Do you know who Maui is?
That's the question posed in the first trailer for Disney's upcoming animated film Moana.
The film, slated for New Zealand release on December 26, will introduce Polynesian demi-god Maui (Dwayne Johnson, aka The Rock) and his feisty companion Moana (newcomer Auli-i Cravalho) to the world.
The trailer shows Maui describing himself as "only the greatest demi-god in all the Pacific Islands" and enthusiastically performing a dance which appears similar to a haka.
It is also the first opportunity to hear music from the film, which is being provided by Opetaia Foa'i of New Zealand group Te Vaka, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Mark Mancina.
Moana tells the story of Disney's first Pacific princess who "sails out on a daring mission to prove herself a master wayfinder and fulfil her ancestors' unfinished quest".
She teams up with Maui and the pair traverse the ocean, no doubt encountering many challenges along the way.
The film's Kiwi connections run deeper than just the familiar subject matter. The Disney team visited Rotorua as part of their fact-finding mission throughout the Pacific, and Taika Waititi (Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Boy) was involved in writing the film's script.
Moana is directed by the team behind The Little Mermaid and Aladdin, Ron Clements and John Musker.
Newshub.
