The latest Disney movie, Moana is different from other Disney films in more ways than one.
Aside from it offering a “princess” (Moana is technically not a princess but is the daughter of a chieftain) of Polynesian descent, what’s more exciting about the movie is its stark difference — Moana has no love interest in the movie.
Perhaps, Disney films are truly products of their own time. From Disney’s first princess, “Snow White” — who sang “Someday My Prince Will Come”– to “Tangled” almost eight decades later, all of these films have featured a Prince Charming — from dashing and chivalrous of the yesteryears, to cocky and street-smart such as Flynn Rider and Prince Naveen.
And while Brave’s Merida did end up rejecting all three suitors her parents picked for her, Moana has not even the tiniest hint of a prince.
Janella Salvador sings “How Far I’ll Go” for the Southeast Asian release.
John Musker and Ron Clements, directors of Moana, Moana’s story is about a girl who turns into a hero for her people — and thus, the heroine does not have a love interest because it’s a film about a woman finding herself.
Times are truly changing. Surveys have shown that girls view princesses more as “heroines”, and thus it’s only apt that these characters show heroic traits for themselves such as courage and independence. Moreso, the success of Frozen in 2013 may have changed things. Although Anna was a brave character herself, she often needed saving and was stuck in a love triangle between Kristoff and Prince Hans, while Elsa was cold, independent and powerful, who even proclaimed, “You can’t marry someone you just met”, breaking the trope of some of the most classic Disney storylines — think of Cinderella who married Prince Charming a day after they danced at the ball. Merchandise sales showed that Elsa dolls outsold Anna by far, as for every two Elsas there is one Anna.
Good on Disney to finally show girls that love isn’t always the most important adventure in life.
Thoughts on this? Have you seen Moana? Let us know!
