Moana (also known as Vaiana or Oceania in some markets) is a 2016 American animated musical fantasy action-adventure film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures.
From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes Moana, an epic adventure about a spirited teen who sets sail on a daring mission to prove herself a master wayfinder and fulfill her ancestors' unfinished quest.
Dwayne Johnson was “humbled (and excited)” to share the release date for Disney's upcoming live-action remake of Moana on Tuesday. The film will hit theaters on June 27, 2025, nine years after the original. “Sometimes our strengths lie beneath the surface.
Film Theory: Disney Moana's SECRET Identity REVEALED! (Moana)
Who does Zendaya play in Moana?
That's why Cinema Pro Studio published a trailer with the Euphoria star joining The Rock in the film, with a very accurate description: "Here's our concept trailer for 'Moana Live Action,' an exhilarating cinematic journey that brings Zendaya's Moana and Dwayne Johnson's Maui to life in a captivating new adaptation.
Set to premiere on Disney+ in 2024, Moana's sequel series should bring back many of the main characters from the original movie and should bring in a new antagonist and potential threats to Moana and Maui's new friendship.
While the ages of Disney Princesses are rarely discussed in their respective movies, Moana's age is given as 16, and the movie doesn't try to hide the fact that she is still quite young.
Since it's a remake, the live-action Moana should retain most of the same characters. The only confirmed actor so far is Dwayne Johnson, who will be reprising his role as Maui. Auli'i Cravalho will not return as Moana but is going to be producing the movie alongside Johnson.
At 16 years old, Moana of Motunui has a slender yet muscular build that sets her apart from previous Disney princesses and heroines. She has brown eyes with thick eyebrows, full brownish-pink lips, and long, wavy, black hair.
The character of Maui is played by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson who grew up in Hawai'i. The story of the demigod Maui stretches across the Pacific and is estimated to be over 1000 years old.
But depending on where in the world people saw Moana, they might know the great animated movie by another name. Disney retitled Moana in different countries, with most European countries using Vaiana. This change was reflected in the movie too, as Moana's name was changed to Vaiana due to copyright issues.
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 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.
In the Disney film Moana, the relationship between Moana and Maui is not romantic because Moana is a sixteen year old girl and Maui is thousands of years old. This is a step up from prior Disney movies.
Moana's age, 16, is less of an issue in her story as it doesn't include a romantic plot, but it still relies on a young girl to overcome dangerous challenges and save the world. Disney princesses have always had an age problem, with characters as young as 14 falling in love, defying parents, and getting married.
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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. 6) Moana is the second original Disney Princess (in other words, she is not based on a historical or literary figure).
Moana is set about 2,000 years ago, which would have been sometime during The Long Pause. In Moana, the people of Motunui never travel beyond the reef because of a longstanding tradition that isn't fully explained in Moana.
And there's definitely no sexual chemistry (thank demigod) between Moana and her wisecracking travel companion, Maui, voiced by 44-year-old Dwayne Johnson. According to the directors, Moana was always intended to be a princess movie without a prince.
