An adventurous teenager sails out on a daring mission to save her people, in Walt Disney’s newest animation gem “Moana”. Three thousand years ago, the greatest sailors in the world voyaged across the vast Pacific, discovering the many islands of Oceania. But then, for a millennium, their voyages stopped and no one knows exactly why. In comes Moana (Auli Cravalho) who sails out on a daring mission to save her people. During her journey, Moana meets the mighty demigod Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson), who guides her in her quest to become a master wayfinder and save her island of loved ones. Together, they sail across the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds, and along the way, Moana fulfills the ancient quest of her ancestors and discovers the one thing she’s always sought: her own identity. “Moana” re-unites the acclaimed team of Ron Clements and John Musker, and is rated PG for peril, some scary images and brief thematic elements.

Disney hits another home run, as “Moana” is the very best of an unusually exceptional year of animated cinema. A lot of that has to do with its luxurious stylings in breathtaking visuals and colorful palate that crafts one of the most beautiful experiences that you will have at the theater during Oscar season. There’s so much to mention in terms of detailing that goes into Clements and Musker’s picturesque visions and surreal offerings that they capture so effortlessly. The landscapes stretch out as far as the eye can see, creating a Hawaiian paradise that radiates the senses of visual delight. The water layering is precise, and had me questioning several times during the movie if we were actually watching a live action Disney offering. That’s pretty much what the game has come down to; Disney has captivated audiences by their advancements in technology that we never question what is next when we’re constantly raising the bar of animated nirvana. Some of my favorite scenes were those at night, where the physical features of our main protagonists tend to shine a little brighter against the backdrop of a sky full of stars. The physical traits of Maui and Moana get everything right not only in the human touches and feels of physical appearances, but also in that of the actors who voice them. Each is a light exaggeration on their human counterparts, and the design served as a wonderful introduction to two of my favorite animated protagonists ever.

What makes them both so delightful is the chemistry they exuberate with each passing moment. Maui and Moana start off as rivals upon their opening introductions, but it’s so fun to watch them grow as a team, complimenting what the other one lacks. Moana is the brains of the operation. For female moviegoers everywhere, this woman will feel the void left decades prior after some of Disney’s best princesses honed their voices for all to enjoy. What makes Moana so much more is that she isn’t just beautiful, her biggest strength is her ambition to live up to the person she was born to become, and it’s in that quest where her story feels naturally beneficial to the screenplay and smooth run time of 97 minutes. This is a coming out party for Cravalho, a pop star who dons her first acting gig. She inspires this character in ways that we actually witness a transformation physically in the character, despite Cravalho only lending her talents orally. She channels the excitement of being a youth, while harboring the consequences of adult responsibility. Maui is the brawn of the operation, if you couldn’t tell that from his massive physique. Dwayne Johnson is already the most charismatic actor on the planet, but to capture that essence in vocal form truly puts this role above most anything he has done in the past decade. Maui is practically an everyday superhero, but the scenes that brought me the most delight in laughs is when this demi-god lets his guard down and actually expresses cowardice towards the revolving antagonists that invade his comfort zone. Johnson and Cravalho believe in this story because it is a telling of their respective heritage, and therefore make the most sense in a casting agent’s decision.

The screenplay has some faults, mostly in the first act of the movie with some convenient plot devices. I didn’t fault it too much, but two of the problems I had in this area had to do with the curse of the island popping up out of nowhere after hundreds of years, and the diminishing health of a character that literally pops out of nowhere. These things are necessary to the story, but I feel they could’ve been worked in a little smoother with the fast pacing that dominates this movie. The rest of the story is a legitimate feel-good Hawaiian adventure that tells the relics of some of the island’s vast traditions. It’s also kind of great that this movie doesn’t have to waste time with a forced antagonist taking valuable minutes away from the energetic two main protagonists. That’s a surefire sign of confidence that the duo of filmmakers have for this story in heritage, and the creativity flows as smooth as the ocean waters beneath Moana. There’s a great slice for adventure in the revolving backdrops that the movie entails that greatly surprised me. In watching the trailers, I worried that a majority of this movie would take place on a boat, diminishing the possibility of much excitement. I couldn’t be further from the truth. The movie explores several themes and legends that takes our duo through a journey of different characters and landscapes, and it always keeps the intensity of the movie moving, free from settlement.

What Disney film would be legendary however without an amazing soundtrack? Certainly not this one. In addition to the magical duo that not only direct, write and produce this movie, Broadway sensation Lin-Manuel Miranda composes a satisfying blend of original songs that will stay in the heads of its audience for years to come. This movie is a mostly musical-dominated picture, so if songs aren’t your thing, you’ve been warned. What’s smart about the musical numbers in this instance is that they are used as exposition and background for our characters when a majority of the movie takes up that musical accompany. This is entertaining us while telling a story, and it echoes the tradition of Disney classics that came before it that hit on that same value. Too many modern musicals pause the flow of the continuity in a movie just to sing a song, but a valuable one will sing and speak at the same time. My personal favorite of the more than ten musical numbers found in the movie is definitely that of Cravalho singing “How Far I’ll Go”, a power ballad about the ocean speaking to Moana reminding her who she is and what she has to do. The lyrical metaphors are strong with this one, and I can see this not only staying in the minds of audiences, but at the very least getting an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song this March.

I did see this film in 3D, but I don’t think spending extra dollars is of much importance with this one. That’s not to say that the sharpening of 3D technology didn’t enhance the outlining work of characters, but there’s really nothing of noteworthy praise in eye-popping effects work that justifies this being a must-see in third-dimension. Even in 2D, the movie’s endless beauty will be more than enough to justify a theater engagement into this vibrant world.

“Moana” is beautifully structured, musically sound, and most importantly entertaining. Anchored by a duo of actors paying tribute to their heritage, this feels like an authentic slice of homegrown animated entertainment that Disney has captured in spades. It reminds us that to become the person we were destined to become, it only takes a little courage and a venture into a world that tingles the imagination. “Moana” will be a permanent fixture of the DVD and Blu-Ray replay button in parental homes from this point forward.

9/10