When Moana sets off into the ocean to find Maui, she packs a handful of things in her basket, and if you look close enough, you can spot Olaf's arm and nose among the pile.
The overarching message of Moana is, truly, that the worst thing to happen to you doesn't have to define you. Moana's father lives in fear due to a tragic past; Maui feels as though he is missing a critical part of himself without his hook; Te Fiti turns into a literal monster after she is attacked.
During the "Surface Pressure" musical number, right after Luisa breaks the iceberg to save the Titanic, Luisa can be seen surfing on an ocean wave to the shore of a tropical island. This spot reminds the fans of Motunui, the island where Moana, another successful Disney film, takes place.
MOANA Live Action - Official Trailer (2024) Zendaya, Dwayne Johnson | Disney+
Is Moana and Encanto connected?
Camilo from Encanto shares a subtle line with demi-god Maui from Moana. But while the reference is easy to miss, it's more meaningful than it seems. Disney's latest animated feature, Encanto, features a nod to Moana that's even better than merely a fun Easter egg.
Encanto has its fair share of hidden Mickeys. At the beginning of Isabela's song, "What Else Can I Do?," a cacti plant takes the form of Mickey Mouse, with one large circle in the middle and two smaller ones on top. During "Waiting On a Miracle," a similar shape can be seen in the fireworks.
The reasons behind the change of name are not completely clear, but a tweet from Disney España gives an important clue: 'Moana' is registered as a trademark in Spain, and in a number of other European countries, hence the change to Vaiana in Europe.
Disney's 2016 film Moana features a secret Godzilla Easter egg, and it's actually perfect. Although the quick reference is gone in the blink of an eye, fans of the iconic Toho monster have been talking about the cameo for years, with it being a brilliant instance of doing a homage to a pop culture legend.
11. The baby turtle looks like Finding Nemo's Squirt. At the beginning of the movie, Moana protects a baby turtle from predators, and honestly, the little creature looks just like Squirt. Either way, those big, round eyes are to die for!
Earlier drafts of Moana actually did feature Pua setting out on the adventure but screenwriter Jared Bush (Zootopia) felt it would be more stressful if Moana's best friend and source of comfort didn't come along. This made her journey more powerful when she succeeded.
If you're looking for a quick answer before diving into the analysis: no, Maui is not Moana's biological father in the film. But their bond and character development does have paternal themes.
Almost immediately after Tala hands over the Heart to Moana, she dies. It's pretty simple yet extremely heartbreaking. The silver lining here is that Tala's spirit lives on. The old woman always spoke about how she wanted to come back as a manta ray after she died, and she does.
5) In the film's novelization, Moana's age is given as 16. This makes her the only Disney princess to be voiced by an actress younger than herself. Moana was released on Cravalho's 16th birthday.
As pack animals notorious for their ability to carry heavy loads, the donkeys which Luisa lifts represent the intense burdens placed upon her as the "strong one" of the family. While Luisa's secret room is never revealed, the donkeys and her endless heavy lifting demonstrate the constant demands placed upon her.
The rarest hidden mickey is said to be in a beloved ride's queue. Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid is an attraction that tells the story of the beloved Disney character Ariel.
Bruno Madrigal is a fictional character who appears in Walt Disney Animation Studios' animated film Encanto (2021). Voiced by John Leguizamo, he is Mirabel's ostracized uncle who has the ability to see the future.
