By Daniele Foti-Cuzzola
Since the release of their debut feature Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937, the Walt Disney Company has consistently released animated musicals with princess protagonists to critical and commercial acclaim.
Over time, these heroines have been grouped together in the multibillion-dollar Disney Princess franchise and in 2013 their popularity reached new heights with the release of Frozen, which became the highest-grossing animated film of all time.
Now, Disney returns to their beloved formula of pitch-perfect heroines, adorable animal sidekicks and infectious musical numbers with Moana. While the film re-treads some delightfully familiar waters it also sets sail on new unchartered territories which will win over even Disney’s harshest critics.
On the fictional Polynesian Island of Motunui, Moana the teenage daughter of the village chief, longs to explore the seas and venture beyond the reef of her island home. However, her father forbids her. But when a curse reaches her island, Moana defies her father and sets out on a courageous mission across the ocean to find the fallen Demigod Maui and restore the heart of the island Goddess Te Fiti in order to save her people and her home.
Returning to direct are Disney legends Ron Clements and John Musker. The duo have directed their fair share of Disney films and are responsible for bringing iconic heroines Ariel from The Little Mermaid, Jasmine from Aladdin and Tiana from The Princess and The Frog to the big screen. Once again they have created another strong-willed Princess with Moana. Moana differs to her predecessors in that she does not have a love interest, which is a rarity but a much-welcomed change for Disney. Instead of seeking romance, Moana dreams of adventure and forming her own path. This is not a film about a princess finding her prince, but about a princess finding herself.
Voiced by newcomer Auli’I Cravalho, Moana is one of Disney’s most engaging heroines. She’s fearless, strong-willed and battles monsters. Cravalho provides Moana with confidence and tenderness, which makes her relatable to any teenager who is still figuring out who they are. Her chemistry with Rachel House, who plays Moana’s grandmother Gramma Tala, is impeccable, and anyone who has close a relationship with a grandparent will struggle not to tear up during Moana. Their relationship is one of the film’s highlights. Rounding out the voice cast is Nicole Scherzinger as Moana’s mother, Jemaine Clement as a villainous self-indulgent crab and Hollywood superstar Dwayne Johnson as the shape-shifting Demigod Maui, who belts out one of the song’s most memorable musical numbers, You’re Welcome.
It’s not easy being the next musical after the phenomenon that was Frozen, but composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, who is the toast of Broadway at the moment for his revolutionary musical Hamilton, delivers some truly memorable tunes. Highlights include the protagonist’s heart-stirring ballad How Far I’ll Go, the aforementioned You’re Welcome, which is paired with some of the film’s best visuals and the Broadway-esque opening number Where We Are. But the real showstopper is the goose bump-inducing I Am Moana (Song of the Ancestors) which will leave you breathless. The sequence is pure spine-tingling Disney magic. Like most Disney musicals, the songs will be stuck in your head long after the car drive home.
Visually, Moana is possibly the most stunning CGI animated film of all time. From the ocean to the movement of the characters’ hair, to the action sequences and the villainous lava goddess. The animation is jaw dropping and the incorporation of hand drawn animation in various sequences is seamless and a beautiful throwback to Disney’s past. While the plot does feel episodic, the three-dimensional characters, superb voice acting, infectious music and stunning visuals make Moana a welcome addition to the Disney canon and will no doubt reel the whole family in. The villainous lava goddess and the characters and action sequences in the Realm of Monsters may frighten youngsters, but Moana will have your whole family swept away in awe.