A young female-empowering, animated blockbuster from late last year debuts on high-definition to visually and musically entrance home theater-loving families in Moana (Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, Rated PG, 107 minutes, 2.39:1 aspect ratio, $27.99).
The story celebrating tradition, family and perseverance stars Moana (Auli’i Cravalho), a village chief’s 16-year-old daughter who is on a quest to save her dying Polynesian island of Motunui, which is quickly becoming devoid of vegetation and food.
She requires help from a shape-shifting, magical hook-wielding demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) to ultimately confront the lava demon Te Ka and return a glowing heart to the island goddess Te Fiti and bring her island back to life.
The impeccably designed and voice acted movie celebrates the Pacific culture and its mythologies while delivering not only joyful performances and song from Miss Cravalho, Mr. Johnson and the talented cast but stunning animation throughout.
The digital transfer — much like all of Disney’s feature-length, computer-animated efforts — is three-dimensional, eye-popping great and requires multiple viewings to fully appreciate the fantastic effort that animators put into the project.
Just a few incredible examples include mixing hand-drawn, two-dimensional animation with three-dimensional animation to highlight one of Maui’s living tattoos or having characters interacting with paper cutouts during a musical number.
Or, a complex battle where Moana and Maui fight coconut-encased tribesmen, reminiscent of a “Mad Max” chase; and the bioluminescent hues bursting forth from creatures in the Realm of Monsters.
Furthermore, the digitally animated human-character models look like three-dimensional plastic dolls complete with life-like flowing hair that looks real enough to touch.
The 1080p high-definition also displays the prettiest water I have ever seen in an animated movie. It’s easily a support character, and artisans bring it to life often interacting with Moana while surrounding beautiful, color-saturated tropical islands.
Be the water responding in waves, waterfalls, surf, ocean wash, spouts, flumes, drops and drips glistening on rocks, bubbles, froth, steam or foam, or drenching beachheads and Moana, viewers will be mesmerized by its realism.
I am disappointed that the movie was not offered in a full-screen presentation for home theater owners and nearly distraught that Disney is yet to dive into the ultra high-definition realm.
I just know that “Moana” and its visual wonderland would have been a showcase for the latest technology.
Best extras: A most welcomed optional commentary track with co-directors John Musker and Ron Clements leads the way. The track does not disappoint, as it’s rich with details that touch on the film’s origins, visual styles, music, making the ocean a character, research on the Pacific culture and even the best way to animate toddlers (draw them acting drunk).
Next, the directors lead a 31-minute educational documentary loaded with background on the people, history and culture of the real Pacific Islands.
Under featurettes, those looking to learn about the complexities of designing an animated film will find about 20 minutes of too-short, but fact-filled, segments explaining the use of two-dimensional and three-dimensional styles in creating lava, hair and water; and 25 minutes of deleted scenes (with optional director commentary).
And, as tradition with Disney releases, the extras also include a theatrical short showcasing some of the company’s talented creators.
In this case, we get director Leo Matsuda’s “Inner Workings” starring the computer-animated innards of a bored man living in a 1980s California and his quest to enjoy life.
Additionally, youngsters can enjoy a mini-movie called “Gone Fishing” that explores the difficulty in feeding the demigod Maui.
• Joseph Szadkowski can be reached at jszadkowski@washingtontimes.com.
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