FILM 2016: MOANA

FILM 2016: MOANA

TRIVIA: Dwayne Johnson believes that voice acting is the most difficult career in acting, and is personally annoyed when celebrities are cast in animated films despite voicing their characters badly. When Johnson was cast for the film, he repeatedly asked the other voice actors present if he was really giving a good performance.

The spiral on Moana's necklace and on the sail of her boat is called a koru. It represents the unfurling fern frond, symbolizing new life, new beginnings, personal growth, hope, a new start, perfection, rebirth, awakening, purity, the spirit of rejuvenation and peace. As a double spiral, it also symbolizes kinship and belonging.

The genie's lamp from Aladdin (1992) can be seen on Tamatoa's shell.

Lin-Manuel Miranda has said the character of Tamatoa the Giant Crab was a tribute to David Bowie.

The tattoos on Chief Tui's abdomen are the same tattoos worn by pro wrestler Peter Fanene Maivia, Dwayne Johnson's maternal grandfather.

When he first gets his hook and is trying to shapeshift, Maui changes into various animals. For a split second, he turns into Sven the Reindeer from Frozen (2013).

The first baby in the Production Babies credit is Sebastian, Lin-Manuel Miranda's son, who was born during the making of this film. He's named for the crab in The Little Mermaid(1989).

Although it's a computer animated film, Maui's tattoos are hand-drawn. This is the first full-length Disney animated feature film since Winnie the Pooh (2011) to feature pure hand-drawn animation.

Lin-Manuel Miranda has said that The Little Mermaid (1989) had inspired him to become a songwriter for films like this. Interestingly enough, both The Little Mermaid (1989) and Moana (2016) were directed by the celebrated duo directing team of John Musker and Ron Clements.

Flounder, Ariel's side kick in The Little Mermaid (1989), makes an appearance in the background sketch graphic during the song "You're Welcome".

The first draft of the screenplay was written by Taika Waititi, who would go on to direct Thor: Ragnarok (2017). Rachel House appeared in both films.

ACTOR TRADEMARK: Dwayne Johnson: [eyebrow] When Moana first meets Maui, he cocks his eyebrow in a strange way. This is the people's eyebrow, Johnson's signature move from his wrestling career.