Island life

MOANA Disney goes native for this South Pacific voyage of discovery.

Meet Disney’s latest heroine. Moana (pronounce that ‘M-wana’) is the teenager at the (big) heart of the Mouse House’s new adventure, a vibrant 16year-old girl from the ancient past who sets out on the waters of Oceania to complete her ancestors’ unfulfilled quest.

Voicing Disney’s first-ever Polynesian Princess is the equally spirited 14-year-old Auli’i Cravalho, who beat hundreds of young hopefuls to the role. Mindful, perhaps, of the storm of controversy caused by the casting of Rooney Mara in the role of Pan’s Tiger Lily, directors Ron Clements and John Musker smartly selected the Hawaiian newcomer.

“When I first heard that there was an audition to potentially play Moana, I thought, ‘No way that can be me’,” comments Cravalho. How wrong she was. The last girl seen by casting director Rachel Sutton on her very last day of auditions, Cravalho was made to wait for weeks before meeting the directors, who couldn’t help but note her “fearlessness”.

“She has a playful, mischievous wit,” says Musker, whose other credits with co-writer/director Clements include The

Princess And The Frog and Aladdin. “She [ is able to] project vulnerability, and her Polynesian background has helped shape her connection to family, hard work and music. These are all qualities she shares with Moana.”

Alongside Cravalho is Dwayne Johnson, voicing the oncemighty demi-god Maui who joins Moana on her adventure. Expect them to face all manner of fiery creatures in a story – co-scripted with What We Do In The Shadows’ New Zealand-born Taika Waititi – that promises to delve into real-life mythology.

Set to be Musker and Clements’ first computer-animated film, Disney traditionalists need not fear. Moana will be packed with music, with Tony-winner Lin-Manuel Miranda, Grammywinning composer Mark Mancina ( The Lion King) and Te Vaka lead singer Opetaia Foa’i collaborating. The bad news? You’ll still have to wait a year before you can say ‘Aloha’ to this. JM