Directed by: Ron Clements and John Musker Co-directed by: Don Hall and Chris Williams Screenplay by: Jared Bush Story by: Ron Clements & John Musker and Chris Williams & Don Hall and Pamela Ribon and Aaron Kandell & Jordan Kandell Genre: Golden Fleece Original Songs by: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mark Mancina and Opetaia Foa’i
From the Oscars® to the Annie Awards, from the Critics’ Choice Awards to the Golden Globes, Disney’s Moana has been nominated for more than a dozen honors, and it’s not surprising. Not only is the story’s titular character a strong, independent female protagonist, but it also features a powerful soundtrack. Great music is a hallmark of Disney films, but the songs of Moana stand out for a different reason. Within their rich Polynesian sound, the lyrics masterfully reflect the beats, telling the story through song.
Moana’s father Chief Tui, voiced by Temuera Morrison, and her mother Sina, voiced by Nicole Scherzinger
For instance, the opening song incorporates the Theme Stated as well as key elements of the Set-Up. Moana’s father, the village Chief Tui, tells her:
Moana, it’s time you knew The village of Motunui is all you need
However, as a toddler, Moana responds that she wants to see what is beyond their island. Her father continues:
Don’t walk away Moana stay on the ground now Our people will need a chief and There you are There comes a day When you’re gonna look around And realize happiness is Where you are… The island gives us all we need!
Young Moana replies:
And no one leaves…?
Again, her father reiterates the necessity of staying in her home:
That’s right, we stay We’re safe and we’re well provided And when we look to the future There you are You’ll be okay In time, you’ll learn, just as I did You must find happiness right Where you are
Gramma Tala, voiced by Rachel House
Later, her grandmother adds her own dissenting opinion, singing:
The village may think I’m crazy Or say that I drift too far But once you know what you like Well there you are
You may hear a voice inside And if the voice starts to whisper To follow the farthest star Moana that voice inside is who you are
In these words and their accompanying verses, much is revealed. Not only are we introduced to the key characters, the setting, and their way of life, we also get a glimpse of the things that need fixing in Moana’s life. Even as a young child, she yearns to go beyond the island and explore, but is dissuaded by her father and the other villagers. To them, nature supplies everything the village needs; there is no reason to leave.
The Theme Stated makes its appearance in these lyrics in several ways. Dealing with the concept of identity, the thematic premise is referenced by both her father and her grandmother, but in different ways. A good theme will be debated throughout the story, and this is clearly the case for Moana — she must struggle with who she is and who she will be; what is her destiny and her role in this world? Is it limited to the island, or is she bound for something grander? There is a glimpse of stasis=death here, as it is clear that Moana’s thesis world is stagnant and in need of change. She is not content to stay like all the other villagers are.
Maui, voiced by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
That change comes with the Catalyst; something has gone wrong on the island, and the curse caused by Maui is now affecting them. According to legend, Maui had stolen the heart of the island goddess Te Fiti, and Moana wants to find the solution off the island, sailing through the seas. During the Debate, she reveals her struggles and thoughts, singing:
I’ve been staring At the edge of the water Long as I can remember Never really knowing why
I wish I could Be the perfect daughter But I come back to the water No matter how hard I try
If the wind in my sail on the sea Stays behind me One day I’ll know If I go, there’s just no telling How far I’ll go…
I can lead with pride I can make us strong I’ll be satisfied If I play along But the voice inside sings a different song What’s wrong with me?
In these lyrics, we sense how Moana is torn as she reflects on the words of her father and grandmother, echoing the theme. She wants to explore her limits and discover who she is, but she feels like she should be responsible for the island. The conflict causes her to think something might be wrong with her.
Moana’s grandmother takes her to see a secret that has been kept from her, a cave filled with old seafaring ships used by her ancestors. As she listens to the voices of the past, they sing to her, offering a counterpoint to her doubts:
We are explorers, reading every sign We tell the stories of our elders in a Never-ending chain We know the way
With this new revelation, another thing that needs fixing is also brought to light. Moana’s culture is one that hands down stories orally (like the one about Maui), but not everything has been handed down as it should be. Moana realizes that her own story has yet to be written and added to those of her culture, and with this knowledge, her Debate has found its answer. At the moment her grandmother dies, Moana makes the clear Break into Two, passing into her antithesis world, guided by her grandmother’s spirit:
Now I can’t turn back From the great unknown Where I go alone Where I long to be
See her light up the night in the sea She calls me And yes, I know That I can go…
It isn’t long before Moana steps into this upside-down world, meeting the B Story character. In this case, it’s Maui, and he turns Moana’s perception of the world on its head. Living in the village had instilled in her that nature and the island provided everything the villagers needed to live, but she soon learns that her new demigod companion is the real reason for everything. Maui is headstrong, confident, and braggadocios, and his exchanges with Moana present the promise of the premise: what happens when an ordinary island girl meets a demigod? The B Story and the Fun and Games are reflected in Maui’s song where he boasts of his many contributions to humanity:
So what can I say except you’re welcome? For the islands I pulled from the sea There’s no need to pray, it’s okay, you’re welcome Ha, I guess it’s just my way of being me!
Tamatoa, voiced by Jemaine Clement
Of course, their quest is far from simple. During the Bad Guys Close In beat, Maui and Moana attempt to retrieve the demigod’s magical fishhook from the giant crab Tamatoa. Besides being a literal enemy, Tamatoa brings out Moana’s inner Bad Guys of doubt and despair by calling her grandmother’s advice into question:
Did your granny say, “listen to your heart Be who you are on the inside?” I need three words to tear her argument apart Your granny lied
Tamatoa doesn’t stop there, though. He attacks the all-powerful Maui by dredging up the demigod’s hurtful past, reminding him of his human parents that didn’t want him, tossing him into the ocean only to be rescued by the gods:
Far from the ones who abandoned you Chasing the love of these humans who made you feel wanted You try to be tough But your armor’s just not hard enough
Maui’s weak spot is revealed to Moana. He craves the love and acceptance of humans, seeking to give them everything they need, but deep down, he’s hurting. His pride is shattered as he’s revealed not to be as tough as he pretends to be. He is vulnerable.
Eventually, things become too difficult for Maui, and he leaves Moana in the All Is Lost beat. As Moana sorts through whether or not to turn back and give up, the spirit of her grandmother appears to her. Her grandmother’s words provide the guidance Moana needs in her Dark Night of the Soul, reminding her of the theme:
Sometimes the world seems against you The journey can leave a scar But scars can heal and reveal just Where you are…
The people you love will change you The things you have learned will guide you And nothing on earth can silence The quiet voice still inside you
And when that voice starts to whisper “Moana, you’ve come so far. Moana, listen… Do you know who you are?”
Moana bridges her Dark Night of the Soul into the Break Into Three, making a decisive step into her synthesis world of Act Three:
I’ve delivered us to where we are I have journeyed farther I am everything I’ve learned and more— Still it calls me
And the call isn’t out there at all it’s inside me It’s like the tide, always falling and rising I will carry you here in my heart, you remind me That come what may; I know the way I am Moana
Yet her journey through The Transformation Machine is not complete. During the Finale, Moana confronts her worst fear, the fire demon Te Ka. But Moana realizes Te Ka is, in fact, the corrupted version of the island goddess Te Fiti. Moana must finally come face to face with the theme, and she digs, deep down, speaking to the goddess:
I have crossed the horizon to find you I know your name They have stolen your heart From inside you But this does not define you This is not who you are You know who you are
All stories are about transformation, and Moana’s is no different. Her journey — both the tangible and the spiritual — is complete. She has restored the heart of Te Fiti and brought new life to her island and its villagers. Most importantly, she has learned who she truly is. Her story is masterfully told through the lyrics and music, the beats seamlessly woven through the songs.
Cory Milles has been teaching writing for over a decade. In his spare time, he writes Young Adult novels that seek to capture the power of story to transform his readers. When he’s not writing, teaching, or listening to his collection of movie scores, he can usually be found reading more on the craft of writing. He is an editor of Save the Cat!® Goes to the Indies and the author of New Miller's Grove, Legacy, Paradox, Redemption and Reboot.
Okay, now I want to watch it :-) Thank you for the analysis! I love animated films that tie the story in with song lyrics. Probably why I cry at most of them, the heart sings.
Great analysis Cory! Thanks for taking the time!!
Okay, now I want to watch it :-) Thank you for the analysis! I love animated films that tie the story in with song lyrics. Probably why I cry at most of them, the heart sings.