With its endearing story, loveable characters and, crucially, $1 billion box office haul, Zootopia is a difficult act to follow.
Yes, the mere fact that Byron Howard and Rich Moore’s animated crowd-pleaser has cemented its place in the history books, becoming the second highest-grossing original film of all time behind only Avatar, ensures that 2016 will stand as an overly successful year for the Powers That Be over at Disney Animation.
But The House of Mouse is nurturing another animated adventure ahead of its theatrical bow in November. Its name? Moana. It’s a coming-of-age tale that revolves around Auli’i Cravalho’s wide-eyed newcomer and her quest across the ocean to pinpoint a mystical island. Teaming with Dwayne Johnson’s larger-than-life demi-god, Moana boasts all the qualities of a family-friendly Disney yarn, including an adorable shot of Cravalho’s heroine as a youngster.
Calling the shots behind the lens are Ron Clements and John Musker, who are no strangers to the world of animation thanks to credits on The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and The Princess & the Frog. Speaking of heritage, Pixar stalwart John Lasseter is attached to the movie as an executive producer.
Look for Moana to sail into theaters on November 23, 2016.
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 why.
From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes “Moana,” a sweeping, CG-animated feature film about an adventurous teenager who sails out on a daring mission to save her people. During her journey, Moana (voice of Auli’i Cravalho) meets the once-mighty demigod Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson), who guides her in her quest to become a master wayfinder. 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.