Moana

An empowering coming-of-age story, this Oscar-nominated animated adventure evokes Polynesia's folkloric beliefs, drawing on elements from Fijian, Samoan, and Tahitian traditions. On Motunui in Oceania, teenage Moana (voiced by Auli'i Cravalho) lives an idyllic life in a self-sustaining Polynesian community. The daughter of Chief Tui (Temuera Morrison), Moana is forbidden to travel beyond the barrier reef that surrounds their isolated island. But her ailing Gramma Tala (Rachel House) explains that Moana has been chosen by the ocean to control its waves, and the plucky heroine calls on this watery power after her island's resources deteriorate because the heart of Goddess Te Feti was stolen. Accompanied by Heihei (Alan Tudyk), a goofy, rainbow-colored chicken, she searches for the disgraced demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson). Using his magic fish hook, swaggering Maui—a tattoo-covered trickster—can shapeshift. Together, they hit the high seas on a quest to save their people. Featuring music by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the film boasts amazing animation (with phosphorescent vegetation and shimmering blue water), and it is notable for being the first Disney princess movie without a love interest. Recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by co-directors John Musker and Ron Clements, the Disney short film “Inner Workings” (8 min.), the music video “How Far I'll Go” by Alessia Cara, and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is a “Voice of the Islands” behind-the-scenes featurette (31 min.), deleted scenes (26 min.), production segments on “The Elements of…” (14 min.), “They Know the Way: Making the Music” (13 min.), “Island Fashion” (5 min.), and “Things You Didn't Know About…” (4 min.), as well as the deleted song “Warrior Face” (4 min.), the companion short “Gone Fishing” (3 min.), Easter Eggs (3 min.), the “How Far I'll Go Around the World” multi-language reel, and bonus DVD and digital copies of the film. Bottom line: a fine extras package for this Oscar-nominated Disney charmer.] (S. Granger)