OH MY LUXO -​Disney Animation

Walt Disney Animation Studios' Moana, directed by Ron Clements and John Musker (The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, The Princess and the Frog), is pure magic. The film tells the story of born-way finder Moana Waialiki, daughter of Chieftain Tui (Temuera Morrison) and mother Sina (Nicole Scherzinger), who sets out on a mission to save the people of the island of Motonui, Moana's home. Moana, played by 15 year-old newcomer Auli'i Cravahlo, is simply one of the best heroines in Disney's canon. Her fierce tenacity and desire for adventure provide perfect motivation for her journey to save her people. Combining the best in Disney character establishment, storytelling, and world building, the Polynesian-set musical is yet another example of Disney Animation's reestablished reign over competitive sibling studio Pixar for the title of “King of Animation."

Inner Workings, the newest Disney Animation short film to sail alongside Moana in theaters next week on November 23rd, takes audiences inside the human body. While the short takes some of the greatest aspects of both Pixar's Inside Out and Warner Bros' Osmosis Jones, Inner Workings stands apart in it's creative ingenuity and humor. Director Leo Matsuda is a veteran Disney animator, his most recent credits including favorites Wreck-it Ralph and Big Hero 6. Along with a first look at some of the characters via a short clip and new stills, read his full interview with Entertainment Weekly after the break!

After having the incredible opportunity of attending an advanced screening of Disney's Moana last Thursday, the post-screening influx of new film clips as well as the first featurette and new film reviews truly showcases the quality of the production value. Moana is a perfect Polynessian-Disney fest, showcased in today's "The Way To Moana" Featurette which highlights the depth of research and close observation director's Ron Clements and John Musker's team put in to making the film culturally authentic. Similarly, the clips "We Know The Way," "Is There Something You Want To Hear," and "Grand Theft Tamatoa," portray the grand scale, sense of adventure, and character relationships that make the film stand alongside Disney's greatest tales. Check out all of the newest Moana goodies after the break!