Is Moana a true legend?

Is 'Moana' based on a true story? The character of Moana is not a real person. However, the demigod, Maui (voiced by Dwayne Johnson in the movie), has been around in Polynesian folklore for centuries. According to Smithsonian Magazine, settlers started to colonize Western Polynesia around 3,500 years ago.

Is Moana based off a legend?

Although Moana is from the fictional island Motunui some 3,000 years ago, the story and culture of Moana is based on the very real heritage and history of Polynesian islands such as Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, and Tahiti.

Is Maui from Moana a real legend?

Thanks to Disney, the Polynesian people were put in the limelight. However, there are several points between Moana and real history that do not compare. Maui, for example, is a real demigod in Polynesian culture who works toward the good of humankind. He is normally depicted as a teenage boy, except in the movie.

Are the gods in Moana real?

Yes and no. Te Fiti does not exist in Polynesian mythology, but there is a goddess of fire, lightning, wind, and volcanoes called Pele. Some fans are speculating that Pele is Te Fiti's real-life legend counterpart.

Is the island of Te Fiti real?

Te Fiti is not a real place. However, the creators of Moana did base Te Fiti on Tahiti, the largest island in French Polynesia. Art directors Bill Schwab and Andy Harkness told Variety that the research for the film was crucial in perfecting the animation. “It's a beautiful place with beautiful people,” says Schwab.

The Disturbing REAL STORY Behind Moana

What is the real story of Maui?

Abandoned by his human parents as a baby, the gods took pity on him and made him a demigod and gave him a magic fish hook that gives him the ability to shape-shift. He went on to perform miracles to win back the love of humanity, each of which earned him an animated tattoo.

Is Maui a real demigod?

Māui is a demi-god who is popular in the Native Hawaiian culture. He is known for being the “trickster.” It is said that he owns a great fish-hook called Manaiakalani. Legend has it that Māui created the Hawaiian islands by tricking his brothers into going fishing with him.

Is tamatoa a real legend?

Whilst the character is entirely fictional, it's interesting to note that the name Tamatoa actually means “trophy” in the Maori language. This is very apt because Tamatoa is all about collecting treasure and souvenirs from the people he has defeated.

Does Te Fiti mean heaven?

Maui is her guardian angel, who was tasked to take her to 'Te Fiti', which stands for heaven in the movie. “The whole movie was about her journey to the afterlife.”

What is the dark story behind Moana?

The crux of the dark theory is this: that Moana actually drowns at the beginning of her journey to find Maui. The post's author argues that being dead allows Moana access to the underworld to complete her mission.

What does Te Fiti stand for?

"Te Kā" means "the burning one" in Maori. The development name for Te Kā/Te Fiti, "Te Po", means "the dark one" in the same language.

Who is Moana in real life?

Auliʻi Cravalho (/aʊˈliːʔi krəˈvɑːljoʊ/; born November 22, 2000) is an American actress and singer who made her acting debut as the voice of the titular character in the 2016 Disney 3D computer-animated musical feature film Moana.

Did Maui have tattoos in mythology?

Maui Slows Down The Sun

In the teaser for the movie, Maui uses his tattoos to boast about his exploits and impress Moana. One of his deeds was to slow down the sun with his magical fish hook, a reference to a Maori myth where the demigod lengthens the day so more work can be done.

What culture is Raya?

Raya translates to “celebration” in Malay. It also translates to “one who leads” in Southern Thailand. When creating Raya, screenwriters Qui Nguyen and Adele Lim drew inspiration from female Vietnamese warriors like the Trung sisters.

Why didnt Maui's parents want him?

According to Maui, they took one look at him after his birth and decided they didn't want him as they refuse to bear the difficulties of raising a child. As such, they threw him into the ocean like he was nothing, though he was saved by the gods, who raised him to become a demigod to provide gifts for humanity.

Why did Moana's grandma have the heart?

She should have been dead long ago, but she kept the heart of Te Fiti always around her neck. The heart has the power of life, and it kept Gramma Tala alive. So when Gramma Tala hands Moana the heart, she immediately begins to die.

Are there any Easter eggs in Moana?

Did you catch them? Just about every Disney movie has references to other Disney classics, and Moana is no exception. Seriously, it's jam-packed with easter eggs from all of your faves, including Frozen, The Little Mermaid, and Aladdin. Prepare to be mind blown.

Is the baby turtle in Moana crush?

Squirt and Crush

In the beginning of the movie, the little sea turtle is Squirt and in the water you see Crush, as well.

Did the crab in Moana eat his grandma?

During recording, Jemaine Clement improvised a scene where Tamatoa expressed guilt over eating his grandmother and mournfully apologized for doing so. In another riff by Jemaine that didn't make the film, Tamatoa confessed that he never actually ate his grandmother, and claimed that he only said he did to seem scary.

Who is Maui based off of?

The man who was once only known as The Rock, recently admitted that Maui was partially inspired by his own grandfather, wrestler High Chief Peter Maivia. According to the former Rocky Maivia... The man who is known to millions and millions as The Rock had professional wrestling in his blood from day one.

Why did Maui steal the heart?

The gods rescued Maui. They made him into a demigod and gave him the ability to shapeshift. Maui stole the heart of Te Fiti because he wanted to give it to humans; he wanted to do this, however, because he wanted the love of humans that had been denied him by his parents.

Why can Maui not float?

He may simply have been using hyperbole. With his vast muscle-mass, he most certainly can't float as well as a boat. Interestingly we see (in the concept art below) that he's probably tried hundreds of schemes to escape his island, sytmied by an unforgiving sea and the sheer remoteness of his solitude.

Does Moana mean ocean?

Moana—pronounced “moh-AH-nah,” not “MWAH-nah” means “ocean”—and the character is chosen by the sea itself to return the stolen heart of Te Fiti, who turns out to be an island deity (Tahiti, in its various linguistic forms, including Tafiti, is a pan-Polynesian word for any faraway place).