Disney takes you on an animated journey through Moana, where the strong-willed daughter of a tribal chief takes it upon herself to rescue a demigod and teams up with him to save her island.

Like all the other animated films released this year, Moana has a feel-good touch and is set in the Polynesian triangle, you can surely brace yourself for some wonderful creatures underwater and fantastic tales above it.

Maona is a teenager (Auli’i Cravalho), who sets sails to find a missing demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) after blight strikes her island; she not only finds the ‘hero of men and women’ but also makes him teach her the ways to fight against the evils of the world.

Maui comes across as a carefree guy who has all the power in the world, but doesn’t know the implications of his actions.

He needs Maona to guide him and together they set out on a journey to restore the Heart of Te Fiti, a magical stone, the removal of which by Maui began a chain reaction that saw bad things happening to the islanders.

Do they manage to complete their mission? Does evil triumph over good for a change? For that you’ll have to watch the wonderfully animated flick from the house of Aladdin!

Like all Disney classics, this animated flick has many reasons to be watched. There are many interesting characters that keep you entertained throughout the movie — a half-witted chicken that is more stupid than anything ever witnessed, ‘cute looking’ Kakamora pirates and a dancing tattoo that keeps reminding Maui of the good things he has done or can do. The ocean also plays an important part in the story as it literally takes along Moana and guides her whenever and wherever it can.

And then there is the amazing soundtrack — the songs are not just for one-time listening as they not only remind you of the powers of the sea but also carry the story forward. The voice cast is amazing — from the stellar Hawaiian newcomer Auli’i Cravalho to the one and only Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. Every actor’s voice fits the bill.

The animation is top notch as well since you feel like watching a film rather than a ‘cartoon’; Moana is all about the past, present and the future and must not be given a miss.

Moana is rated PG for peril, some scary images and brief thematic elements.

Published in Dawn, Young World, January 7th, 2017