“See the line where the sky meets the sea? It calls me.”
On the island of Motunui lives a young girl named Moana, the daughter of Montunui’s chief Tui. As she grows up, she’s constantly told to be satisfied with the life her parents have chosen for her, but Moana feels as if she’s meant for something bigger than herself… a destiny as grand as the ocean.
A thousand years before Moana’s story begins, the trickster Maui stole the heart of Te Fiti, a powerful item that could give humanity the power of creation. However, the heart becomes lost in the depths of the sea… until Tala, Moana’s grandmother, gives the heart to Moana and tells her to find Maui and restore Te Fiti.
Moana’s adventure is filled with her making mistakes, learning, growing, and becoming a strong, intelligent, and compassionate heroine. When Maui meets Moana, he takes advantage of her naivety in the catchiest song in the film “You’re Welcome.” An ego boosting anthem about how great Maui *thinks* he is.
Despite all of his attempts, Maui cannot get rid of the determined Moana and the two face grand trials together, ending with Maui helping Moana restore the heart of Te Fiti.
The best parts of this film are the animation, music, and the bond between Maui and Moana. They both learn from each other and grow into better, stronger, and kinder people. You can sense a feeling of mutual respect as the two realize how great of a team they are.
Moana herself is both a role model and relatable. It can be so easy to get caught up in people pleasing (parent pleasing) and feel like you have to ignore what your heart is calling you to do. All of us have our own unique destinies that are worth exploring. Every path is different and is likely to change yours and someone else’s life for the better! You’ll never know what you can accomplish until you take your first step (first sail?).
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