"Moana:" fun facts about the film

Hairy Situation (Maui)

Early versions of demigod Maui had the character sporting a bald head, but Tahitian consultants advised filmmakers that in many of the legends that concern Maui, the being had lots of locks. The final take on Maui--played by the typically head-shaved actor Dwayne Johnson--featured lengthy, flowing hair that streamed past his shoulders.

Hairy Situation (Moana)

Animation technology had to be enhanced to give Moana's curly hair a realistic wet appearance, as she does spend some time submerged. To get the look right, film artists brought in volunteers with similar hairstyles willing to get dunked to assist in the visual upgrade.

Not just a made-up name

Tamatoa the giant crab resides in an undersea land known as Lalotai, the realm of monsters. Its name is derived from Proto-Polynesian words lalo ("below") and tai ("the sea").

Miranda's "How Far I'll Go" was nominated for an Oscar

Miranda wrote the music and lyrics for the "Moana" soundtrack song "How Far I'll Go," and it was nominated for the 2017 Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Less smarts, more funny

The original version of Heihei the rooster had the bird imbued with brains and a feisty attitude, but the filmmakers felt that take wasn't unique enough to keep the character in the film. However, further development of the fowl's personality saw his IQ drop but his laugh value rise, which earned Heihei--voiced by veteran actor Alan Tudyk--a place in the final cut.

Tudyk in triplicate

The aforementioned Alan Tudyk had quite a 2016 under the Disney umbrella, as he not only voiced Heihei in "Moana," but Duke Weaselton in "Zootopia" and K-2SO in "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," all of which are Disney releases.

Let your conscience be your guide

Maui sports several tattoos in the film, including one named "Mini Maui" (pictured)--a two-dimensional character that represents Maui's conscience, and unlike much of the film was animated by way of traditional hand-drawn techniques. If the combination of classic animation methods and a small character providing guidance sounds familiar, that should make sense as Mini Maui is often compared to Jiminy Cricket, the insect that helped guide the star puppet of the 1940 film "Pinocchio."

Getting the skies "hooked-up"

The filmmakers created the movie's starry sky with an eye on authenticity, working with astronomers who offered research that described how the stars would have really aligned over the Pacific islands in "Moana" 2000 years ago.

Maui carries a large hook in the movie, an object inspired by an actual constellation, which is also represented in "Moana."

"Moana" movement

"Moana" filmmakers had invited Polynesian choreographers to demonstrate proper movement, and the animators not only learned how the moves are executed but the meaning of each dance. (Pictured: members of the Te Vaka music group perform on stage at D23 Expo 2015.)

Giving the sea some visual spirit

The ocean in "Moana" is itself a character, and to create both realistic-looking water and the ability to express emotion, the film's rigging team built a rig that allowed for character posing and the animation crew to create a performance--further enhanced by effects like splashes, drips and flowing water.

Clothing with purpose and a nod

Moana wears seven outfits in the movie, but her main look includes a tapa top and pandanus skirt with a shredded pandanus underskirt, a look costume designer Neysa Bové created to allow for adventuring. "The skirt has a slit in front to allow movement--whether she's swimming, running or navigating her canoe," says Bové.

Keeping with the film's adherence to the source material, all the characters in "Moana" wear clothing made solely from materials that were available 2,000 years ago.

The impact of "Aladdin"

Disney's "Aladdin," directed by "Moana" directors John Musker (left) and Ron Clements (right) were responsible for inspiring "Moana" co-head of animation Hyrum Osmond to become an animator, who later ended up working alongside one of "Aladdin" animators Eric Goldberg on "Moana."