Facts About Moana And Moana 2
People enjoy learning about Disney films due to their strong connections to stories and characters. Behind-the-scenes insights enhance this appreciation, showcasing Disney's rich history, innovative animation, and cultural impact. Here are some interesting facts about Moana and Moana 2.
The Journey Of Moana: A Heroine's Quest
Moana tells the story of a dynamic Polynesian girl who embarks on an adventurous voyage across the Ocean to protect her island. Along the way, she finds her identity and embraces her leadership role, facing challenges that test her courage and determination.
Moana's Journey From Supporting Role To Star
Originally, Disney planned for the movie to focus on Maui, our favorite demigod. Filmmakers envisioned Moana as a minor character on a mission to rescue her love interest. Blah!
A Cultural Milestone In Animation
Moana emerged as a cultural phenomenon, celebrated for its authentic representation of Polynesian culture and mythology. It resonated with audiences worldwide, showcasing diverse voices and stories in animation.
A Name That Embodies The Spirit Of The Ocean
Moana's name is symbolic: "Moana" translates to "ocean" in various Polynesian languages. The fact that the Ocean chooses her makes her name even more appropriate.
The Film At The Box Office
Moana was a box office triumph, grossing over $643 million worldwide and solidifying its place as one of Disney's highest-grossing animated films. The film debuted at the top of the box office during its opening weekend, earning approximately $82 million in North America alone.
How Audiences Received Moana
The public praised the film for its captivating storytelling, stunning animation, and strong representation of Polynesian culture. Moana holds a high approval rating, with many highlighting its empowering message and memorable music.
Hawaii's Excitement Over Moana's Polynesian Roots
Hawaiian Airlines marked Disney's introduction of its first Polynesian princess by painting three of its planes with Moana-themed designs. Not content to celebrate only outside, the airline adorned the overhead compartments with Moana-inspired decals.
Daniel Ramirez, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Film's Critical Acclaim
The movie received critical acclaim for its stunning animation, compelling storytelling, and rich cultural representation. The film garnered two Academy Award nominations for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song.
Anthony Quintano, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Moana Is Tomato-tally Awesome
Moana is a cherished animated family film. It boasts a 95% approval rating from critics and an 89% rating from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. It's cool to be the hero, but even cooler when everyone cheers for you!
The Real History Behind Moana
Moana references a historical event known as the Long Pause. People arrived in the Western Pacific Islands around 3,500 years ago but paused for roughly 1,000 years before moving on to Eastern Polynesia.
The Real History Behind Moana
In the film, the theft of the Heart of Te Fiti caused environmental devastation, with crops failing, fishing dwindling, and the ocean becoming dangerous. This imbalance forced the people to abandon exploration and live in isolation.
The Real History Behind Moana
Moana interprets the Long Pause as Maui stealing the Heart of Te Fiti, which led to fear and prevented boats from venturing beyond the reef. Restoring the Heart was crucial to healing the land and renewing hope and courage in the people.
The Real History Behind Moana
The Long Pause explains why Moana's ancestors stopped voyaging beyond the reef, creating a foundation for her journey. As she seeks to restore her people's wayfinding heritage, the Long Pause frames her adventure as a quest to reclaim her identity and cultural traditions.
The Role Of Cultural Advisors
Disney hired a team of cultural experts, including anthropologists and historians, to ensure an accurate representation of Polynesian culture and traditions. Basing the film loosely on the Long Pause is just one example.
Johnny Silvercloud, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Role Of Cultural Advisors
The film's depiction of wayfinding (Polynesian navigation) is another example of Disney's commitment to accurate representation. Film members incorporated what they learned to show navigators accurately, ensuring the precision of the sailing techniques.
PaulT, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Capturing The Essence Of Moana: Filmmakers' Journeys
Many members of the Disney team, including directors, animators, and producers, embarked on research trips across the Pacific. They visited villages, sailed, and engaged with people of all ages and backgrounds.
They traveled to various Pacific Islands, including Samoa, Fiji, and Tahiti, to study the environment, culture, and traditional navigation techniques.
Daniel Ramirez, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Capturing The Essence Of Moana: Right From The Elder’s Mouth
An elder expressed the profound sentiment that Pacific cultures had been overshadowed by outside influences for years, urging the filmmakers to immerse themselves in the richness of their traditions. This impactful message resonated deeply with the team, motivating them to explore and profoundly understand Pacific cultures.
Sam Howzit, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Character Design: Real-Life
The design team took inspiration from real-life Polynesian people and traditional art forms. They wanted to ensure that character features and clothing reflected cultural heritage. Moana herself illustrates this.
Character Design: Moana As An Action Hero
Unlike traditional Disney princesses, the directors wanted Moana to have a body type that reflected her role as an action hero. Real people from the South Pacific inspired her design to ensure cultural authenticity and emphasize her physical strength. Moana's look was intentionally athletic and grounded, showcasing her ability to take on the challenges of her journey with confidence and power.
Casting Moana: Finding The Voice Of A New Hero
Moana found her voice in Auli'i Cravalho after a nationwide search. She auditioned on a whim and impressed the casting directors with her powerful voice. Remarkably, she was the final girl the casting agents saw on the last day of auditions.
Casting Moana: The Surprise Of A Lifetime
During the online callback, the Disney team asked her to act out her reaction to landing the role before revealing that she had actually won the part. Cravalho admitted she was confused throughout the audition process, particularly with the slating, but she felt she gave it her all.
Casting Moana: A Tale Of Two Island Girls
Like Moana, Cravalho spent her entire life on an island. Her attendance at an all-Hawaiian school immersed her in the mythology and folklore of Maui, which she has cherished since childhood.
Moana Is Moana, Regardless Of How You Say It
In 2018, Disney released a Hawaiian-language dub of Moana to honor the culture and language of the Pacific Islands. Language experts and community leaders helped dub the film, with Aulii Cravalho, the voice of Moana, even participating in the project.
Casting Maui: Looking For A Demigod
The filmmakers developed Maui before considering Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson for the role. After a contact suggested him early on, they recognized Johnson's connection to Polynesia and felt he physically embodied the essence of a demigod. He already has the muscles, charm, and epic one-liners—he might as well add "immortal" to the resume!
Casting Maui: Dwayne Johnson's Contribution
Johnson contributed to Maui's development, including creating Maui's signature tattoos, which tell his backstory. Johnson's late grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, inspired him.
Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Casting Maui: Maui Needs His Mana
The filmmakers considered designing Maui as bald, resembling Johnson. However, when Disney shared early concept art with Polynesian cultural advisers, they received feedback that Maui shouldn't be bald. Instead, Maui must have long, rich hair, symbolizing his mana (spiritual energy).
Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Ocean Is Alive
While the Ocean aids Moana, it does so with a playful, sometimes teasing nature. The Ocean needed to be sentient and a literal and symbolic manifestation of Moana's inner journey. As she learns to navigate it, she also navigates her fears, doubts, and sense of identity.
The Ocean Is Alive: The Animation Of The Ocean
Like any character in a Disney animated film, the producers wanted the Ocean to be alive. In this reimagined version of the Ocean, Disney's groundbreaking new effects system, called Splash, elevates its character to a living, breathing entity.
Pedro Szekely, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Ocean Is Alive: Special Software
Disney developed Splash specifically to bring Moana's Ocean to life. This new software gives the Ocean a natural, realistic look and creates "performance water" (water that acts like a character).
Visual Style: Animation Techniques In Moana
Moana's visual style blends hand-drawn elements with advanced CGI to create a vibrant, immersive world. Drawing inspiration from the Pacific Islands' natural landscapes, the animators crafted stunning ocean scenes, lifelike characters, and rich cultural details.
Music And Soundtrack: The Heart Of Moana
The music and soundtrack of Moana are essential for expressing the film's themes and emotions. Drawing on the legacy of previous Disney classics and collaborations with famous artists, the film combines successful formulas and musical talent to create a vibrant and unforgettable soundtrack.
Music And Soundtrack: The Lion King's Influence On Moana's Melodies
The directors looked to The Lion King as a model for success, which featured the talents of composer Hans Zimmer, pop star Elton John, and producer Lebo M. For Moana, they crafted a similar winning formula with composer Mark Mancina, celebrated for his work on Tarzan and Brother Bear, along with the star power of Lin-Manuel Miranda and the musical flair of Opetaia Tavita Foa'i, founder of the Pacific Islander band Te Vaka.
Music And Soundtrack: When Moana Met Hamilton On The Soundtrack Sea
Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote numerous songs, including “How Far I'll Go” and “You're Welcome,” while juggling his work on the Moana soundtrack alongside his run in Hamilton. He collaborated closely with Opetaia Foa'i and Mark Mancina to create a dynamic soundtrack that blends various musical styles, enriching the film's narrative.
Music And Soundtrack: How “You're Welcome” Found Its True Home With Maui
“You're Welcome” was initially intended for Moana rather than Maui. However, once producers fully developed the characters' personalities, the song became a better fit for Maui and the story overall.
Music And Soundtrack: Singing The Soul Of The Sea
During recording sessions, Auli'i Cravalho performed songs live with the orchestra, capturing the character's raw emotion. This also provided a unique synergy between the vocal performances and the orchestral score, making the songs feel more alive and engaging.
Moana 2: Transitions From A Disney+ Series To Feature Film
Moana 2 was initially slated to be a Disney+ series but is now a feature film. In February 2024, Disney CEO Bob Iger revealed the change in direction, exciting fans with the prospect of a cinematic continuation of the beloved story.
Moana 2: Already A Record-Setting Sequel
The teaser for Moana 2, released on May 29, quickly became a success, collecting over 178 million views within its first 24 hours. According to the studio, this impressive figure set a new record, making it the most-watched animated trailer in Disney's history for its opening day.
Moana 2: What’s Our Polynesian Princess Up To?
Set three years after Moana's first journey, the sequel follows her as she embarks on a quest to discover "people beyond the shores of Motunui".
Moana receives an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, leading her to journey to the far seas of Oceania, into dangerous, long-lost waters.
Moana 2: The Gang Is All Here
The cast of Moana 2 includes returning voices such as Auli'i Cravalho as Moana, Temuera Morrison as Chief Tui, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as Maui, Rachel House as Tala, Nicole Scherzinger as Sina, Alan Tudyk as Heihei, and Jemaine Clement as Tamatoa.
Moana 2: Chief Tui’s Bigger Musical Moment
Temuera Morrison will once again voice the strong-willed and protective leader of Montunui, Chief Tui, in Moana 2. This time, Morrison will provide both the speaking and singing voices for the Chief of Motunui.
Moana 2: New Sound, New Voices
While Lin-Manuel Miranda's iconic compositions largely shaped the original film, Moana 2 will introduce a fresh lineup of composers, including Abigail Barlow, Emily Bear, and Opetaia Foa'i. Fans can expect a new sound, blending diverse musical influences and voices that reflect the cultural roots of the first film.
Moana 2: Cou.ntdown To The Sequel’s Theatrical Release
Moana 2 set a record for any animated film's highest first-day advance ticket sales in 2024, surpassing even Inside Out 2. It ranks fourth overall for 2024, after Deadpool & Wolverine, Dune: Part Two, and Wicked. Moana 2 will be in theaters on November 27, 2024, and is bound to be a smash hit—but there's still one detail in the movies that has some fans up in arms.
It all has to do with the big, burly appearance of Maui. You see, in traditional Polynesian myths, Maui is described as a thin young man—a far cry from the comedic giant we see in the film. Some critics have argued that Moana's portrayal of Maui "perpetuates offensive images of Polynesians as overweight".
Do you think these critics are right? And will you be grabbing tickets to see Moana 2? Let us know in the comments!
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