Maui also continues to feed Heihei (who he nicknamed drumstick) during the voyage, apparently still wanting to eat him. When the team faces Te Kā, Heihei remains in the boat's storage.
The name Hei Hei has a cultural foundation that fits Moana's Polynesian setting. In Māori culture, "hei hei" simply means "chicken." So not a traditional name, but rather just stating what Hei Hei is.
Watch Alan Tudyk Transform into Every Disney Character He's Played From 'Frozen' to 'Encanto'
Is Moana a Samoan?
Although Moana is from the fictional island Motunui some 3,000 years ago, the story and culture of Moana is based on the very real heritage and history of Polynesian islands such as Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, and Tahiti. In fact, once you start looking for ties to Polynesian culture in Moana, it's hard to stop!
The second most visited island is Maui, called the Valley Isle, due to its unique formation. Maui arose just over 1 million years ago when two shield volcanoes merged, creating a spectacular valley between the two volcanic masses, hence its name.
Moana as she appears in Moana (2016). Inspired by Polynesian mythology, Moana is depicted as the strong-willed daughter of a chief of a Polynesian village, who is chosen by the ocean itself to reunite a mystical relic with the goddess Te Fiti.
Known to Maui as "murdering little pirates", the Kakamora are cute in appearance, but they can be quite menacing and will relentlessly pursue materials they deem valuable.
Release. Moana 2 is scheduled to be released in theaters on November 27, 2024. A sneak peek at the film is set to screen at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 14, 2024.
No profanity, but characters do say "butt," "dumb," and "heiney." Also some creative insults, like "sharkhead," "beady-eyed bottom feeder," "filthy pile of pebbles," and "lying son of a..." Moana also tells the ocean that "fish pee in you."
Disney's latest animated blockbuster Moana is largely based on the culture and mythology of the Polynesian people who originally settled Samoa, Tonga, Hawai'i, New Zealand, Tahiti, and many other far-flung islands of the Pacific.
"Pua the pet pig was originally going on the journey with Moana, but the issue was that in a classic hero's journey, the hero leaves all comforts behind. And so we made the difficult decision to leave poor Pua at home, so that all things of Moana's family are left behind," says Shurer.
The Disney Animation Instagram shared a first look at the upcoming film, which you can watch below. Not only did we get a first look at the video, but Disney also shared a still from the movie. In the photo, we can see Moana, Maui, Pua, Hei-Hei, and other unnamed characters looking down into the sea.
Tui Waialiki is a supporting character in Disney's 2016 animated feature film Moana. He is the village leader of Motunui, and the father of Moana. Tui was an aspiring voyager in his youth, but after experiencing a traumatic event, developed aquaphobia and forbade his people from journeying beyond his island's reef.
Moana's not-so-bright friend. Hei Hei is well- meaning, but naive. Cast an actor who can portray Hei Hei's innocence and own both speaking and singing solos in “Where You Are (Part 2),”“How Far I'll Go,” and “We Know the Way (Finale).”
