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Moana (franchise)

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Moana
Franchise logo used since the 2016 film
Created by
Original workMoana (2016)
OwnerThe Walt Disney Company
Years2016–present
Films and television
Film(s)
Short film(s)
  • Gone Fishing (2017)
Audio
Soundtrack(s)Moana (2016)
Miscellaneous
Theme park attraction(s)Journey of Water
Official website
disney.com/moana/
  • * Work where this franchise's characters or settings appeared as part of a crossover.

Moana (also known as Vaiana[1] or Oceania[2] in some markets) is a Disney media franchise that originally started in 2016 with the release of the American animated feature film Moana, produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios, and released by Walt Disney Pictures.

The franchise consists of two animated films, Moana (2016) and a sequel will be released on November 27, 2024, as well a live-action adaptation of the 2016 film, scheduled to be released on July 10, 2026.

Films

[edit]
Film Release date Director(s) Screenwriter(s) Story Producer(s)
Animated
Moana November 23, 2016 (2016-11-23) John Musker & Ron Clements
Co-Directors
Chris Williams & Don Hall 		Jared Bush Ron Clements, John Musker, Chris Williams, Don Hall, Pamela Ribon, Aaron Kandell, & Jordan Kandell Osnat Shurer
Moana 2 November 27, 2024 (2024-11-27) David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, & Dana Ledoux Miller Jared Bush & Dana Ledoux Miller TBA Christina Chen & Yvett Merino
Live-action
Moana July 10, 2026 (2026-07-10) Thomas Kail Jared Bush TBA Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, & Hiram Garcia

Animated films

[edit]

Moana (2016)

[edit]
Main article: Moana (2016 film)

After directing The Princess and the Frog (2009), Clements and Musker started working on an adaptation of Terry Pratchett's Mort,[3] but problems with acquiring the necessary film rights prevented them from continuing with that project. To avoid a recurrence of that issue, they pitched three original ideas.[4] The genesis of one of those ideas (the one that was ultimately green-lit) occurred in 2011, when Musker began reading up on Polynesian mythology, and learned of the heroic exploits of the demigod Māui. Intrigued with the rich culture of Polynesia, he felt it would be a suitable subject for an animated film. Shortly thereafter, Musker and Clements wrote a treatment and pitched it to John Lasseter, who recommended that both of them should go on research trips.[5][6] Accordingly, in 2012, Clements and Musker went on research trips to Fiji, Samoa, and Tahiti to meet the people of the South Pacific Ocean and learn about their culture.[7] At first, they had planned to make the film entirely about Maui, but their initial research trips inspired Clements to pitch a new idea focused on the young daughter of a chief.[8]

Clements and Musker were fascinated to learn during their research that the people of Polynesia abruptly stopped making long-distance voyages about three thousand years ago. Polynesian navigational traditions had long predated those of European explorers, beginning around 300 CE.[9] Native people of the Pacific possessed knowledge of the world and their place in it prior to the incursion of foreigners. For example, Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians) were well aware of the existence of far away islands, had names for these places, and were interested in exploring them to benefit their societies.[9] This voyaging heritage was made possible by a geographical knowledge system based on individual perspective rather than the European cardinal direction system.[9] The reasons for the halt of this voyaging tradition remain unknown, but scholars have offered climate change and resulting shifts in ocean currents and wind patterns as one possible explanation.[9] Native peoples of the Pacific resumed voyaging again a thousand years later. Clements and Musker set the film at that point in time, about two thousand years ago, on a fictional island in the central Pacific Ocean, which drew inspiration from elements of the real-life island nations of Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga.[10] Although, Motunui is actually a real islet located south of Easter Island in Chilean Polynesia.[11]

Over the five years it took to develop and produce the film, Clements and Musker recruited experts from across the South Pacific to form an Oceanic Story Trust, who consulted on the film's cultural accuracy and sensitivity as the story evolved through nine versions.[12] The Trust responded negatively, for example, to a depiction of Maui as bald, and to a proposed scene in which Moana threw a tantrum by throwing coconuts. In response, Maui was reworked with long hair and the coconut scene was scrapped.[8]

During the 2015 D23 Expo's panel for Disney's slate of upcoming animated films, Moana's last name was given as "Waialiki", but that name was not retained in the final film.[13]

Moana 2 (2024)

[edit]
Main article: Moana 2

In December 2020, during a Disney Investor Day meeting, Walt Disney Animation Studios chief creative officer Jennifer Lee announced that a musical series titled Moana, based on the 2016 film of the same name, was in development at the studio for Disney+.[14] By August 2021, it was reported that Osnat Shurer would once again serve as producer.[15] In January 2022, it was announced that David Derrick Jr. would serve as the writer and director, after filling the role of storyboard artist of the first film.[16][17][18] The series entered development simultaneously with the live action remake of Moana according to Jared Bush, a writer of the film and screenplay writer of the 2016 animated film.[19]

In February 2024, Disney CEO Bob Iger announced that the series had been reworked into a theatrical sequel titled Moana 2, with Derrick and Shurer remaining attached to the project.[20] By the release of the first trailer in May, Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller were confirmed as co-directors alongside Derrick, while Christina Chen and Yvett Merino were revealed to replace Shurer as the film's producers.[21]

Live-Action films

[edit]

Moana (2026)

[edit]
Main article: Moana (2026 film)

In April 2023, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Walt Disney Pictures was developing a live-action adaptation of Moana to be produced by Johnson, Dany Garcia, and Hiram Garcia, under their production company Seven Bucks Productions, and Beau Flynn of Flynn Pictures Co., executive produced by Auliʻi Cravalho and Scott Sheldon, and written by Jared Bush, with Johnson set to reprise his role as Maui.[22] On June 12, 2024, Catherine Laga‘aia was announced as the titular character.[23]

The film was originally scheduled for theatrical release on June 27, 2025, in the United States,[24] but was delayed to July 10, 2026, due to the release of Moana 2 for the previous year.[25][26]

Short film

[edit]

Gone Fishing (2017)

[edit]

Maui Mini Movie: Gone Fishing was released along with the first film’s blu-ray and digital release. It follows Maui trying and failing to fish until Moana shows him how it’s done.

In other films

[edit]

Moana and Heihei make guest appearances in the 2018 film Ralph Breaks the Internet.[27][28]

Moana appears as one of the main characters in the 2023 special Lego Disney Princess: The Castle Quest.[29]

The characters of the first film have cameo appearances in the 2023 short film Once Upon a Studio.[30][31]

Cast and characters

[edit]
  •  S indicates an appearance as a character's singing voice.
  •  Y indicates an appearance as a character's younger version.
Characters Animated films Short film Live-action film
Moana Moana 2 Gone Fishing Moana
2016 2024 2017 2026
Moana Auli'i Cravalho
Louise BushY 		Auli'i Cravalho Catherine Lagaʻaia
Maui Dwayne Johnson
Gramma Tala Rachel House Rena Owen
Chief Tui Temuera Morrison
Christopher JacksonS 		Temuera Morrison John Tui
Sina Nicole Scherzinger Frankie Adams
Heihei Alan Tudyk
Tamatoa Jemaine Clement
Fisherman Oscar Kightley
Villager No. 1 Troy Polamalu
Villager No. 2 Puanani Cravalho
Simea Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda
Loto Rose Matafeo
Kele David Fane
Moni Hualālai Chung
Matangi Awhimai Fraser
Tautai Vasa Gerald Ramsey

Theme parks

[edit]

Moana appears as a meet-and-greet character at Disney Parks.[32][33]

Journey of Water

[edit]
Main article: Journey of Water

Journey of Water—Inspired by Moana is a walkthrough water trail attraction, which depicts the Earth's water cycle, opened at Epcot on October 16, 2023.[34]

Other

[edit]

The franchise's titular protagonist, Moana, is part of the characters in the Disney Princess franchise.[35] The antagonists of the 2016 film Tamatoa and the Kakamora have been included as part of the Disney Villains franchise.[36][37][38]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Vaiana and Moana: a story of two Disney heroines". Novagraaf. February 7, 2017. Archived from the original on 2018-11-26. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
  2. ^ Saunders, Tristram Fane (November 16, 2016). "Disney renamed its new film Moana 'to avoid confusion with porn star'". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2022-01-11 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  3. ^ Connelly, Brendon (April 6, 2013). "What Disney's Film of Terry Pratchett's Mort Might Have Looked Like... And A Preview of Things To Come". Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on October 26, 2014. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  4. ^ Miller, Bruce (August 24, 2013). "Sioux City native Ron Clements preps new film for Disney studio". Sioux City Journal. Archived from the original on May 10, 2015. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  5. ^ Ron Clements and John Musker (November 23, 2016). "The Irascible Ron Clements and John Musker Talk 'Moana'" (Interview). Interviewed by Dan Sarto. Animation World Network. Archived from the original on March 19, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  6. ^ Giardina, Caroline (November 25, 2016). "'Moana' Directors Reveal How the Story Changed". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 26, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
  7. ^ Deitchman, Beth (Spring 2016). "Finding Her Way: Directors John Musker and Ron Clements Have Charted A Course For Their New Film, Moana, Which Sails Into Theatres In November 2016". Disney Twenty-three. 8 (1). Burbank: Walt Disney Company: 32–33. ISSN 2162-5492. OCLC 698366817.
  8. ^ a b Robinson, Joanna (November 16, 2016). "How Pacific Islanders Helped Disney's Moana Find Its Way". Vanity Fair. New York. Archived from the original on November 25, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  9. ^ a b c d Chang, David A. (2016). "Looking Out From Hawai'i's Shore: The Exploration of the World is the Inheritance of Native Hawaiians". The World and All the Things Upon It: Native Hawaiian Geographies of Exploration. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. pp. 1–32.
  10. ^ Julius, Jessica; Malone, Maggie (2016). The Art of Moana. San Francisco: Chronicle Books. p. 10. ISBN 9781452158976. Archived from the original on 2023-04-23. Retrieved 2017-01-06.
  11. ^ Ulloa, Gabriela (January 15, 2022). "¿La primera Princesa Disney chilena?: el casi desconocido vínculo de Moana con nuestro país" [The first Chilean Disney Princess?: Moana's almost unknown link with our country]. BioBioChile (in Spanish). Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  12. ^ Ito, Robert (November 15, 2016). "How (and Why) Maui Got So Big in 'Moana'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 22, 2016. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  13. ^ "Meet Disney's New (And First Polynesian) Princess!". US Weekly. August 20, 2015. Archived from the original on March 15, 2017. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  14. ^ Holloway, Daniel (December 10, 2020). "'Moana,' 'Cars,' 'Princess and the Frog' Spinoff Series Set for Disney Plus". Variety. Archived from the original on May 31, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  15. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (August 4, 2021). "Walt Disney Animation Amps Up Production With New Vancouver Studio, First Project Is 'Moana' Musical Series". Deadline. Archived from the original on April 12, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  16. ^ Sarto, Debbie Diamond (January 21, 2022). "David Derrick Jr. to Direct Disney's 'Moana' Series". Animation World Network. Archived from the original on January 24, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  17. ^ Sternberg, Sabrina (January 22, 2022). "Moana TV Series for Disney+ Finds Its Director in Story Artist David G. Derrick Jr". Collider. Archived from the original on July 4, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  18. ^ Bonomolo, Cameron (January 23, 2022). "Disney Animation Announces Disney+'s Moana: The Series Director". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  19. ^ Bush, Jared [@thejaredbush] (April 3, 2023). "Oh yes. And it's phenomenal" (Tweet). Retweeted by no. Archived from the original on June 29, 2023. Retrieved June 29, 2023 – via Twitter.
  20. ^ Stephan, Katcy (February 7, 2024). "Moana 2 Set at Disney With Surprise 2024 Release Date". Variety. Archived from the original on February 7, 2024. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  21. ^ "'Moana 2,: Disney Reveals New Teaser Trailer". The Walt Disney Company. 29 May 2024.
  22. ^ "Live-Action Moana in the Works from Dwayne Johnson, Disney". The Hollywood Reporter. 3 April 2023. Archived from the original on 3 April 2023. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  23. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (June 12, 2024). "Disney Finds Their Live-Action 'Moana' In Catherine Laga'aia". Deadline. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  24. ^ McClintock, Pamela; Couch, Aaron (June 13, 2023). "Avatar 3 Pushed a Year to 2025, Two Star Wars Movies Head for 2026 and Avengers Films Delayed". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 13, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  25. ^ Couch, Aaron (5 April 2024). "Disney Sets 'Toy Story 5,' 'Mandalorian & Grogu' for 2026, Delays Live-Action 'Moana' by a Year". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  26. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (9 February 2024). "Dwayne Johnson In Talks To Reprise Maui for Disney's Animated Moana 2; Live-Action Pic Bound To Shift Dates". Deadline. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  27. ^ Breznican, Anthony (July 14, 2017). "Wreck-It Ralph sequel will unite the Disney princesses — and Star Wars!". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on July 15, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  28. ^ Eisenberg, Eric (November 5, 2018). "Could The Disney Princesses Carry Their Own Film Together? Ralph Breaks The Internet's Directors Weigh In". CinemaBlend. Archived from the original on November 12, 2018. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  29. ^ "LEGO Disney Princess : The Castle Quest Coming To Disney+". BSCkids. August 3, 2023.
  30. ^ "How Disney Animation's 'Once Upon a Studio' Pays Spectacular Tribute to Disney's Legacy". October 16, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  31. ^ Reif, Alex (October 16, 2023). "Disney's "Once Upon a Studio" – List of Characters in Order of Appearance". Laughing Place.
  32. ^ Wade, Victoria (November 16, 2016). "Moana Makes Disney World Debut". DisKingdom. Archived from the original on June 1, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  33. ^ "Disney's latest heroine Moana is coming to Disneyland Paris in one week". DLP Today. November 12, 2016. Archived from the original on November 17, 2016. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  34. ^ "Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Shares First of Many Exciting Announcements to be Unveiled at D23 Expo 2019".
  35. ^ "Moana | Disney Princess". Disney Princess. Disney. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  36. ^ Dakin, Glenn (September 8, 2020). Disney Villains: The Essential Guide to the Evilest of Them All. Dorling Kindersley. p. 53. ISBN 9780241401224.
  37. ^ Laughing Place Disney Newsdesk (September 17, 2020). ""Monopoly: Disney Villains Edition" Now Available From Hasbro Gaming". Laughing Place.
  38. ^ Rebekah Moseley (November 19, 2021). "Celebrate National Play Monopoly Day With the New Monopoly: Disney Villains Henchmen Edition". Laughing Place.
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