When Moana becomes a young adult, her grandmother tells her to follow her dreams and leave the Island because it is what her “heart” wants. Moana forgets this event and grows up in her village and spends most of her early life preparing to be Chief of the Island of Motunui (Something that she does not want to do). However, when the Ocean tries to give Moana the heart when she is a baby, she drops it on the beach, seemingly losing it forever. The ocean entrusts Moana with the “Heart” because she is the “chosen one” and will restore balance to the world by taking the “heart” back to Te Fiti. This relic was previously stolen from her by the Demigod Maui so that Humans would gain the power of creation and life-giving. At the beginning of the Movie, Moana, even from an extremely young age is given the “Heart of Te Fiti”, which is a relic from the Island deity known by the same name. This backstory lays out the beliefs of the Polynesians, which includes a Pantheon of gods for various aspects of life as well as Demigods (Half Human and Half God) that serve as heroes. Also within moments following the opening credits, an expositional story of the Mythology of the Culture is done entirely in traditional Polynesian art style. Immediately from the moment, the film starts, Traditional Polynesian music is played in lieu of the normal Disney theme song. Moana brings Polynesian Culture to the big stage and uses animation visuals like never seen before to illustrate traditional Polynesian life before Colonization by the “West”. Many of the Actors in the movie also happen to be Pacific Islander, including Moana, her Father and Maui’s respective actors and actresses. This had been seen before in movies such as “Lilo and Stitch” where the story just happens to take place in Hawaii when it could have taken place on an Island. Many fears were raised prior to the release of this film because of the thought that Disney wouldn’t do the Culture “justice” and it would simply use it as an Exotic backdrop.

The subject of a story is based on Polynesian and Tongan culture, which is something that has rarely been attempted within Hollywood. The movie Moana was one of Disney’s most ambitious films. Cultural Significance and Symbolism of the film “Moana”

Moana full movie 2016 pirate reddit