In a world of beige, grey and whatever shade Donald Trump’s face is, it’s nice to see a splash of color now and again. Crisp greens, deep blues, vibrant reds —they're all welcome feasts for the eye sockets and the balls that live in them. Now, thanks to MOANA, we can look forward to a movie that’s basically like 1,000 Thanksgivings (get it? because I said "feasts") with every color in the knowable spectrum bursting out to please us.
Well, actually, we shouldn’t thank MOANA. It’s a work of fiction about a girl with the same name who has no influence over our very real and mortal world. Who we should be thanking is Walt Disney Animation Studios for creating this wondrous looking film, and releasing a plethora of new character images (via Collider) from the movie that are some of the most vibrant and detailed yet. As well, they have sent out descriptions for the characters and voice actors behind them.
Bask in them!
Jemaine Clement as Tamatoa
a self-absorbed, 50-foot crab who lives in Lalotai, the realm of monsters. The conceited crustacean wants to be more than a “bottom feeder” and overcompensates for this perceived shortcoming by covering himself in all things shiny.
Alan Tudyk as Heihei
Heihei is one dumb rooster—the village idiot, in fact. When the clueless chicken accidentally stows away on Moana’s canoe, he lands a front-row seat for her epic journey.
Rachel House as Gramma Tala
Moana’s confidante and best friend, who shares her granddaughter’s special connection to the ocean. Although her son Tui, the chief of Motunui, is a no-nonsense leader, Gramma Tala most definitely dances to the beat of her own drum.
Temuera Morrison and Nicole Scherzinger as Chief Tui and Sina
[Tui is] the gregarious and well-respected leader of the people of Motunui Island. Chief Tui wants Moana to follow in his footsteps as leader of their people, but fears his daughter’s draw to the ocean and the world that lies beyond their reef.
Moana’s mother, SINA, who always has her daughter’s back. Playful, sharp and strong-willed, Sina appreciates Moana’s longing to be on the water, but also wants to protect her daughter from the fabled dangers beyond the reef.
Plus, there are some colorful, voiceless characters, like the Kakamora, who are "an intense team of crazy, coconut-armored pirates who will stop at nothing to get what they want," and Pua, Moana's "loyal pet pig with puppy energy and an innocent puppy brain."
And what's news about MOANA without Moana (Auliʻi Cravalho) herself? Get in there, girl!
Oh, and we must not forget Maui (Dwayne Johnson), lest he comes alive and eats us.
As the final cherry on this colorful sundae here is the official synopsis for the film:
Three thousand years ago, the greatest sailors in the world voyaged across the vast Pacific, discovering the many islands of Oceania. But then, for a millennium, their voyages stopped – and no one knows why. From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes “Moana,” a sweeping, CG-animated feature film about an adventurous teenager who sails out on a daring mission to save her people. During her journey, Moana (voice of Auliʻi Cravalho) meets the mighty demigod Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson), who guides her in her quest to become a master wayfinder. Together, they sail across the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds, and along the way, Moana fulfills the ancient quest of her ancestors and discovers the one thing she’s always sought: her own identity.
Agree with me now? These new images are vibrant and detailed, and only a taste of the massive adventure we will get to behold. Disney looks like they will truly outdo themselves. It's all downhill from here. Now I'm sad. Nevermind, I just looked at the pig again.
MOANA sets sail with Dwayne Johnson, Auliʻi Cravalho, Jemaine Clement, Alan Tudyk, Rachel House, Temuera Morrison and Nicole Scherzinger on November 23.