Real Polynesian Myths Powering MOANA's Magic

Dive into the captivating world of the Polynesian myths that inspire Moana! This video essay is a mythic refresher before the Moana live-action release next year. Moana is so much more than Disney's 12th (anti) princess! But it is the other characters in the film that make her story so deeply rooted in Hawaiian, Samoan and Maori traditions. Learn about the legendary trickster god Maui, whose tales span the Pacific islands, as well as many other unforgettable characters borrowed from Polynesian lore, like the mischievous Nakamora and the colossal crab Tamatoa!