Disney Animation is heading to the high seas of the South Pacific for its upcoming animated feature Moana. Ron Clements and John Musker (The Little Mermaid, The Princess And the Frog, Aladdin) are set to direct what will be the pair’s first all CG feature.
From the studio press release –
“John and I have partnered on so many films – from ‘The Little Mermaid’ to ‘Aladdin’ to ‘The Princess and the Frog,'” said Clements. “Creating ‘Moana’ is one of the great thrills of our career. It’s a big adventure set in this beautiful world of Oceania.”
In the ancient South Pacific world of Oceania, Moana, a born navigator, sets sail in search of a fabled island. During her incredible journey, she teams up with her hero, the legendary demi-god Maui, to traverse the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous sea creatures, breathtaking underworlds and ancient folklore.
“Moana is indomitable, passionate and a dreamer with a unique connection to the ocean itself,” Musker said. “She’s the kind of character we all root for, and we can’t wait to introduce her to audiences.”
The film is set for a 2016 release, joining another Walt Disney Animated film Zootopia, Pixar’s Finding Dory, and an untitled Star Wars standalone film on Walt Disney Pictures’ schedule for that year.
Disney also released a rather beautiful and evocative piece of art with the announcement which you can see below (click to enlarge). For some reason it reminds me of Miyazaki’s Princess Mononoke, and that’s not a bad comparison.
