Moana (2016)
One of the defining narratives of the newest era in the Disney filmography is the reexamination of the princess narrative and how these characters can be used as points of empowering representation. While Disney found major success in other projects such as The Princess and the Frog, Tangled, and Frozen, the studio would find its modern masterpiece with Moana. Set in the Polynesian islands, Moana sees the titular hero, voiced by Auliʻi Cravalho, go against her father's wishes to leave her protected island and return the heart of Te Fiti which is believed to be the answer to a lack of fish being caught for the village.
When it comes to Disney princesses, modern or not, few are as memorable as Moana. The character is layered and complex as her power and agency is never an excuse to rid her of natural faults and personality. Moana is lost as she is torn between her duty and her people and struggles to make the right decision. When she finally does venture out into the ocean, she is in the process of learning with plenty of mistakes. Her voice solidifies and finds confidence as the film progresses with her character arc being one of the more compelling of the entire Disney princess lineup. Auliʻi Cravalho's performance is only icing on the cake as Cravalho brings an instantly iconic personality and life to the role.
Her partnership with a demigod named Maui (Dwayne Johnson) not only adds a wonderful comedic relief to the film, but also provides a genuinely enjoyable friendship that defies all classic Disney tropes to never end up romantic. Johnson has endless charisma which plays off perfectly against Moana's more serious and determined presence. The other side characters stay largely in the background with the film never feeling the pressure to add filler comedic content. The various villains that Moana faces off against are also incredibly fun and memorable. Largely in thanks to the killer music accompanying his appearance, Tamatoa (Jemaine Clement) is iconic as a giant crab obsessed with objects that shine while Te Fiti herself provides a more complex villain that is lashing out in fear rather than evilness.
These dramas are displayed on one of Disney's most visually stunning backdrops to date. The ocean has never looked better with a captivating use of color and textures. The individual islands are rendered wonderfully and the character animation is consistently smooth. There are also key scenes where the filmmaking itself is used to add a gravitas, often through calculated shot composition and masterful use of slow-motion. When it comes to craft and filmmaking ability, even Disney struggles to produce many efforts as strong as Moana.
Moana is a near flawless feature that proves to be one of Disney's best. The 2010's was a time of incredible growth and evolution for Disney; and Moana represents a final conclusion to this journey. Moana is spectacular and is just as strong today as it was in 2016.
When it comes to Disney princesses, modern or not, few are as memorable as Moana. The character is layered and complex as her power and agency is never an excuse to rid her of natural faults and personality. Moana is lost as she is torn between her duty and her people and struggles to make the right decision. When she finally does venture out into the ocean, she is in the process of learning with plenty of mistakes. Her voice solidifies and finds confidence as the film progresses with her character arc being one of the more compelling of the entire Disney princess lineup. Auliʻi Cravalho's performance is only icing on the cake as Cravalho brings an instantly iconic personality and life to the role.
Her partnership with a demigod named Maui (Dwayne Johnson) not only adds a wonderful comedic relief to the film, but also provides a genuinely enjoyable friendship that defies all classic Disney tropes to never end up romantic. Johnson has endless charisma which plays off perfectly against Moana's more serious and determined presence. The other side characters stay largely in the background with the film never feeling the pressure to add filler comedic content. The various villains that Moana faces off against are also incredibly fun and memorable. Largely in thanks to the killer music accompanying his appearance, Tamatoa (Jemaine Clement) is iconic as a giant crab obsessed with objects that shine while Te Fiti herself provides a more complex villain that is lashing out in fear rather than evilness.
These dramas are displayed on one of Disney's most visually stunning backdrops to date. The ocean has never looked better with a captivating use of color and textures. The individual islands are rendered wonderfully and the character animation is consistently smooth. There are also key scenes where the filmmaking itself is used to add a gravitas, often through calculated shot composition and masterful use of slow-motion. When it comes to craft and filmmaking ability, even Disney struggles to produce many efforts as strong as Moana.
Moana is a near flawless feature that proves to be one of Disney's best. The 2010's was a time of incredible growth and evolution for Disney; and Moana represents a final conclusion to this journey. Moana is spectacular and is just as strong today as it was in 2016.