Disney’s latest animated feature Moana breaks cultural and gender barriers, writes Loong Wai Ting
MOANA, described as one of Disney’s most ambitious projects to date, took five years to put together.
From research that saw its production team hopping to every corner of Oceania, to enlisting a group of anthropologists, linguists and master navigators, the filmmakers wanted to build a story with genuine Hawaiian roots.
I was among the first few to catch the film ahead of its premiere and I enjoyed it very much. There are so many highlights that it’s almost impossible to list them all. However, some of the best moments lie within its story-telling, and of course, the seamless animation. From the crashing waves to the way the palms sway in the wind and the rustling of leaves, everything is perfect.
The movie tells of Moana who sets out to learn the long-abandoned craft of wayfinding to save her people in Motonui island from the wrath of the lava monster Te Fiti.
She meets Maui, an eccentric demi-god with shape-shifting superpowers. Along the way, Moana and Maui encounter monsters such as Kakamora or Coconut Monster, and overcome impossible odds to restore peace in Motonui. Also going on the adventure is Moana’s wacky chicken sidekick, Heiei.
Hawaii-born actress Auli’i Cravalho is the voice behind the high-spirited Moana. Cravalho was 14 when she auditioned for a small part in the movie but was offered to voice the heroine instead.
Filmmakers auditioned hundreds of talented young women throughout the Pacific islands before finding the gifted Cravalho, who calls O’ahu home. A Hawaii-based casting director saw Cravalho singing at a fundraiser and persuaded her to attend the audition.
Three auditions later, and Cravalho was making her first trip to Burbank, California, and earned her spot in the movie. “I wasn’t expecting anything when I went for the audition. And when I got the role, the first thing I did was to call my mum and tell her everything.
“She was equally excited,” said the soft-spoken Cravalho who was in Singapore, recently. Moana marks her debut in the entertainment industry.
The film gives Cravalho a great sense of pride that “Disney did a movie that is inspired by my ancestors’ stories”. She says: “I feel so blessed to be a part of the film. Both Moana and I share the same Polynesian culture and background. My ancestors were Hawaiian wayfinders, which adds chemistry to my character.”
Cravalho was in Singapore with her mum, Puanani. They were joined by the film’s producer Osnat Shurer, Singapore-born lighting artist Roger Lee and Griselda Sastrawinata, the film’s visual development artist, as part of the regional Press junket.
Dressed in a dark magenta floral Tyrian dress with a Vanda Miss Joaquim (also known as Singapore Orchid, its national flower) tucked behind her right ear, Cravalho was all smiles as she explained the significance of putting a flower behind the right ear.
“It means you’re single, available and approachable. Like Moana, I am not in a relationship yet,” said the sophomore at the Kamehameha Schools Kapalama.
Although Cravalho loves singing and acting (she takes part in her school’s Concert Glee Club) and occasionally performs for family and friends, forging a career in acting was never part of the plan.
Though it’s uncharted territory for her, Cravalho put her faith in the filmmakers, particularly directors Ron Clements and John Musker (the duo previously helmed The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and The Princess And The Frog).
“I was standing in a booth with a microphone in front of me and the directors would be standing on the other side. I got many tips from them on how to bring out the character,” she said.
“If Moana did not fall on my lap, I wouldn’t be working in the entertainment industry at all. I’m incredibly blessed to see how everything turned out in the end. The film has changed my life. I got to work with some of the best people in the industry and seeing the characters come to live is very eye-opening. I am still pinching myself,” said Cravalho, who added that Mulan is her favourite Disney heroine.
“Mulan broke the gender norm and that’s what I want to do. I want to be master of my own destiny, like Mulan who went all the way out to chart hers.”
Cravalho’s a tough cookie and perhaps the only way to her heart is with flowers. She was beaming as she recalled how co-star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson presented her with a bouquet of flowers during recording. “I kept the flowers until they dried up and died,” she says, laughing.
“Dwayne is so cool and really, really nice. Not that I thought he would be mean, but he’s had so much success and yet is still so sweet and wonderful.”
If there is one thing Cravalho has in common with her ocean-loving character besides their Pacific islander heritage, it’s their love for water. “Besides hula dancing, I also love to paddle and sail in the ocean. I don’t do any land sports. I’m a friend of the ocean because I’m a klutz on land.”
Other actors who are lending their voices to the movie are Johnson as Maui, Temuera Morrison (Chief Tui Waialiki), Nicole Scherzinger (Sina Waialiki), Rachel House (Grandma Tala) and Alan Tudyk (Heihei).
Loong Wai Ting trip to Singapore was courtesy of Walt Disney Malaysia.
SHURER’S ACHIEVEMENTS
FANS of Pixar and Disney animated feature films would have probably noticed Osnat Shurer’s name in the credits. During her time in Pixar, Shurer executive-produced the Oscar-nominated shorts Lifted (2006), One Man Band (2005) and Boundin’ (2003). Her other work includes Jack Jack Attack and Mr Incredible And Pals.
She served as Disney’s head of development during the production stages of films such as Frozen, Big Hero 6 and Wreck-it Ralph.
As the producer of Moana, Shurer managed the film through story, script, music and casting. Part of her role as a producer includes making sure that her production team is able to access (research) locations, people and other resources necessary to create an authentic and realistic film. “I learnt about the amazing people of the Pacific islands — their incredible history and achievements and their love of the sea,” said Shurer, who is also responsible in helping create several cutting-edge multimedia shows like the impressive Pixar: 20 Years Of Animation, which opened in 2006.
“My job is to make you laugh, cry and think,” she said, before adding, “Moana is about stopping and listening to ourselves. There’s a voice inside of us and listening to that call is relevant.”
Saying Baloo the Bear, (one of the characters in The Jungle Book) is her favourite Disney character, Shurer said Moana, like many Disney films, is inspired by folk tales. “We met many people while working on Moana and some of the stories we heard gave us good material to expand on,” she added.
During their research trips to the Pacific islands, the filmmakers found themselves regaled by songs. A Samoan chief and guide spontaneously broke into song while showing them around. “We wanted to infuse the film with music that has a contemporary feel but was really reminiscent of the Pacific islands. We set out to find the right people to help tell our story in a way that would resonate with people everywhere,” she said.
On whether there would be a sequel to Moana, Shurer explained it depends on audiences’ reception to the film. “What’s important is that the filmmakers need to have a burning story to tell, or an amazing idea to share.”
MOANA TRIVIA
Dressed Up
Moana has seven outfits in the movie, including a red tapa garment that she wears as a toddler. Costume designer Neysa Bove created the outfit so it would be suitable for an adventurer like Moana. Apart from that, Moana’s outfit is also inspired by the Taualuga ceremonies of Samoa.
Bove created the ceremonial garb that is covered by shells and pearls. Her Tuiga or the headdress has shells decorating it and red feathers to symbolise her status as the village chief’s daughter.
Hairy Situation
Technology had to be refined to allow for a wet look for Moana’s curly do, since she spends a lot of her time underwater. Artists invited volunteers with similar hairstyles to come into the studio and get dunked so they could perfect the look.
Nod to Pinnocchio
Maui’s tattoo features Mini Maui — a two-dimensional representation of the demigod’s conscience. It was created using the traditional hand-drawn techniques by Walt Disney Animation Studios’ accomplished animator Eric Goldberg and his team. It is often compared to Jiminy Cricket, the official conscience of the title character in the 1940 feature film Pinocchio.
Dumb Idea
In an earlier version of the film, HeiHei used to be smart and sassy, but filmmakers felt that character was not unique. Several even campaigned to remove the rooster from the film, but a small group from the story team spent a couple of days brainstorming ways to keep the character. Their solution? Lower HeiHei’s IQ. Their pitch earned so many laughs that HeiHei was ultimately a keeper.
Stars Aligned
To create the starry sky in Moana, filmmakers turned to astronomers who researched what stars would’ve been visible in Pacific island skies 2,000 years ago.