Post #749242 by Greg_D_R on Sat, Aug 15, 2015 12:19 PM

IGN has a pretty good update: http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/08/15/d23-2015-dwayne-johnson-is-the-superhero-of-the-south-pacific-in-moana

Johnson voices (Maui), who we saw in a funny clip attempting to impress Moana with stories of how he's “only the greatest demigod in all of the South Pacific" and “pulled islands out of the sea and battled monsters.” We begin to hear a drumbeat rise, only to see it is one of his tattoos on his chest making a drumming motion. Maui begins to spin his giant fishhook hover his head, as we see a decidedly unimpressed Moana and her pet pig, Pua, watching with bored looks on their faces.

Johnson noted his own half-black/half-Samoan heritage, saying "To tell a story inspired by the South Pacific is a great honor." The filmmakers noted that “Moana might just be the person to help Maui help him find his true self."

In the film, Moana sets out on her own to become a navigator, or Wayfinder, after her grandmother dies (“It is a Disney film!” joked one of the directors). At one point, she encounters a “vengeful land spirit” in the guise of a living island and we were shown both production art and test footage that looked very impressive and evocative of a dark rock island with a female face upon it and flowing, scary looking lava for hair - plus dark hands, with claw-like fingers, holding Moana.