Moana is undoubtedly one of the most popular animated films by Disney of the last decade. Since the release of the first film, it has become a favorite among both children and adults, so it’s no surprise that fans want to know more details about the story of the Polynesian adventurer.
As the name suggests, the film centers around Moana, a brave young woman, daughter of the tribe’s chief, who decides to embark on a mission to find her ancestors on a mythical island, where she discovers things about her origins. But did you know the film was inspired by Polynesian legends? Here’s what we know.
Legends that inspired the movie Moana
The story of Moana is based on the culture of the Maori people, especially from Polynesia. For five years, the directors of the film, John Lasseter and Ron Clements, even visited several Pacific islands to learn more about these communities.
There, they met anthropologists, historians, experts on Polynesian culture, and natives of these islands, with whom they learned about the legends, traditions, and customs of the people, giving birth to a film filled with history and mysticism. These are the legends that inspired the story of Moana.
The legend of the island Te Fiti
The plot is inspired by the legend of the mother island Te Fiti, which holds the power to create life and give birth to other islands. In the movie, the demigod Maui steals the heart of the island, a pounamu (a highly valued stone in Maori culture).
As a result, the island of Te Fiti begins to decay and emits a strong wave of darkness. Maui is attacked by the fire demon Te Ka, and in the process, loses both his magical hook and the heart of Te Fiti in the ocean.
The “Long Pause”
Throughout the film, Moana’s people stopped maritime travels for a long period, and it was forbidden for them to venture beyond the island’s reefs. This phenomenon is known as the “Long Pause” in the history of Western Polynesia.
Around three thousand five hundred years ago, this region was colonized by groups of people who sailed thousands of kilometers to reach the tiny islands. Once settled, the explorers ventured out to expand their territories.
However, although the western islands were populated quickly, it took another two thousand years before the islands of central and eastern Polynesia were colonized.
The reason behind the prolonged halt in Polynesian voyages is still unknown, as is the reason that led them to resume their journeys eastward after so many years of inactivity. The Disney movie takes inspiration from this mystery to create the story of Moana.
Maui, the real hero of Polynesia
Few know that Maui, the demigod who accompanies Moana on her adventure, is inspired by an iconic figure in Polynesian mythology. He was considered a hero who performed numerous feats, from fishing islands from the ocean to capturing the sun to extend the days.
The legend says that this hero used a magical hook (the same one Maui uses) to pull the North Island of New Zealand from the sea and steal the secret of fire from the gods to give it to humans.
The art of Polynesian navigation
The ability to navigate the oceans is a crucial aspect of the movie Moana, and this focus pays tribute to the rich cultural heritage of traditional Polynesian navigation, which relied on tools notably older than those used by European explorers.
However, their technique was primarily based on observing the stars and other indicators of the sky and sea, as well as the accumulated knowledge that was passed down from generation to generation.
When will Moana 2 be available on Disney Plus?
According to the platform, the release of Moana 2 on Disney Plus is scheduled for March 12, 2025.
Will there be Moana 3?
As of now, Disney has not confirmed a third part of Moana; however, some details from the sequel suggest that Moana 3 could be a reality. For now, we’ll just have to wait for an official announcement from the studio.
