This is our third in the ‘Voice Of’ Series. Here, we take a look at Disney’s smash hit ‘Moana’, a musical retelling of island traditions.
The 2016 animated film features a talented cast that pays homage to Polynesia with its native roots. Its main character, ‘Moana’, features the talents of a young Hawaiian voice over actress. Auli’i Cravalho was only a teen when she won the role but quickly became famous among Disney aficionados for her soprano vocals and infectious energy in her performance.
In this article
Read on to learn more about Cravalho, as well as her work on this much-loved Disney film:
Moana Movie Background
Somewhere in the South Pacific, an island princess embarks on a voyage across the ocean to fight an ancient curse and recapture an artifact that was stolen from her village. Though the story and setting are quite different from Disney’s usual fare, ‘Moana’ saw huge commercial success, and several of its songs have entered the mainstream to become pop hits.
The story takes place on the island of Motunui, a fictional location thousands of years ago, and weaves Polynesian mythology with the true heritage of islands such as Tahiti and Samoa. The blend of ancient traditions with modern sensibilities gives ‘Moana’ a distinct flavor compared to other Disney films of the past decade.
‘Moana’ (the Maori word for “ocean”) came to be through the vision of directors John Musker and Ron Clements. They knew they intended to create a musical, and signed on ‘Hamilton’ star Lin-Manuel Miranda to write the film’s soundtrack. The magic of ‘Moana’ lies in its location and cultural heritage, and its casting choices reflect this authenticity.
Who is the Voice of Moana?
The biggest casting choice in ‘Moana’ is a household name. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, a wrestler-turned-actor who has been majorly successful in Hollywood, plays the other lead character of demigod ‘Maui’. Johnson has roots in New Zealand and Hawaii, with an African-American father and Samoan mother.
Aside from Johnson, the titular role of Moana also shows significant island heritage. Auli’i Cravalho was born and raised in Hawaii, singing in her glee club and other student musical organizations. She was spotted by a talent scout on Oahu. who witnessed her singing in a charity competition.
Cravalho’s ethnicity is a blend of Chinese, Portuguese, Puerto Rican, and Hawaiian blood, making her a natural fit for the role of Moana. She was the very last auditionee out of hundreds in the Pacific Islands that the studio heard. One of the directors has spoken about her fearlessness, a quality that they believed mirrored the character of Moana and contributed massive appeal to her obvious vocal talents.
‘Moana’ isn’t Cravalho’s first time playing a Disney princess. In the 2019 live broadcast of ‘The Little Mermaid’ on ABC she played Ariel, another role showcasing her lovely soprano. Besides ‘Moana’, the voice actress says Mulan is the Disney character with whom she most resonates. It’s clear to see the storyline connection of two young girls bringing honor to their communities.
Only fifteen years old when ‘Moana’ was released, Cravalho is still a relative newcomer to the Hollywood scene, but her career has already been rewarding. In 2018, she lent her voice talents to another Disney animated film, ‘Wreck-It Ralph 2: Ralph Breaks the Internet’. Here, she reprises her role of ‘Moana’ as part of a storyline where the characters encounter Disney princesses.
After her ‘Moana’ success, Cravalho forayed outside of Disney films with a starring role in ‘All Together Now’. The drama follows the life of a talented high schooler with musical hopes and dreams and allows the actress to showcase her singing. She also played a musically-inclined teen in the NBC series Rise’, based on the ups and downs of a high school drama club.
Cravalho was raised by her mother surrounded by island life and culture. It’s no surprise that she has experience in hula, having danced it since elementary school age, and also plays water polo. Like many Hawaiians, she enjoys ocean sports and outdoor life, saying she’s preferred them to TV or indoor activities even as a young child.
The voice over actress confesses that people often mispronounce her Polynesian name, a faux pas that even her ‘Moana’ co-star Dwayne Johnson wasn’t immune to while filming! Said like “owly” with extra vowels at the end, it’s similar to the authentic way to pronounce the name of her home state.
Cravalho is the youngest actress ever to voice a Disney princess, and of course, the first who hails from a South Pacific island. Breaking barriers and giving new life to the animation studio, she earns her place as the twelfth Disney princess and shows a multitude of promises for further success in the industry.
Moana’s Future
In 2021, Walt Disney Studios confirmed a sequel to the beloved ‘Moana’. Most likely titled ‘Viana’ or ‘Oceania’, it returns to the character of Moana as she is now the chieftain of her island people. Though not many details have been revealed yet, it’s believed that Auli’i Cravalho will provide the voice for the character again.
There are also plans in the works for a ‘Moana’ TV series, to air on Disney+. Director David G. Derrick Jr. has Samoan roots, continuing the Pacific ties from story to production team. The series is animated just as the movie it’s based on, and features the same characters and Polynesian setting.
Cravalho says she doesn’t have much of a guide for where her career goes, other than choosing interesting roles of “smart women” rather than just eye candy. With an impressive resume at such a young age, the Hawaiian actress who played Moana has a promising future in the industry.
Keep an eye on her career to witness her acting talent and hear her voice in upcoming projects. We believe this star will shine bright for many years to come! Have you watched Moana? What did you think of the movie? Let us know in the comments below.
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