Moana

Released by Walt Disney Animation Studios in 2016, *Moana* follows a determined teenager chosen by the ocean to restore the heart of Te Fiti, a life-giving goddess whose stolen power has caused ecological devastation across the Pacific. Moana is the daughter of Chief Tui of Motunui, an island community whose people have stopped voyaging after dangerous experiences at sea. When fish disappear and coconut trees begin to fail, Moana secretly travels beyond the reef to save her home. Her mission requires finding Maui, a legendary demigod voiced by Dwayne Johnson. Maui originally stole Te Fiti’s heart, a small green stone, because he wanted to give humanity the power of creation. The theft awakened Te Ka, a volcanic demon who attacked him and caused the heart to be lost. Maui reluctantly joins Moana, although their relationship develops through arguments, training, and mutual respect. Together, they cross the ocean, confront the giant coconut crab Tamatoa, and face the monsters of Lalotai, the realm of monsters. The film’s story was influenced by Polynesian mythology and by research conducted by the filmmakers in Pacific nations. Directors Ron Clements and John Musker worked with cultural advisors and established the Oceanic Story Trust to improve the film’s representation of Polynesian history, traditions, and communities. The production also emphasized traditional wayfinding, including navigation by stars, ocean currents, winds, and wildlife. Auliʻi Cravalho, who was fourteen when cast, provides Moana’s voice. The musical score was written by Mark Mancina, while songs were created by Mancina, Opetaia Foaʻi, and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Foaʻi, a Samoan musician, contributed Polynesian musical influences and performed with his group Te Vaka. The soundtrack includes “How Far I’ll Go,” sung in the film by Cravalho and written by Miranda. The song received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. Unlike many earlier Disney stories, *Moana* does not center on romance. Its central conflict concerns identity, responsibility, heritage, and the recovery of a culture’s voyaging tradition. Moana’s grandmother, Tala, encourages her to recognize that the people of Motunui were once voyagers. By the conclusion, Moana restores Te Fiti, realizes that Te Ka is the goddess without her heart, and leads her people back to the sea. *Moana* earned more than $690 million worldwide and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature. Its setting, music, and heroine helped make it one of Disney’s most recognizable modern animated films.