Did We Need a Live-Action Moana?

Disney continues its streak of revisiting animated classics with Moana, the studio’s latest live-action remake. While the film recreates many of the original’s iconic moments, it also raises a familiar question: did this story really need to be retold? As Disney continues leaning on live-action adaptations of classic animated films, it’s becoming harder to ignore the lack of original ideas. Rather than taking creative risks, the studio seems focused on recreating stories audiences already know by heart.

The original Moana (2016) remains one of Disney’s strongest modern animated films, celebrated for its visuals, memorable soundtrack, and coming-of-age story. Less than a decade later, the live-action version arrives without offering a fresh perspective, expanded themes, or meaningful reinterpretation. Instead, it follows the animated film so closely that it often feels like a scene-for-scene recreation.

One of the film’s greatest strengths is its casting; Catherine Laga’aia plays Moana, and Dwayne Johnson returns as Maui. While his performance doesn’t differ much from the animated version, it’s clear he still enjoys playing the character. The film also deserves praise for its commitment to authentic representation. Nearly the entire cast is of Polynesian descent, allowing the culture of Moana to feel genuine and respectfully portrayed. Whether through singing or dancing, the film celebrates Polynesian traditions in a way that feels sincere rather than performative.

Story-wise, the film remains almost identical to its animated predecessor. The playful banter between Moana and Maui is still entertaining, and many of the songs land just as well as they did before, such as the iconic track, “You’re Welcome.” However, some of the emotional weight that made the original so impactful didn’t translate fully into live action. Animation has allowed for expression and emotion that are hard to recreate, and some live-action scenes lose that magic, such as Moana’s emotional walk toward Te Fiti while singing “Know Who You Are.” It underperformed and lacked that sense of awe.

The visual effects are another area where the film struggles. Ironically, despite advances in CGI over the past decade, several sequences feel less convincing than their animated counterparts. The ocean, creatures, and fantastical environments occasionally look overly artificial and dull-colored, pulling viewers out of the story instead of immersing them in it.

Perhaps the biggest issue isn’t that Moana is a bad film. It’s that it rarely gives audiences a reason to choose it over the original. It succeeds thanks to a talented cast, respectful cultural representation, and the strength of the original story, but it never quite captures the same wonder, emotion, or visual magic that made the animated film so memorable. For viewers who have never experienced Moana, this version offers an enjoyable introduction. For everyone else, it serves as a reminder that sometimes the original is still the best.