Moana
Moana is a 2016 animated musical adventure film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. It tells the story of Moana, the strong-willed daughter of a Polynesian chief, who is chosen by the ocean to embark on a perilous journey to find the demigod Maui and restore the heart of the goddess Te Fiti, thereby saving her island from a spreading blight. The film is a family-friendly offering, aimed primarily at children and pre-teens, though it contains themes and scenes that warrant parental guidance for younger viewers.
Concerns
Violence
MediumThe film features animated action sequences and confrontations with mythical creatures. While some scenes are intense and involve peril, the violence is largely bloodless and lacks graphic injury details, consistent with a PG rating.
1. Moana and Maui battle the Kakamora, a group of small coconut pirates who attack with arrows, spears, and poison darts. This is an action-packed, though somewhat comedic, fight with no visible blood or severe injuries. 2. Maui fights Te Kā, a lava monster, using his magical fish hook, while Te Kā retaliates with fireballs. The confrontation is destructive and fierce, but without explicit gore, culminating in a peaceful resolution. 3. Tamatoa, a giant, villainous coconut crab, attempts to capture and consume Maui and Moana in the Realm of Monsters. The scene involves implied threats and physical struggle as they escape.
Witchcraft & Occult
MediumThe entire premise of 'Moana' is steeped in Polynesian mythology, featuring demigods, goddesses, and magical elements as central to the plot. The ocean itself possesses sentient, magical properties, and Maui utilizes a magical fish hook for supernatural feats.
1. Maui is depicted as a powerful demigod who uses a magical fish hook to shapeshift and perform extraordinary feats, such as pulling islands from the sea, which is a core magical element of the story. 2. The goddess Te Fiti, whose heart is a mystical stone, imbues life and magic into the world. The ocean is also portrayed as a sentient being with magical abilities, actively choosing and assisting Moana on her quest.
Scary & Intense Content
MediumThe film contains several intense and potentially frightening scenes for younger children, primarily involving threatening mythical creatures and perilous natural events. These moments contribute to the film's PG rating.
1. The lava monster Te Kā, with its fiery appearance, menacing demeanor, and aggressive attacks involving fireballs and pursuit, can be particularly frightening for young children. 2. Moana encounters severe ocean storms with large waves and lightning, leading to her boat being damaged and her almost drowning, creating significant suspense and peril.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumA significant plot point involves Moana's defiance of her father, Chief Tui, who forbids her from venturing beyond the island's reef. This portrays a thematic conflict between following tradition and pursuing one's true calling, involving acts of disobedience.
1. Moana repeatedly disobeys her father's strict command to stay within the reef, driven by her innate connection to the ocean and the need to save her people, culminating in her secret departure. 2. Moana's grandmother, Tala, actively encourages Moana to listen to the 'voice inside' and follow the ocean's call, directly undermining Chief Tui's authority and supporting Moana's rebellious actions.
Anti-Christian Themes
MediumThe film is thoroughly immersed in a polytheistic Polynesian mythological framework, presenting a spiritual worldview that contrasts with Christian monotheism. It reveres multiple deities and ancestral spirits as sources of power and guidance. While it does not overtly mock or criticize Christianity, its foundational spiritual elements are non-Christian.
1. The core plot involves the worship of the goddess Te Fiti and the interactions with the demigod Maui, whose powers and actions are central to the world's creation and sustenance, establishing a polytheistic spiritual reality within the film. 2. Moana's grandmother, Tala, serves as a spiritual guide who communicates with Moana after her death, appearing as a spirit manta ray and a ghostly figure to offer counsel, which aligns with ancestral reverence rather than Christian eschatology.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
LowThe original 'Moana' film (2016) does not contain any explicitly LGBTQ+ characters or themes within its narrative. Discussions regarding LGBTQ+ representation primarily revolve around speculative fan interpretations for potential sequels or the personal identity of the voice actress, Auli'i Cravalho, who publicly identified as bisexual after the film's release.
1. The character Moana's journey is focused on her destiny as a wayfinder and saving her people, with no romantic or sexual interest depicted throughout the film. 2. Auli'i Cravalho, the actress who voiced Moana, came out as bisexual in 2020 via TikTok. This is a personal aspect of the actress and not canonical content within the film itself.
Romance and Sexual Content
LowThe film notably deviates from traditional Disney narratives by not featuring a central romantic subplot for the protagonist. Moana's journey is one of self-discovery and leadership, and her relationship with Maui is a platonic mentorship.
1. Moana's motivations are solely focused on her quest to save her island and people, with no romantic interest or subplot present in the film. 2. The dynamic between Moana and the demigod Maui is that of a developing friendship and partnership, devoid of any romantic or sexual undertones.
Profanity
LowThe film contains no strong profanity. Dialogue is consistently appropriate for a family audience, aligning with Disney's general content standards for animated features.
1. Parental reviews and content guides consistently report an absence of offensive language or curse words throughout the movie. 2. All dialogue used by characters, including Chief Tui and Maui, adheres to a G-rated standard suitable for very young viewers.
Substance Use
LowThere is no depiction of alcohol consumption, tobacco use, or illegal drug use by any characters in 'Moana.' The film's narrative and setting do not include elements related to substance abuse.
1. No characters are shown drinking alcoholic beverages or engaging in smoking. 2. The story contains no references to or depictions of illegal drug use or addiction.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
Age 8+. While rated PG, the film contains several intense action sequences and frightening mythical creatures that may be too scary for children under 8. Parental guidance is recommended for children up to 10 years old, particularly due to these violent and scary scenes.
Additional Notes
The animated short film 'Inner Workings,' which was shown before 'Moana' in theaters, contained some mild toilet humor and brief, stylized references to death. Disney has announced a sequel, 'Moana 2,' for 2024, and a live-action remake for 2026. While the original film does not contain explicit LGBTQ+ content, discussions within fan communities and media speculate about the potential for 'queercoded' characters or explicit LGBTQ+ representation in these future installments.
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