the ball out of the park with keeping their casting choices true to the characters.
In an era when females and non-white cultures can use positive representation more than ever, Moana delivers. Disney gets a huge Great Job from me for this step forward, and I can only hope that they continue along this path in the future.
