Moana, released Nov. 23, 2016, follows the titular Moana (Auli’i Cravalho), daughter of the Chieftain of her tribe, as she sets out to find the demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) to help her remove a curse placed on her home islands.

Moana is an excellent addition to the ongoing Disney legacy. As usual, the animation presented is top notch. The ocean’s marine life and the bioluminescent lair of the evil coconut crab Tamatoa (Jemaine Clement) are notable examples of the quality of animation and the brilliant color design this film offers. Every voice actor who was brought on to this project gives it their all, and it pays off. Not only do they bring a stunning life to their characters, but they perform the film’s songs perfectly. The songs, done by Opetaia Foa’i and Lin-Manuel Miranda, are impressive in both lyrical depth and melodious quality. The movie’s plot is thoroughly entertaining and takes the time to flesh out its major characters, resulting in a more powerful narrative. Authentic Polynesian culture has been all but left out in Hollywood productions, and it is great that this movie has brought it into the limelight.

There are only a few tiny flaws with Moana. Some of the songs in the movie do not flow well with the scene they are in. They fit the atmosphere of their scenes and enhance them once they have started, but their starts are sometimes sudden. The audience does not get to see much of the development of Moana and Maui’s friendship. While their friendship is believable and often-times humorous, it would have been better if viewers got to see a bit more of how they got there.

Moana is the best animated film of the year. While there are a few miniscule problems, the combination of fantastic animation, voice acting, and storytelling make Moana a spectacular family adventure.

VERDICT: 9/10