Finding the Island

Big news! Walt Disney Animation Studios news to be specific!

Concept art and plot details for Ron Clements and John Musker's next film, Moana, have been found!

Animation Heroine obtained a lovely piece of concept artwork!

The top piece has a charming simplicity to it, and a great sense of atmosphere. I also love the use of color in it. If the finished film indeed uses technology that seamlessly combines hand-drawn and computer animation, then I think we'll be in for one of the best-looking Disney animated films to date, a visual marvel.

Brendon Connelly of Bleeding Cool, as expected, got the plot details...

"[Moana's] an epic, or even mythic, adventure set around 2,000 years ago and across a series of islands in the South Pacific.

The lead character, Moana Waialiki is the only daughter of a Chief in a long line of navigators. She’s really a bit of nerd, but a nerd about sea voyaging, and when her family needs her help, she sets off on an epic journey. Some of the other characters are demi-gods and spirits drawn from real mythology."

Connelly mentioned that the artists are working with technology that's very similar to Meander, which was used for Paperman. It's been rumored for a while that Ron and John's film would essentially be Paperman: The Movie in terms of the visuals, and it seems like it'll be true. However, Connelly says that the tech will be similar to Paperman's tech, but is notably different... So if it's like Paperman but different, then color me intrigued.

The plot sounds great, and it seems like the story will go all out with exploring the folklore and mythology of the setting. (Something Pocahontas should've done, something Brother Bear did - except  poor writing hurt that film.) Also, it seems like it'll be nothing like the last couple of Walt Disney Animation Studios films and nothing like Frozen, Big Hero 6, Zootopia and Giants. I like that Disney is trying not to repeat themselves, and Moana looks to be something different, fresh and unique.

My excitement for the project has skyrocketed...