Walt Disney Animation Studios has made a lot of people happy with the announcement that the film Moana is coming down their pipeline. The story about native Hawaiians and the Pacific Islands culture as a whole with the titular character being a female lead is way ahead of its time and simultaneously long overdue.
The heralded animation studio made the announcement today that they have found the actress to portray the latest Disney princess and her name is Auli’I Cravalho. She is a native Hawaiian from Oahu, and Disney Animation Studios has released a video showing her audition process, introducing the young, soon-to-be movie star to the world!
Cravalho said in a statement that this casting is a dream come true, on many fronts.
“From baby time to now, I wanted to be a Disney princess and then I wanted to be a singer or an actress. Moana is such an amazing character. She’s brave, she is so empowered, she knows what she wants and she’s not afraid to get it, and I think that’s something that I can relate to as well,” she said.
“I just love watching how she goes along in this wonderful movie and grows as a person and helps her culture along the way.”
Look for her to be joined by a superstar who is no stranger to having great chemistry with younger actors, Dwayne Johnson (Furious 7). Johnson will play the demi-god Maui who aids Moana in her dangerous journey to finding her place in the world.
Here’s the official synopsis for Moana, the latest from Disney, that arrives November 23, 2016.
In the ancient South Pacific world of Oceania, Moana, a born navigator, sets sail in search of a fabled island. During her incredible journey, she teams up with her hero, the legendary demi-god Maui, to traverse the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous sea creatures, breathtaking underworlds and ancient folklore.