Disney introduces new Polynesian princess

Moana of Motunui set sail on the Pacific Ocean in search of the demigod, Maui, to restore the Heart of Te Fiti to save her island. The Heart of Te Fiti made all of the islands and keeps them alive. Maui stole it years ago to give the people food, wind and land. But it isn’t working anymore, and they have to give it back. Her journey on the big ocean doesn’t go as smoothly as she hoped. Moana and Maui have to face a sea crab god, an angry group of coconuts and a huge lava monster.

Moana is a new Disney Princess movie and has the first Polynesian princess. Disney has a few other princesses of different ethnicities like Tiana from Princess and the Frog, Mulan from Mulan, Pocahontas from Pocahontas and Jasmine from Aladdin. Maybe a mermaid could count too. Moana shows a new side that previous Disney Princess fanatics had never seen before. It shows how ancient island people lived and what they believed in. Like the rest of the Princesses, Moana is a headstrong, adventurous and strong-willed young woman. She is practically fearless, and will do anything to save her people.

Auli’i Cravalho is the voice of Moana. She is sixteen years old and was born in Hawaii. Cravalho is new to voice acting but is getting very well noticed because of her role as Moana. Dwayne Johnson voices the demigod Maui. Both Cravalho and Johnson did a great job in the movie, having to sing challenging songs and have the pressure of being in a new Disney film on top of them.

I give Moana ten stars! I really enjoyed the movie and would see it again. It showed new things that have not been in a lot of Disney Princess movies. The plot was also very well thought out. The singing in some of the songs like “How Far I’ll Go” and “Where You Are” was very good and the songs are really catchy!

The Altoona School District plans an outdoor showing of the movie on Friday May 5.