"The ocean chose her for a reason."
Director: Thomas Kail
Cast: Catherine Lagaʻaia, Dwayne Johnson, Rena Owen, John Tui, Frankie Adams
Moana — Characters & Cast
Character Analysis
Moana
Catherine Lagaʻaia
Motivation
To save Motunui and discover her place in the world.
Character Arc
Evolves from an obedient island princess into an accomplished navigator who reconciles heritage with leadership.
Maui
Dwayne Johnson
Motivation
Seeking human adoration to compensate for feelings of unworthiness.
Character Arc
Shifts from a vainglorious, validation-obsessed outcast to a genuinely selfless guardian willing to sacrifice for others.
Gramma Tala
Rena Owen
Motivation
Preserving tribal oral history and empowering Moana's journey.
Character Arc
Guides Moana toward her oceanic destiny before transforming into an ancestral spirit that supports Moana at her darkest hour.
Chief Tui
John Tui
Motivation
Protecting his family and village from the dangers beyond the reef.
Character Arc
Confronts his trauma regarding the ocean to finally embrace his daughter's calling and lead his people back to voyaging.
Tamatoa
Jemaine Clement
Motivation
Accumulating shiny, glowing treasures to adorn his shell.
Character Arc
Represents the destructive absurdity of vanity and hoarding, serving as a cautionary foil to Maui's desire for glory.
Cast
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