Moana (2016)

Moana is a Disney animated movie that tells the story of a teenage girl who, despite protest and disapproval from her tribe, sets out on a dangerous sailing adventure to try to save her people. Moana is expected to follow her Father’s footsteps and become the next chief of her tribe, but her heart pulls her in a different direction which takes her on a brave and dangerous journey throughout the movie.

What Makes Moana a Good Story?

1. Moana’s storyline is relatable

According to TEDx Talk: “Why storytelling is so powerful in the digital era” by Ashley Fell good stories are ones that are relateable and that we can identify with. In the movie Moana the daughter of a tribe’s Chief grows up being prepped to one day take over her father’s position as her islands Chief. However Moana dream of her own was not to be Chief, but instead she felt called by the ocean and was on a mission to become a master way finder. Moana struggled with not wanting to follow in her father’s footsteps she did not want to let her parents down. A theme i am sure we all can identify with.

For me, when I graduated highschool and I was trying to decide “what I wanted to be when I grew up” I struggled with pleasing my parents or pleasing myself. I was expected to follow a certain path but it was not the path I wanted to follow. I relate to Moana’s story and in a way felt like I could understand the internal struggle she was facing with doing what she thought she was supposed to, or following her heart.

2. Moana is a character we want to root for

As mentioned in our Module 2 video , one of the main principles of storytelling (according to Pixar) is that a good story gives you a character to root for. Moana is a character that is easy to root for because it is easy to put yourself in her shoes of struggling with making the right decision and being conflicted with being who others want you to be, or being who you want to be.

3. Moana has conflict, a climax, and a resolution

According to our Module 2 video a good story includes conflict, a climax, and a resolution.

Conflict: Moana main conflict throughout her story is whether or not she follows her heart and her own dream, or if she follows the path she is expected to take. This theme is something I am sure we have all struggled with at some point. As a people please myself this is a reoccurring theme for me and is one of the reasons why this film resonates with me so much.

Climax: Moana’s sailing journey is centered around her trying to find demi-god Maui to have him restore the heart of Te Fiti to save the people of her island. The climax of the story is when Moana, with the help of Maui, is able to return the heart to Te Fiti and save her island.

Resolution: At the end of the movie Moana returns to her island, reunites with her parents, and later becomes chief of her island and a wayfinder.