Moana, born to Chief Tama of Motunui island and taken as an infant into her care by demigod Maui centuries prior, desires adventure beyond her reef-protected village of Motunui. When something starts polluting ocean’s natural resources – demigod Maui taking Te Fiti’s heart centuries prior and creating slow-burning darkness throughout Motunui and beyond – Moana sets off on an adventure that must lead her into finding and forcing Maui back with her heart, returning the heart so she may restore her world to former glory.
Moana may have started off as a headstrong young woman, yet her character arc reveals her deep compassion and heartwarming love of both people and sea.
Moana is also a gifted musician and singer with beautiful tones that will serve her on her journey to save the world from its enemies. She can easily play the ukulele while singing in both Hawaiian and Polynesian dialects, making for an engaging storyteller able to connect her audience with the characters she depicts.
Moana not only displays formidable vocal talent, but she is also gifted physically as an exceptional adventurer. Her athleticism allows her to move at an effortless speed when running; traverse large and difficult terrain without becoming fatigued; swim underwater for extended periods compared to her fellow humans; when trapped inside Maui’s cave she used incredible leg strength to uproot a statue that towered many times her size and weight in order to climb out from its crevice.
She can communicate with the sea through speaking directly to it, which has proven extremely useful when navigating dangerous waters. She uses water for navigation and even pushing her boat when stuck in tight situations. In one incident she managed to tame Te Ka, an evil lava demon, by singing her song “Know Who You Are,” directly at him at an exact moment of destruction.
Moana’s ancestor Tui was a demigod and taught her oceanic magic – possibly accounting for her unique connection to it. With that knowledge at her disposal, Moana was able to safely navigate dangerous seas while searching for and returning Te Fiti’s heart, thus ending Te Fiti’s reign as a monster and returning the world to its former splendor.
Ralph Breaks the Internet shows Moana meeting the princesses of the internet for the first time; initially they are hostile towards her and see her as a potential threat; however, when Moana mentions she is also a princess similar to Pocahontas did they become less hostile toward her and accept her presence among their ranks.
Moana is depicted as an intelligent and confident young woman with the power to change the world. Her bold personality and wide array of skills makes her both inspiring and compelling for audiences everywhere. Moana appreciates nature’s beauty while finding balance in between work life and family life to remain contented and fulfilled.