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Moana – Research, Islands & the Oceanic Story Trust – An Early Preview

Jason @disneygeek.com
MOANA - (L-R) Andy Harkness (Art Director, Environment & Color) and Adolph Lusinsky (Director of Cinematography, Lighting) present at the Moana Long Lead Press Day on July 27, 2016 at Walt Disney Animation Studios - Tujunga Campus in North Hollywood, CA. Photo by Alex Kang. © 2016 Disney. All Rights Reserved.
MOANA – (L-R) Andy Harkness (Art Director, Environment & Color) and Adolph Lusinsky (Director of Cinematography, Lighting) present at the Moana Long Lead Press Day on July 27, 2016 at Walt Disney Animation Studios – Tujunga Campus in North Hollywood, CA. Photo by Alex Kang. © 2016 Disney. All Rights Reserved.

Over the summer I had the opportunity to spend a day at the Walt Disney Animation Studios and learn more about the upcoming film Moana.  Moana will open nationwide Thanksgiving weekend and is the story of a teenager who embarks on a journey to help her people.  Along the way she discovers more about herself and her identity.   The story is inspired by the oral histories of the Oceania, the south Pacific.

Research photo taken of the atoll of Tetiaroa rgr inspired the look and feel of the outer reef of fictional island Motunui in MOANA.
Research photo taken of the atoll of Tetiaroa rgr inspired the look and feel of the outer reef of fictional island Motunui in MOANA.

As with any Disney Animated Feature Moana began with a lot of research.   The Moana team traveled to the South Pacific on several occasions including trips to Fiji, Samoa, Tahiti and New Zealand.    These trips not only inspired the look of the film, they also drove the story and details as the story took shape based on local tales.

The MOANA filmmakers embarked upon research trips to the Pacific Islands to learn about the cultures that inspired the film. They were given the opportunity to assemble the "Oceanic Story Trust," a group of anthropologists, archeologists, fishermen, liguists, tatto masters, dancers and elders who help keep the film's story grounded in respect for the cultures that inspired it.
The MOANA filmmakers embarked upon research trips to the Pacific Islands to learn about the cultures that inspired the film. They were given the opportunity to assemble the “Oceanic Story Trust,” a group of anthropologists, archeologists, fishermen, liguists, tatto masters, dancers and elders who help keep the film’s story grounded in respect for the cultures that inspired it.

The team assembled a group they called the Oceanic Story Trust.  This group included anthropologists, academics, educators, linguists, master navigators and cultural advisors.  They were leaned on to advise about the culture and history to help make the final film feel authentic and believable within the world that was created.  The Oceanic Story Trust was available throughout the development of the film and was called on for details both big and small.

Visual development for the island of Motunui. Artist: Ian Gooding, MOANA Production Designer.
Visual development for the island of Motunui. Artist: Ian Gooding, MOANA Production Designer.

One of the sessions I attended was on the islands of Moana.   The discussion centered on the island of  Motunui, where Moana and her family live.  This is a fictional island created for the film.  Motu means island and nui translates to big according to production designer Ian Gooding.    They discussed how it took its queues from the places they visited and how they worked to ensure that it did not feel like Jamaica, where Ian was from, or other tourist areas.  The world that was created features over 60 species of vegetation including many from ancient Polynesia.  Andy Harkness an art director on the film shared the concept of Pass, Point, Place, River and Peak that was used to describe the layout of the village.

Visual development for the island of Motunui, and the layout of the village. Artist: Andy Harkness, MOANA Art Director, Environments and Color.
Visual development for the island of Motunui, and the layout of the village. Artist: Andy Harkness, MOANA Art Director, Environments and Color.

As we get closer to the opening of Moana I will be posting more from this early preview including the short “Inner Workings” that will precede the film.

If you would like to learn more about Moana see our related posts including an introduction to the characters & voice talent.