Disney’s 12th princess lives her adventures in several paradisiacal locations. But do you know where these places are located? Find out!
Do you know where the Moana movies are set? Disney’s twelfth princess presents one of the studio’s most captivating stories, standing out especially for its paradisiacal setting.
During the development of the animation, the production team made several trips to Polynesia and the South Pacific, exploring locations such as New Zealand, Tahiti, Tonga, Samoa, Hawaii and Fiji. The name ‘Moana’, which means ‘ocean’ in several Polynesian languages, also conveys the same idea, as it pays homage to the life force that connects all of Oceania.
But where exactly does Moana live? Although the character is deeply immersed in Polynesian culture and folklore, the island of Motunui is fictional. However, when you look at the map of Moana’s journey (available in the book “The Art of Moana”), you can see inspirations from real-life locations the crew may have visited.
Looking closely (via The Spinoff), Motunui looks a lot like the islands of Tutuila and Tetiꞌaroa. In addition, Motunui also has many similarities to Samoa, as the houses on the fictional island resemble some regions of the place. The song “Para Ir Além” also reinforces this theory since, according to the Tokelauan composer Opetaia Foa’i (via The Spinoff), the song has similarities to the Samoan language, to the point that speakers of the language can understand Tokelauan; remember the scene!
More about Moana
Released in 2016, the animated feature film “Moana” introduces us to a fearless and courageous young woman who sets out on a dangerous mission to save her people. During the journey, she meets, by chance, the demigod Maui, who guides her in her search for her goal and also helps her become a master at finding new paths through the ocean.
In “Moana 2”, according to Walt Disney Animation Studios, we will follow the protagonist traveling through the distant seas of Oceania after receiving an unexpected call from her ancestors, where she will experience an adventure unlike anything she has ever faced before. The film hits theaters on November 28, and you can already watch the dubbed trailer!
Source: Recreio
