6 Reasons to See Disney’s Moana

Image courtesy of Walt Disney Studios

Moana’s Mane

Think of the last few Disney princesses you’ve seen, whether in film or just on a T-shirt. How’s their hair? Disney’s animated ladies all have long, billowy manes. There’s never a hair out of place; never a need to run a brush through it, tie it up or suffer the accumulation of grease that comes from not showering. Because Moana is more in line with regular women of today, it stands to reason her hair needed to be a taste more accurate.

The animators wished to remain respectful to how Polynesian people looked and moved, and much of Moana’s animation revolved around her hair. Look at how curly, wavy and untamed it is. Though it moves as a wave, there’s body to it. It can’t be easy to brush! Unlike other characters, whose hair is always presented as is, we watch Moana put her hair up herself. It’s a little thing that no one would notice ordinarily, but here it emphasizes that hair can be annoying! Moana’s hair is also messed up in the surf, slapping her in the face when it’s wet. It’s a far cry from our undersea friend Ariel who never had to deal with the harsh effects of saltwater on her tresses.

Next: Hey, Hei-Hei