Moana 1 -

Crucially, Disney formed the "Oceanic Story Trust." This collective of anthropologists, cultural practitioners, linguists, and choreographers from islands including Samoa, Fiji, Tahiti, and Tonga advised the filmmakers throughout the production. This collaboration ensured that the depiction of wayfinding (non-instrument navigation), the reverence for ancestors, and the design of the motu (island) of Motunui felt authentic rather than appropriated.

Moana (2016): A Love Letter to Wayfinding, Ancestral Strength, and the Ocean That Chooses You Moana 1

It has been nearly a decade since Moana of Motunui first pushed past the reef, and I don't think I’ll ever stop getting chills during that scene where the ocean parts for her. Crucially, Disney formed the "Oceanic Story Trust

Upon release in November 2016, was a juggernaut: Upon release in November 2016, was a juggernaut:

. Moana’s ultimate realization is that "knowing who you are" is the greatest power of all. Cultural Authenticity