Animation Disney's 'Moana'

[smashmode]

I have a feeling Moana will be a popular christmas item in 2016.

 

[LEOZZTT]

Plus they've been on a bit of a role ever sine Princess and the Frog (Tangled, Wreck It Ralph, and Frozen).

Amen.

And it seems that Big Hero 6 will be just as spectacular.

 

[TheVileOne]

Should we place bets on when they change the title to like Maui or something?

 

[Silvermoth]

Polynesia is so hot right now

 

[Loki882]

I actually think that they might keep the title. Disney's line of thinking, we can debate whether they're correct in this, is that they don't want titles that are "too feminine" because they want to appeal to a wider audience (and judging by their last few films, it's working). Hence why Rapunzel became Tangled, and The Snow Queen became Frozen. However, "Moana" doesn't sound all that "feminine" unless you're familiar with Polynesian culture/language (which the vast majority of the GA is not). So I can see them just going with this title.

 

[CB Fan]

2016 beats having to wait for 2018 any day. I wish they were still using the animation technique from paperman but as long as the world/characters doesn't look like Tangled and Frozens I'm good.

 

[Loki882]

I liked the animation in both of those movies (actually having seen Frozen, I'm not sure that the ice effects would have looked nearly as cool in 2D). That being said, a little diversity in styles is cool.

 

[:eek:]

The Rock Is A Demi-God In Disney's "Moana"

By Garth Franklin Tuesday December 2nd 2014 10:36PM
Dwayne Johnson is in talks to voice the demi-god Maui in Disney Animation's 2016 CG-animated comedy-adventure feature "Moana". "The Little Mermaid" team of Ron Clements and John Musker are behind the nautical adventure set in the ancient South Pacific world of Oceania.
Moana is a natural born navigator who sets out on a voyage to find a fabled island. Her incredible journey teams her with her hero, the legendary demi-god Maui, as they traverse the open ocean. The role of Moana herself has not been cast.
No deal with Johnson is yet in place, and Disney has no comment on his potential casting at the moment. Johnson wrapped both the seventh "Fast and Furious" film along with the earthquake action thriller "San Andreas" earlier this year and is slated to play the villain Black Adam in the DC comic book adaptation "Shazam".
Source: The Wrap

 

[terry78]

Haha, that sounds like as good a cast as any. He disguised his vocals pretty well in Planet 51.

 

[Silvermoth]

I like the rock so I think it's a wonderful choice.

Wonder if he'll sing?

 

[Snow Queen]

http://www.cnacasting.com/moana/

I’m very pleased to announce the Official Casting Call from Disney. Enter your audition submission here.

“Walt Disney Animation Studios is launching a global casting call for a key role for their upcoming feature, Moana, a comedy-adventure
set 2,000 years ago in Oceania about a spirited teenager who learns that the future of her people is in jeopardy. Along with a lovable pot belly pig and a legendary hero, Moana searches for a mythical island, traversing the open ocean and encountering mystical sea creatures and underworlds on an action-packed quest to save her world and make her ancestors proud.

Directed by the renowned filmmaking team of Ron Clements and John Musker (“The Little Mermaid,” “The Princess and the Frog,” “Aladdin&#8221, and produced by Osnat Shurer, this CG-animated adventure sets sail in late 2016.

Character breakdown:

MOANA – (female, 14-18) Smart, passionate, and funny. Brave, inquisitive, and confident. A teenager who yearns for something more. Strong singing voice a must.”

Titiro Mai! Here is a simple guide for you:

Send a video of yourself framed close up, showing your head and shoulders with plenty of light on you.
Introduce yourself. Practice this several times before you film.
Tell us why you would make a great Moana.
Then tell us your email contact and your phone contacts. Check with mum and dad if you are under the age of 18 years.
Then widen the frame & film yourself in mid shot singing part of a song that you do well (no longer than one minute)
Upload the video to youtube or similar sharing site (make sure to keep it private)

Then submit your audition details here.

 

[terry78]

It would be cool if they actually get a girl that's from the island area, but it's not a necessity.

 

[X Knight]

if they do cast The Rock, I hope it doesn't restart the trend where they cast "big name" or "popular" stars in the sidekick roles who then overshadow the main character.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

I love The Rock, but I wouldn't call him a big name. Also it is voice acting. All that matters is the voice and delivery fitting the character, not the name.

 

[Pickleweasel]

The Rock isn't a big name? What?

 

[terry78]

He's a big name but Disney doesn't promote names in their animation.

 

[Octoberist]

No evidence, but I think a part of the casting of The Rock is probably due to his heritage.

 

[Lencho01]

Dwayne Johnson Signs on to Disney Animation’s MOANA; Will Show off His Singing Chops

 

[Dr. Evil]

A sample of the Rock singing:

[YT]8G8u1ErQTO0[/YT]

 

[Silvermoth]

Oh wow I thought the news about the rock singing was an April fools joke.

I wonder what he will be like? The film composers are usually pretty good at making great music for all skill levels so I'm sure he won't be russel Crowe in les mis level bad

 

[psylockolussus]

He's a big name but Disney doesn't promote names in their animation.

Miley Cyrus and John Travolta for Bolt?

 

[Octoberist]

That was 7 years ago.

 

[Silvermoth]

They seem to like stars when they're dubbing studio ghibli films but I guess for their major princess type films they like people from more of a theatre background

 

[Loki882]

Well Studio Ghibli films aren't usually musicals, and the "big names" are probably there to try and help sell the movies to a Western audience.

 

[Gabe99]

Cannes Exclusive: Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studio “2015 and beyond” Preview

The hope that hand-drawn animation was back, was again dashed when we saw aspects of Moana. Many concept pieces were hand-drawn and looked SUBLIME. It was like Lilo and Stitch with double the man-power and scope. I was getting very excited, and Lasseter dropped the bomb that it was another CGI project. His final clip from Moana eventually changed my mind, but more on that later.

Moana follows a tribal princess of a long-lost tribe who are noted in history of discovering island in the South Pacific for 3000 years. There were 1000 years where they stopped – for unknown reasons – and Moana follows the eponymous heroine who wants to be a navigator, bringing back the centuries-old tradition. The father does not want her to get into danger, whilst her grandmother nurtures the adventurous side. When the grandmother dies, Moana sets out to follow her wishes. She gets caught up in a storm and washes ashore to find demi-god Maui inhabiting the island. He was a folklore hero, who could fish up island from the ocean floor with his magic hook. One fight with an evil spirit loses him his hook-staff and Moana finds him post-loss. Together they get back out to the ocean, battling sea monsters, and building up to fighting Maui’s nemesis and regaining his powers.

It’s a similar yarn to most Disney films – a heroic journey – but has this ancient, South Pacific vibe to it. Lasseter showed us a lot of character profiles, all of them looking typically Disney and full of life without any animation. There’s a pig side-kick for Moana, and a grumpy rooster that later joins, and one badass-looking spirit foe.

We also saw the research crews trips to the islands (a nice perk to the job), learning about the culture from many citizens. 8 or 9 people are now consultants on the film as they are trying to get this story as sincere as possible. The music is a crucial part as this will be a musical. With The Little Mermaid and Aladdin directors Ron Clements and John Musker directing, this should be a musically-alive film. We got to see the opening sequence (in scraps of storyboard and semi-rendered clips), which is a musical-opening. The song had a strong drum rhythm and tribal hymns, before moving into English lyrics (much like Pocahontas).

The last point Lasseter made about Moana was the animation. During research many citizens told the team how important the sea was, and how it was a character in the history of their ancestors. This changed the film slightly and Moana became a princess with powers – an ability to interact with the water. Parting sections of the ocean and playing with the water as if it was a pet meant the water had to look good. They had the technology from Finding Nemo, but Moana required more due to its essential water element. Our final clip showed a toddler Moana having the ocean reveal shells by lifting itself off the floor to uncover them. It then splashes her, and parts itself to show her a turtle swim by (like seeing it through a watery window). With the South Pacific clear blue water, the colour was awe-inspiring. The effects were so magnificent, corresponding with the twee Disney princess and bright colour palette, that you can understand the amount of work put into this. It will be probably be one of Disney’s best after Frozen, and will take things in a new direction for their CGI department.

Moana is due Christmas 2016 and it may be the one I look forward to most.