POLYNESIAN PRINCESS
Disney’s Moana a tale for the ages
1 It’s mission accomplished
Dwayne Johnson has been a headliner in blockbuster action flicks, hit live-action comedies and edgy dramas. But he didn’t realize what he set out to do in the movie industry until Moana.
“When I first got in this business, I had a goal,” he says. “And the goal was to be in the Disney family of animated movies.”
He was also keen to salute his Polynesian heritage from his Samoan and Hawaiian roots.
“I feel a deep connection to this story,” Johnson says. “It’s in my blood, so it is truly a great honour.”
2 Then is now
Moana directors John Musker and Ron Clements have a celebrated past as the filmmakers of such classics as The Little Mermaid and Aladdin.
While their latest fantasy may be set 2,000 years ago in an exotic Pacific setting, they attempted to make the themes relatable to audiences.
“That’s particularly true if you live in a world where you don’t think you fit in,” says Musker.
Clements says that Maui is trying to remember who he once was while Moana is to trying to discover who she can be.
“And it is Moana who might help Maui find himself,” Johnson says.
3
Fearless and playful is a winning combination
Auli’i Cravalho, 15, initially decided against auditioning for the Moana voice role when she heard about it last year. A casting director friend eventually persuaded her to give it try.
After multiple call backs, the Oahu, Hawaii, native won her first major professional part beating out hundreds of others in the process.
“Auli’i demonstrated fearlessness in her auditions and call backs,” says Musker. “She has a playful, mischievous wit. She can project vulnerability, and she doesn’t seem intimidated at all by the challenges … all qualities she shares with Moana.”
4
The songs connect the past with the present
Lin-Manuel Miranda, who composed the songs for Moana, wrote the book, music and lyrics for Hamilton. That’s the incredibly popular Broadway musical which earned the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for drama, and won 11 Tony Awards, including best musical.
Like the tunes from Hamilton, Miranda says the Moana songs combine a modern sensibility with a historical place in time. That’s exemplified by the Moana theme performed by Western Samoan singer Opetaia Foa’i and his group Te Vaka.
Johnson, as Maui, even has a musical moment belting out You’re Welcome, which is a sly tribute to his wrestling past as The Rock.
5 Costumes pulled
After complaints from Polynesian groups, a Maui costume with brown padded arms and tattoos was pulled from Disney stores and its website along with a Maui T-shirt, sweatshirt and pyjamas.