5 Disney movies that will inspire viewers of every age to follow their dreams

Disney film to inspire you: Moana

Moana is one of the newer Disney films that introduces a different kind of princess to the younger generation. What puts Moana on this list is that she’s a princess that followed what her heart led her to, and it ended up saving her people.

Moana’s island was cursed by the demigod Maui, who stole the heart of Te Fiti, a glowing stone that ended up lost at sea. Te Fiti is the goddess of the island and her heart being stolen caused the island to start dying. Moana’s people’s resources on the island were depleting.

Because of Moana’s natural draw to the sea, she was chosen to return the heart of Te Fiti. If she listened to her father about the dangers of the sea, she wouldn’t have saved her people and found the reason why she felt so connected to it. It turned out her ancestors were voyagers, way- finders, who spent their lives traveling by sea. This was hidden from her people.

She returned the heart of Te Fiti by confronting Te Ka, a lava monster that destroyed anybody that passed it. She told the sea to bring her to Te Ka. The scene slowed down; Moana walked towards Te Ka, singing a beautiful song to it. It’s an absolutely moving scene. The lyrics are:

"I have crossed the horizon to find you I know your name They have stolen the heart from inside you But this does not define you. This is not who you are You know who you are!"

Te Ka then bows its head towards Moana and Moana placed the Eye of Te Fiti into one of its eyes. Te Ka started to crack and Te Fiti came through. Te Ka was just a heartless Te Fiti!

The symbolism of this scene is powerful. Te Ka was so violent because Te Fiti lost herself once her heart was literally stolen from her. In real life, things happen that break our hearts or cause us to lose faith in ourselves.

Moana told Te Fiti that she knew who Te Fiti was and she shouldn’t let her broken heart define her any longer. This knowledge caused Te Fiti to break away from a dark existence. This is a deep message I wasn’t expecting to get from a children’s film. Moana’s message to Te Fiti is one we can all use during rough times.