How the Oceanic Cultural Trust Helped Bring ‘Moana 2’ to Life
When Walt Disney Animation Studios set out to create the first Moana movie, filmmakers John Musker, Ron Clements, Don Hall, Chris Williams, and Osnat Shurer wanted to ensure that the film was as true and respectful of Oceania’s cultures as possible.
To that end, in 2011, Musker and Clements set out on a research trip to the Pacific Islands, meeting with anthropologists, cultural experts, historians, and adventurers from Fiji, Mo’orea, Samoa, and Tahiti.
The trip would not influence Moana’s story, but it led Disney Animation to establish the Oceanic Cultural Trust, a collective of experts who share their expertise with filmmakers to ensure Moana’s adventures are as authentic as possible.
Photo: Disney
“We are constantly checking in. And that could be with a master tattoo artist, with a choreographer, with a historian, or an expert Pacific linguist. On top of that, we have an amazing cast who are from across the Pacific region,” explained Jared Bush, who wrote the screenplay for Moana and co-wrote Moana 2.
Photo: Disney
“And then we have Dana Ledoux Miller, whose family is from Samoa, as well as [director] David Derrick Jr., whose family is from Samoa. It’s really important to have many perspectives.”
Working With the Cultral Trust
Director David Derrick Jr., whose family is from Samoa, explained the kind of help that the cultural trust could lend.
“The first Moana set the gold standard for how we work with a creative cultural trust,” he said.
Photo: EW
“Every step of the way, they helped inform not only the choices we were making in the story, but also the look of the canoes, of the islands, of the plants, of the animals, and of what everyone was wearing.”
Meet Kalikolehua Hurley and Lāiana Kanoa-Wong
The Oceanic Cultural Trust is headed by Kalikolehua Hurley, who was born in Mililani, O’ahu.
“It’s an inspiring challenge for us to find Moana’s fictional, unique culture, because we are inspired by a world that has many different, distinct cultures,” Hurley says.
Kalikolehua Hurley. Photo: Disney
“But it’s such a joy to work with our Oceanic Cultural Trust in bringing the stories together.”
For Lāiana Kanoa-Wong, one of the consultants for Moana 2, working on the film was a dream come true.
“Growing up, I had no idea that learning your language and culture could potentially get you an opportunity like this — or that it would be valued and appreciated by Disney,” Kanoa-Wong says.
Lāina Kanoa-Wong. Photo: Also Disney
“I got to come in very early on when Moana 2 was still in the concept stages, and I was invited to spend time with the directors, the producers, and the lead animators.”
How the Trust Influenced ‘Moana 2’
Ahead of the release of Moana 2, the filmmakers have lauded the Oceanic Cultural Trusts’ influence on the film’s musical numbers.
“In all of the song sequences — even ones that weren’t necessarily ‘choreographed’ throughout — we would have moments where we would lean on [animation reference choreographer Tiana Nonosina Liufau],” Kevin Webb, a head animator on Moana 2, recalled.
Photo: Disney
“We’d say, ‘Hey, we need something here that feels specific to the region and specific to this moment.’ And she might just send us a little video clip of a hand pose or a finger position — a simple movement that would help us do something that feels music-like, even though it’s not choreographed, that was also true to the region and the culture.”
Working With Other Disney Departments
In addition to helping bring the Moana films to life, the Oceanic Cultural Trust has lent its expertise to The Walt Disney Company. This has included working with Disney Consumer Products when creating new apparel, books, games, and toys or Walt Disney Imagineering on Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana.
Journey of Water
“Usually when there’s something Moana-related, I’ll get a call,” Hurley says. “So, I get to see how her story looks in different iterations across our awesome company.”
Photo: Disney
Moana 2 is in theaters now.
