Meet Disney’s newest young star, Auli’i Cravalho. At 14 years old, she has the honor of working with Dwayne, The Rock, Johnson in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ upcoming feature about the Hawaiian Islands, Moana. The Ron Clements and John Musker directed film is about one young girl’s decision to break the rules and explore the world.
The discovery of Auli’i could be a Disney fantasy feature itself. A native Hawaiian, she was part of an a cappella ensemble that submitted a tape for a charity project and hadn’t even considered auditioning for Moana. Thousands of girls across the Pacific did try out, but somehow Auli’i stood out in that obscure tape that found its way to the Hawai’i casting director. After a formal audition in Burbank, she’s now set to be a bit of a legend, as she’ll be working with a Hollywood demi-god! They’ve already started recording.
I love stories like this, where a local kid does something incredible. And she did it simply by being herself. That’s probably the best advice you can give any actor, make sure a piece of yourself is in every character. With The Rock playing the legendary Maui, I look forward to seeing this one!
ABOUT THE MOVIE
Three thousand years ago, the greatest sailors in the world voyaged across the vast South Pacific, discovering the many islands of Oceania. But then, for a millennium, their voyages stopped – and no one today knows why. From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes “Moana,” a sweeping, CG-animated adventure about a spirited teenager who sails out on a daring mission to prove herself a master wayfinder and fulfill her ancestors’ unfinished quest. During her journey, Moana (voice of Auli’i Cravalho) meets the once-mighty demi-god Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson), and together, they traverse the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous fiery creatures and impossible odds. Directed by the renowned filmmaking team of Ron Clements and John Musker (“The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,” “The Princess & the Frog”), and produced by Osnat Shurer (“Lifted,” “One Man Band”), “Moana” sails into U.S. theaters on Nov. 23, 2016.
