Making waves since 2016 (and still making a splash in my household today), the animated musical film “Moana” not only made history with a Polynesian girl as its fearless lead but also introduced a Disney princess — although she prefers the title “daughter of the chief” — whose goal was not to fall in love, but instead to save her people. Talk about a sea change!
This November, audiences will once again set sail for the enchanting shores of Motunui and beyond, where new characters, mischievous villains, and even a little sister await in “Moana 2.” Mochi Magazine dives into the magical world created by the Disney Animation Studios team to learn what it takes to “know the way” when it comes to authentic representation.
Although the sequel was originally announced as a Disney+ series, the film’s leadership quickly realized that Moana’s next adventure was meant for the big screen.
The trio of David G. Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller, all of whom are making their feature directorial debut, prove that it takes a village (with over 750 creatives). As a screenwriter and a Samoan American, Miller was tapped to write the live-action version of the first film, where she dove into the psychology of Moana and her choices — and why she is so beloved by audiences. Because of Miller’s insight, the Moana we meet may be three years older but she’s not that different from the Moana we know and love.
Instead, the world around her is growing and she is finding that she needs to continue choosing who she is. “We take everything that everyone loved about the first movie and we expand on it. The world is just as lush, but it’s bigger. We’re pushing Moana beyond the horizon, even farther beyond the horizon than she’s ever gone before,” said Miller.
The Heart of Cultural Authenticity
The team at Disney Animation Studios worked in concert and chorus to tell this epic adventure, but expanding the horizons of Disney’s version of…
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