Disney Princess Research Paper

Moana contains many themes connected to the idea that nature is an escape from corrupt society. For example, Moana faces many problems on her island, such as the fear she will not make her father proud as the next chief, and the physical problems with the island not producing enough food to sustain its citizens. Therefore, Moana will often escape to the beach to be with her grandmother, who taught her to “dance” with the waves (Moana 2016). Moana uses the ocean as an escape from her problems in her home, and her society which does not accept her love for the ocean. Such a belief that nature can be an escape from problems is very transcendentalist. Next, Moana has to travel across the ocean to achieve her goal of restoring the heart of Te Fiti and saving her island. The ocean actually

Moana is a Disney animation film that is suited for all ages. The film follows the adventures of a young heroine called Moana, who is the daughter of the Chief of the Island. From a young age Moana has had a special connection with the ocean, much to her father’s disliking because he finds the ocean unsafe for the protection of his daughter. However an unpredictable problem within the movie arises that could lead to the destruction of her beloved Island. Moana uses her love for the ocean and her grandmothers’ encouragement to find Maui a demi god that joins her on the journey to restore the heart of Te Fiti and save her Island.

Moana is visited by the spirit of her dead grandmother in the after form of her favorite sea creature, a stingray. This reminds Moana that she is in fact the chosen one and was chosen to complete this journey and to fulfill her destiny which is to save her island and all other islands that are dying. The transformation happens when Moana is determined to complete her task of restoring the Heart of Te Fiti. Moana gives the heart to Te Ka who then transforms to the quiet and peaceful Te Fiti.

The song “How Far I’ll Go”, sung by Disney’s Moana, clearly represents the Romantic period. Moana is brought up on an island, but is unhappy because she feels constantly pulled back by her father, the chief of the island. Moana has always felt a strong connection to the water, so when there is an opportunity for her to sailon the forbidden ocean, she jumps to the occasion. The song “How Far I’ll Go, sung by Disney’s Moana most clearly depicts the ideas of the Romantic period in the 21st century by expressing the concept of celebrating the individual.

Moana is a unique film that is released by Walt Disney in 2016. A typical Disney film consists of a beautiful princess who wants to find a true love in her life; however, Moana, the main character of the film, broke all the stereotypes and expectations of a Disney princess since Moana’s conflict does not arise from a love interest, but from a desire to save her island. The story of the movie is that there is a girl who lives on the island, but her island is dying because Maui stole the heart of Te Fiti. Therefore, her purpose is to across the ocean to find Maui and make him return the heart of Te Fiti in order to restore life on the Motunui Island, but the chief of the island “ her father “ wishes for their people to stay within the confines of the island’s reef because he thinks beyond the reef is dangerous, but Moana went against her father’s

Recently, three articles have been viewed to suggest whether or not the movie, Moana, stereotyped Polynesian people. Many feel that Disney designed Disney was justified in creating the Moana film and was not culturally insensitive to the Polynesian people because Disney went to the extent of perfecting the songs and voices for characters, Polynesian culture in the movie, and the characters’ designs. To commence, Disney hired Polynesian songwriters and actors to make the movie more accurate and realistic. Disney had even hired people with the most experience.

“If you reduced the Disney films [to a phrase] it would be ‘Once Upon a Time,’” said Glen Keane… once upon a time. Disney has a habit of portraying petite princesses who sit around with no real purpose except to wait for Prince Charming to come along and rescue them from their everlasting slumber. This is certainly not the case for Disney’s latest hit, Moana (2016). This “Disney Princess” is no princess; Moana does not seek to live happily ever after in a huge castle with any Prince Charming. Moana’s (2016) deviation from typical, “princess” life is what sets it apart from mainstream Disney expectations. However, Disney does exceed in delivering its most iconic expectations in this blockbuster. Moana’s (2016) genre, age appropriateness, animation quality, and plot, all prove that Disney has succeeded in producing yet another exceptional classic.

Traditionally, Disney tales have a common character that their princesses or princes’ curses need to be broken by the spell through a kiss love, so the dream becomes a reality. Move over, the first feature-length animated film which we knew from Disney; the Snow White and Seven Dwarves. Jasmine the princess and Aladdin the street boy both they had chemistry and realized their wishes against Jaffar and Mead-Est culture. Passing over the fabulous story of Ratatouille; However, Alfredo Linguini and Remy that is the story about rejected one according is status, who couldn’t cook. Disney animated movies blend social diversity through their tales, but they didn’t realize to go so far until they see the first African – American president in the White House, Disney made a First American princess who is black. Even though Disney cast their first black princess; The Frog and the Princess. It was a controversial animated movie for some people because all Disney white princesses married white princes. But, Disney claimed this one, they wanted the Frog and the Princess; the Prince Naveen of Maldonia a white from the frog and Tania the waitress a black girl that story happened in New Orleans the Jazz city and voodoo. This one movie stands for diversity.

Moana has lived beneath the waves for so long she can’t remember what it was like to be human. She knows they're to blame for the poison leeching into her waters and she’ll do anything to save her father, even if it means taking lives. But when Moana lures Jake into the ocean, something about him stays her hand. This young mortal makes her feel alive again, and what’s more, she has a feeling she can use him for more than just his blood.

I have chose to write my final discussion on the newest Disney movie Moanna. Moanna was the classic example of someone going through the Heros Journey. Although she already is held higher than most though because she is the daughter of the chief, so ultimately the next leader. She always longing for more. Her grandmother is the one that pushes her to go follow her heart, When the tribe is in trouble Moanna goes to the call of the journey to find Maui who is a shapeshifter. Maui was all about himself and did not care to help Monna help her tribe. Monna ends up helping Maui when he needs it the most, he teaches her how to sail and continue their journey. They are defeated though by a monster. Maui goes on about his way and Moanna is lost. Defeated

If you are looking for a reason to watch “Moana”, the review in the New York Times “Did You Just Call Me a Princess?” will not likely ignite the desire. The author, Scott, A O., focuses on the brand of Disney more so than the movie by referencing Disney’s marketing a few different times throughout the article. To be fair, he does mention some key elements about the movie such as the storyline, the folklore music, the characters and specifically the sidekick Heihei. However, he takes you back to thinking about Disney, as opposed to “Moana”, by referencing the similarities between Heihei and Becky, the sidekick in “Finding Dory”. He continuously turns it right back around to a Disney theme versus specifically focusing on this movie. To ensure the message is delivered, he concluded the article with

Disney directly exposes the idea that young girls should make their main goal in life to find their prince charming, fall madly in love, and live happily ever after. Making young girls’ aspiration in life revolve around finding a man of their dreams “transfix[es the] audience and divert[s] their potential utopian dreams and hopes through the false promises of the images [Disney] cast[s] upon the screen” (22). Disney tells the audience that women need a man to be happy. Disney presents the idea that women are dependent on me. Just like in The Little Mermaid, Ariel goes as far as surrendering her voice, to a witch named Ursula, and abandoning her family in order to be with her prince. Ariel also trades in her life as a mermaid, drastically changes her body, and sacrifices her greatest talent all in order to win her prince. Disney sends the message that girls need to give up their talents and lives in order to be with a man. Disney suggests that a woman’s main priority is her lover, no one or nothing else. Disney effectively portrays women in a negative way, depicting them as weak and needy. No attempt to break the stereotypical gender roles of women are evident however, these stereotypes are growing as Disney instills this image of women in the minds of viewers.

Unlike most Disney films, the story behind Moana is not just a fictional fantasy, the 3D computer film is also based on ancient Hawaiian-Polynesian mythology. The award winning film, for best animated feature, tells the story of a daredevil, young girl Moana, accompanied by her dim-witted rooster HeiHei, sailing for a mission in hopes of returning the heart of Te Fiti, to restore back the beauty of the ocean and islands of Hawaii. In search of doing so, she meets the arrogant, strong and witty Maui who was the root of creation of the islands as well as destruction, in result of stealing the heart belonging to Te Fitte, goddess of the ocean. The dynamic connection between the two deepens as the story unfolds, revealing Moana to be one of Disney’s

In the middle of the film the death of Moanas grandmother triggers her to go on a journey to restore the heart of Motunui. This can be represented by the archetype plot journey because now Moana has to return the heart she was gifted as a child. On her deathbed she gives Moana the heart for her to find Maui and return it back to Motunui. Her mother then finds her packing and getting ready to leave, then then helps her on her way. In the film Moana the grandmother sends Moana out to sea to find Maui and return the heart. When leaving her mother finds out and helps her, the was a very emotional moment for the both of them. This shows that Moana is a very caring person, because after her grandmother's death she is heartbroken when she passes. After she finds the boat of her ancestors she is convinced that they were voyagers, these boats brought her adventurous side back to life. After hearing this news her father is furious and threatens to burn the boats, but something life changing happens in the meantime.

When most people think about Disney movies, their mind often goes to the stereotypical princess movies in which the protagonist wears a pink ball gown. Time and time again these princesses must fight their way through the story in a luxurious ball gown in order to end up with a prince. However, there are many Disney movies that work to challenge these gender stereotypes. The movie Moana is a recent example of a Disney production that works to break the imposed stereotypes placed on children from an early age.