‘Moana 2’ Creatives on How Pacific Islander Nuances Helped Tell an Authentic AAPI Story

variety.com:

Jazz Tangcay Artisans Editor Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANPHI) audiences are finding much to rejoice about in Disney’s latest animated feature “Moana 2.” Little details such as Moana’s conch shell, the pottery ceramics she finds, the tattoos and even the wayfarer’s canoe are touchpoints that the creatives went to great lengths to include.

But it took a village of artisans to make that happen. Directors Jason Hand and David Derrick Jr. lead the way and were joined by screenwriter and director Dana Ledoux Miller, who is currently working on the live-action version of “Moana.” In addition to the above-the-line talent, behind-the-scenes, there were experts in language, navigation, dance and even botany, as well as story artists and the Oceanic Cultural Trust, which also worked on the first film to ensure the rich heritage of Polynesian wayfinding could be honored.

Derrick says when he made the first film, he was the only person with a direct connection to the Pacific Islands. This time around, Miller, who is of Samoan descent, brought not just her heritage, but everything that made her who she is.

She says, “It’s inspiring that they’re coming in because they’re not telling us, ‘Here’s the art, do this.’ They’re sharing generational knowledge and wisdom.” That wisdom helped inspire many story points in Moana’s latest outing.