Discloure – I was invited to the #BeOurGuest press event from Disney. Expenses for trip were paid by Disney but thoughts and opinions are my own.
For those of you that have watched Moana and loved it, there is so much more to see! During my trip to Los Angeles this week I had the opportunity to attend a special Moana Polynesian themed presentation for the Moana Blu-ray release that included some Polynesian dancing, food, behind the scenes info and the chance to meet the producer, directors and the costume designer of Moana!
When we entered the theater at Walt Disney Animation Studios on Monday we were in for a surprise. Our presentation started with two Polynesian dancers performing some of the moves that you will see in the film. The music and dancing was a definitely the perfect way to start the presentation because I think it had most of us wanting to stand up and start dancing. I know I did!
Take a peek at the Moana Polynesian dancers performing for the event below:
Once the music ended we had the opportunity to go behind the scenes of this incredible Disney film with Producer Osnat Shurer, Directors Ron Clements & John Musker, Animation Supervisor Eric Goldber and Costume Designer Neysa Bove. This amazing Moana team showed us just some of the bonuses that you will find on the Moana Blu-ray which are really interesting and has me wanting to watch the movie again now that I am home so I can see some of the things I didn’t notice the first time watching it. Moana is going to be the movie for our next family movie night!
Me with Ron Clements & John Musker
When you watch an animated film with your children you often don’t think about how much is actually involved in creating these box office hits. We learned that there were years of research that was involved in making Moana which included spending actual time on the islands with the families and the land to learn everything they could about the Polynesian culture. There are some really great bonus features that will show you some behind the scenes footage that makes the movie even more special. I LOVE that the Moana production team went above and beyond to capture the true Polynesian culture to create a film that generations can learn from. This is a movie that my kids enjoyed watching that will probably be passed down to their children. The characters, the music and the messages are something I wish I seen in more films for our kids.
After the Moana presentation, the team let us ask them questions about Moana. Watch the Moana Interview With Osnat Shurer, Ron Clements, John Musker, Eric Golber and Neysa Bove below:
After the interview we had the opportunity to spend some time with Moana Curator/Choreographer Tiana Lifau who told us a little about her background and also explained what the movements that you see the dancers doing with their hands and their feet when they are dancing.
Learn more about Tiana Liufau and what those hand and feet movement means in my video I able to capture at the event below:
This special Moana themed event also included a variety of food that included assorted vietnamese spring rolls, bacon wrapped dates, mixed green salad, chicken panko, thai noodle salad, grilled vegetables and more.
What made my dinner even more special was the opportunity to have dinner with Producer Osnat Shurer. This is something I will remember for a lifetime. At dinner we discussed not only the movie, but her how she used to work at Pixar, the one place that I would LOVE for my kids to work at.
Getting to meet Neysa Bove in person is something I can now say that I have done which I couldn’t wait to tell my 12 year old daughter. Neysa is the the person who is designed those cute costumes that you see Moana wear.
Me and Moana Costume Designer Neysa Bove
When we left our group received a bag that had a couple fun Moana toys that your kids are going to LOVE!
Moana’s Magical Seashell NecklaceDisney’s Moana Maui’s Magical Fish Hook
I have a copy of the Moana Blu-ray and know I will be watching it SEVERAL times this year. I love the characters but I also love the music! I can’t wait to show my kids the bonus clips and features before we watch the movie again. I want them to see just how much effort is put into their FAVORITE Disney movies!
MOANA is available now on Blu-ray, DVD + Digital HD
Watch the Official Moana trailer below:
More about the MOANA Blu-ray
Continuing the fun-filled adventure, families can continue their journey filled with hours of extensive and entertaining bonus offerings including: a new, hilarious mini-movie featuring Moana and Maui; an in-depth look at how the people, cultures and heritage of the Pacific Islands shaped the story of “Moana;” revealing Q&A with co-stars Auli‘i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson, and famed animation directors Ron Clements and John Musker; insider access to Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mark Mancina and Opetaia Foa?i, the trio behind the film’s moving music; four mini-documentaries highlighting the movie’s groundbreaking effects; deleted scenes; a deleted song; hidden Easter Eggs; music video; “Inner Workings,” the theatrical short film directed by Leo Matsuda that spotlights the internal struggle between a man’s Brain and Heart; and much, much more.
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