The stakes keep rising for the heroines in Disney’s recent animated musicals. Rapunzel escaped her tower in “Tangled” so she could see a lantern festival; Anna tried to prevent her sister from icing their kingdom in “Frozen”; and now the title character in “Moana” has to save her people and her island from death and destruction. Luckily, Moana has songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the Broadway star of the moment, to accompany her along the way.
When Moana learns that the island is in danger, she disobeys the chief and goes on a dangerous quest to save her people. She tracks down the demigod Maui ( voiced by Dwayne Johnson) , who has been living in exile for a thousand years. He reluctantly agrees to help the girl, swayed by the possibility of being a hero once more.
Directors Ron Clements and John Musker use the island setting to create an authentic, vibrant world. They also make earnest efforts to be culturally sensitive to Pacific Islanders’ heritage, incorporating Maui’s storytelling tattoos and his wayfaring skills. But while Moana’s story is rooted in the past, she’s a modern heroine, a smart, resourceful leader who learns to find her own way.