Discover the Magic: Top 11 Fun Facts About Moana You Never Knew!

1. Rachel House: Opera Star

Singing isn't just an "opera-tion" for Rachel House, who dished out some serious Gramma Tala vibes with a voice smoother than Polynesian coconut milk: As the personality behind Moana's wise granny, Rachel not only lent her trained opera pipes to a verse of "Where You Are," but also collaborated with the screenwriter to perfectly harmonize her dialogue for some truly head-spinning retakes.
Source => insidethemagic.net

2. Lin-Manuel's Inspiration: The Rock's WWE Days

For everyone who ever wished "You're Welcome" from Moana had a pinch of wrestling flair, you can smell what Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's singing is cooking: In Moana, Lin-Manuel Miranda took inspiration from The Rock's WWE days while writing Maui's big tune, tailoring it to the actor's vocal range capabilities and charismatic persona he observed in a YouTube video of Johnson singing and playing guitar in the wrestling ring.
Source => ew.com

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=> Fun Facts about Tangled

3. Heihei's Drastic IQ Drop

In a classic "bird-brained" move that ruffled the creative feathers of Disney's story team, a cocky little rooster got a serious downgrade in the smarts department: Heihei, Moana's quirky sidekick initially conceived as a cranky and uncooperative character, emerged as a lovably clueless companion after the decision was made to dramatically lower his IQ, turning him into a hilarious obstacle for our heroine and a delightful fan favorite.
Source => sports.yahoo.com

4. Moana: The Love-Interest-Free Princess

Breaking hearts but not waves, a heartthrob Moana is not: Moana became the first Disney princess to forgo a love interest in the movie, focusing instead on her own journey of self-discovery and her partnership with Maui, the demigod, who assists her in her epic adventure.
Source => buzzfeed.com

5. Moana's Non-Romantic Journey

In the mood for love? Well, don't expect to find Moana swiping right on her oceanic adventure: her story is unique among Disney princesses, as it doesn't revolve around romantic interests, but celebrates her journey of self-discovery and connection to Polynesian heritage, embracing family values and community over individuals' fairy-tale flings.
Source => kauai-hawaii.com

6. Traditional Polynesian Navigation Techniques in Moana

Who needs GPS when you've got the stars and hands? In an epic plot twist, Disney's Moana sails into the sphere of realism: The film accurately depicts traditional Polynesian navigation techniques thanks to the guidance of the Oceanic Story Trust, a board of experts including Polynesian elders and locals. These celestial techniques, like using star maps and measuring star altitudes with hands, have been successfully utilized by the Polynesian Voyaging Society since the 1970s for extensive Pacific journeys.
Source => planetary.org

7. Tamatoa: Real-life Coconut Crab Inspiration

When life imitates shiny art and gives a crab a silverware makeover: Tamatoa, the villainous giant crab in Moana, actually takes inspiration from real-life coconut crabs, or "palm thieves," who share a fondness for shiny objects like cutlery. Known to occasionally partake in a crab-eat-crab world, these dazzling scavengers can grow up to 3 feet long, making them practically cousins with the big screen's glittering antagonist.
Source => disneyvillains.fandom.com

8. Pua's Original Voyage Plans

In a swine-felt twist of fate, Moana's beloved porcine pal Pua experienced some serious bacon-and-eggs-it issues: Moana's producer, Osnat Shurer, revealed in an Entertainment Weekly interview that Pua was originally meant to accompany Moana on her voyage, but was left behind to ensure the heroine fully embraced her journey, leaving all comforts of her family behind.
Source => ew.com

9. Hidden Mickey in Moana

Get ready to have your bubbles burst by some Mickey magic: there's a hidden Mickey Mouse silhouette engulfed in air bubbles in Moana, patiently waiting for you to notice it during the scene when Moana is first chosen by the ocean.
Source => nerd-life.co.uk

10. Moana's Seven Brothers That Never Were

Once upon a sibling squabble, Moana almost had the joy of wrangling an entire bro-ntourage of seven big brothers: The factual twist in this Disney tale is that directors ultimately transformed her into an empowering only child, allowing her to sail the seas of independence and navigate the waters of leadership with ease.
Source => impeccablenestdesign.com

11. The Original Cranky Heihei

Cock-a-doodle-don't mess with the original Heihei: Sporting a feisty attitude, this early bird was more likely to cause a ruffled-feather situation than his final goofy incarnation we adore today: Before his dim-witted transformation just four months before production, Heihei was initially designed to be Chief Tui's cranky, aggressive pet rooster – so much so, that his grand relaunch warranted a celebratory poultry feast!
Source => disney.fandom.com