{"id":56751,"date":"2016-09-08T06:31:52","date_gmt":"2016-09-08T13:31:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cookiesandclogs.com\/?p=56751"},"modified":"2017-10-09T13:02:42","modified_gmt":"2017-10-09T20:02:42","slug":"story-moana-inner-workings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cookiesandclogs.com\/story-moana-inner-workings\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting to Know the Story Behind Moana & Animated Short Inner Workings"},"content":{"rendered":"
Moana is the next big film coming from Disney Animation Studios. With a Polynesian heroine at the fore, the team at Disney went to great lengths to make the movie as true to the culture as possible. How do I know this? Well, during my last press trip, we heard from some key players on the production crew.<\/p>\n
Head of Animation Amy Smeed and Head of Story Dave Pimentel told us how important it was to actually visit some of the regions the movie is based on. These research trips greatly changed the flow of the movie for the better. The crew went to Fiji, Samoa, Tahiti, and later to New Zealand. They learned about the great pride of the people, how their beliefs of nature shape their view of life and the ocean, the importance that\u2019s placed on family there, and the stunning beauty of the Pacific Islands.<\/p>\n
Three thousand years ago, the greatest sailors in the world voyaged across the vast Pacific, discovering the many islands of Oceania. But then, for a millennium, their voyages stopped \u2013 and no one knows why. Walt Disney Animation Studios\u2019 new feature film \u201cMoana\u201d is about an adventurous teenager who, with help from demigod Maui, sails out on a daring mission to prove herself a master wayfinder and save her people.
\n\u2014 Official summary from Disney.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nIt was also important that Polynesian natives star in Moana. Much of the cast have Polynesian roots, including newcomer Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne \u201cThe Rock\u201d Johnson. The music even features popular local favorites Opetaia Foa’i and Mark Mancina. But, it was what one man said that truly impacted the team.<\/p>\n
For years, we have been swallowed by your culture. This one time, can you be swallowed by ours?
\n\u2014 Elder on the island of Mo\u2018orea.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nStory Artist Dave Derrick and Development Sr. Creative Exec Jessica Julius talked about some of the supporting characters and changes they went through. The most drastic change was that of Hei Hei the Rooster. At first, he was extremely smart but slightly sarcastic as Moana\u2019s companion on the journey. But that didn\u2019t seem\u00a0to play well into the story. Instead, the team dropped Hei Hei\u2019s IQ to crazy low levels. We got a peek at a few scenes in which his absence of intelligence opened the way for several fun situations.<\/p>\n