We’re nearing the Thanksgiving week release of one of our girls’ most-anticipated films of the year, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Moana. A tale of a young girl on a great adventure with a mighty demigod, the film features the voice talents of Auli‘i Cravalho, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Jemaine Clement (FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS), Rachel House, Temuera Morrison (The STAR WARS Prequels’ Jango Fett), Nicole Scherzinger (Pussycat Dolls), Alan Tudyk (ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY), and was directed by Ron Clements and John Musker – the duo behind THE LITTLE MERMAID and ALADDIN. Today we’ve got a new featurette called “The Way to Moana,” featuring commentary from filmmakers, voice talent, songwriters, and key advisors from the Pacific Islands – delving into the research and collaboration that went into the film, helping to ensure the story celebrates the Pacific Island cultures that so deeply inspired it. Check out that and all related video from the film in the player below!
About the Film: Three thousand years ago, the greatest sailors in the world voyaged across the vast Pacific, discovering the many islands of Oceania. But then, for a millennium, their voyages stopped – and no one knows exactly why. From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes “Moana,” a sweeping, CG-animated feature film about an adventurous teenager who sails out on a daring mission to save her people. During her journey, Moana (voice of Auli‘i Cravalho) meets the mighty demigod Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson), who guides her in her quest to become a master wayfinder. Together, they sail across the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds, and along the way, Moana fulfills the ancient quest of her ancestors and discovers the one thing she’s always sought: her own identity. Directed by the renowned filmmaking team of Ron Clements and John Musker (“The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,” “The Princess & the Frog”), produced by Osnat Shurer (“Lifted,” “One Man Band”), and featuring music by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mark Mancina and Opetaia Foa‘i, “Moana” sails into U.S. theaters on Nov. 23, 2016.
