Disney Daze: Moana

Moana

Disney Animated Classic Number 56

Starring: Auli’I Cravalho, Dwanye Johnson, Rachel House, Temuera Morrison, Nicole Schwazzerwazzer, Jemaine Clement & Alan Tudyk

Directed by: Ron Clements & John Musker

Rating: ★★★★

Following on from Frozen as the newest Disney Princess movie was always going to be a hard task. Disney Princess movies can be some of the best and some of the worstentries in the Disney Animated Classics. 

Meet Disney's newest princess- Moana!

But with a very strong leading character, great songs, beautiful animation and a good storyline, Moana is a deserving successor to the most successful animated movie of all time.  

Moana must help Maui save the Earth!

Moana (Cravalho) is a teenager living on a Pacific island that she will one day rule. Her father (Morrision), the Chief of the tribe, wants her to learn everything she can about being a leader, but Moana is drawn to the sea, and wants to become an explorer, much to his annoyance. Moana’s grandmother (House) tells Moana that she has a great destiny, and must follow her dreams- out into the ocean.

Moana just wants to explore the sea.

Although the story isn’t the most complex, and Moana’s journey isn’t particularly challenging, she certainly learns a lot about herself and her inner strength. After teaming up with a shape-shifting demi-god called Maui (Johnson) the film goes from strength to strength- until a giant crab monster turns up. But once this storm is weathered, Moana stabilises and comes out on top- with a clever and inspirational finale.

Moana is a great character!

The animation is outstanding and most of the songs are good. Moana is an excellent character, played very well by Cravalho, and Maui is also extremely likeable- he should get a spin-off TV series. The chicken Heihei (Tudyk) is a comic relief character, which, unlike other Disneyanimal sidekicks, is genuinely hilarious and actually fun to watch. 

Heihei is brilliant!

Moana’s crazy grandmother is also a brilliant character who provides a lot of the heart and soul of the film.

Gramma is funny and sweet.

I also really like the fact that 'the Sea' itself was a character, which led to some really funny moments involving Moana being throw off of a boat (it's not as horrible as it sounds). 

The Sea not only looks beautiful but is also a great character.

Although I loved the parts set on Moana’s home island, and the ending battle with a lava monster, there are bits in the middle that are slightly weak, as the journey isn’t as exciting as it could have been. Instead of having some amazing sea monsters, they have a bedazzled singing crab, which isn’t scary or funny, and just ends up being lame. 

The weird and silly crab Tamatoa.

It’s a shame, because when Maui says that they are venturing into the land of the monsters, you actually expect scary monsters- not a singing glittery crab.

Yes, there are coconut pirates in this film.

Despite this, and the inclusion of a ship of evil coconut pirates (I kid you not) Moana is a solid film that has an amazing central character, great supporting characters, beautiful animation, and a whole lot of heart. Even though Moana herself is strangley sexualised, the film's message, and graphics, are beautiful, and this is one of the best films I’ve seen all year.

Will Maui and Moana restore Te Fiti's heart?

Moana is a solid entry into the Disney Animated Classics, and is a very strong Disney Princess movie with one of the greatest Disney princesses. Moana is a treat for the eyes, the ears, and most importantly, the heart.