‘Moana’ Live-Action Remake Adds Catherine Laga’aia in Title Role
The actress joins Dwayne Johnson, who reprises his role as the beloved Maui, in the oceanic adventure heading to theaters July 10, 2026 — production kicks off this Summer.
Tagged With: Moana
Skydance Animation and Don Hall Ink Development Deal
The Academy Award-winning ‘Big Hero 6’ director gets brought on to create, develop, and produce an original animated feature.
Disney Drops ‘Moana 2’ Teaser Trailer
Auli‘i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson return as Moana and demigod Maui in the animated musical sequel to the 2016 Oscar-nominated film; a new voyage with a brand-new crew of unlikely seafarers sails into theaters November 2024.
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Disney Shakes Up Release Slate, Live-Action ‘Moana’ Delayed
The feature adaptation of the original animated feature has moved from June 27, 2025 to July 10, 2026, while the animated ‘Moana 2’ sequel will still premiere November 27, 2024; the anticipated ‘The Mandalorian & Grogu’ has been confirmed for a 2026 release.
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Walt Disney Company Drops ‘Moana 2’ First Look Teaser
CEO Bob Iger announced a November 27, 2024 release date for the upcoming sequel to Disney’s 2016 Oscar-nominated feature; the animated musical promises a new voyage with Moana, Maui, and a brand-new crew of unlikely seafarers.
Neysa Bove Dives Into the Very Fabric of Animation Costume Design
As head of the industry’s first official studio-designated ‘Costume’ department at Skydance Animation, the former Disney visual development artist no longer jumps between outfits one day and props the next, and that welcome change allows her to bring a focused human touch and feel to designs that machines cannot match.
‘Moana’ Producer Osnat Shurer Joins Baobab Studios
The multiple Oscar nominee, named Co-Chief Creative Officer alongside Chief Creative Officer Eric Darnell, will work on the studio’s ‘Momoguro’ franchise that includes games and a series in development, as well as shows in development with Disney+.
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Disney Reshuffles Feature Release Calendar in Anticipation of ‘Star Wars,’ ‘Moana’
Dates for many high-profile projects have been changed, including ‘Deadpool 3’ bumping up by six months, ‘Avatar 3’ delaying a full year, and ‘Avatar 4’ and ‘Avatar 5’ pushing back three years.
Thomas Kail to Direct Live-Action ‘Moana’ Adaptation
The ‘Hamilton’ helmer joins the upcoming remake, starring Dwayne Johnson as the demigod Maui, whom he voiced in the original 3DCG animated film.
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Dwayne Johnson Reveals ‘Moana’ Live-Action Adaptation is in Development
The reimagining of Disney’s hit animated feature joins the company’s lineup of films derived from its animated movie library, including the highly anticipated ‘The Little Mermaid’ opening in theaters next month.
Annapurna Launches Animation Division
Former Disney execs Robert Baird and Andrew Millstein to helm new group following their collaboration with entertainment company on upcoming animated film, ‘Nimona,’ coming to Netflix next year.
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Eric Goldberg and Mark Henn Talk the Magic of Hand-Drawn Animation
The two revered, legendary Disney animators, featured in Disney+’s recent documentary series, ‘Sketchbook,’ discuss at length how 2D is very much alive and well at the studio, and how bringing life and emotion to a character through a series of drawings still excites and inspires them.
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A Conversation with John Musker
The legendary Disney writer and director, who’s currently serving as a Distinguished Artist in Residence at Dodge College of Film and Media Arts at Chapman University, talks about his 40-year career and the future of animation.
VoiceQ 6.0 Package for Dialogue Replacement Now Available
The voice dubbing system’s new enhanced technology adds streaming capabilities, synchronization, and new script formats; added VoiceQ Actor app now available to MacOS users free for one year.
David Derrick Jr. to Direct Disney’s ‘Moana’ Series
Musical being produced for Disney+ is set as the inaugural project at company’s new Vancouver studio opening later this year; Oscar-nominated Osnat Shurer will serve as the show’s producer.
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‘Encanto’ Pushes Animation Boundaries While Celebrating the Fundamentals of Family
Director Byron Howard, director/co-writer Jared Bush, co-director/co-writer Charise Castro Smith, and producers Yvett Merino and Clark Spencer offer their filmmaking insights on Disney’s new computer-animated musical, now in theaters.
How Choreography and Color Helped Shape the Vibrant Characters of ‘Encanto’
For Renato do Anjos, Kira Lehtomaki, and Lorelay Bové, early attention to culturally authentic details in design and movement made for a unique, magically expressive family, and house, in Disney’s enchanting, animated musical, coming to theaters Wednesday, November 24.
Blame Canada... and COVID
Why is Disney opening their new production studio in Vancouver? Look around you.
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Disney Launching New Animation Studio in Vancouver
Set to open next January, facility will focus on long-form shows and projects for Disney+, starting with the ‘Moana’ musical series; Burbank studio plans to increase staff and remain exclusive home of feature film projects and shorter form series such as recently announced ‘Zootopia+.’
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Zach Parrish Talks Disney's ‘Us Again’ Animated Short
For the director of the studio’s vibrant and lively new 7-minute film, now playing theatrically in front of ‘Raya and the Last Dragon,’ yearning for what you had in the past can prevent you from enjoying what you have in the present.
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‘Moana’ Director John Musker Talks Story with the ‘Kapaemahu’ Team
Watch Disney’s legendary Oscar-nominated director as he and the Oscar-shortlisted film’s producers discuss bringing Pacific stories alive through animation.
Noggin’s ‘Rhymes Through Times’ Musical Series Celebrates the Black Experience
Using popular Nickelodeon characters, the newly launched animated show teaches kids about the contributions of Black people to American culture and features iconic figures such as Ruby Bridges, Thurgood Marshall, Katherine Johnson, and Guion Steward Bluford Jr.
Disney Announces ‘Us Again’ Animated Short
Studio’s first new theatrical short in five years will front upcoming ‘Raya and the Last Dragon,’ which debuts worldwide March 5, before hitting Disney+ in June.
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Frank Abney III’s ‘Canvas’ Paints a Story of Grief and Healing
Premiering tomorrow on Netflix, the poignant and moving animated short draws directly from the director’s childhood loss; he hopes his film encourages storytellers in the Black community to get their voices heard.
Cinesite Adds Hank Driskill, Promotes 3 Others to Senior Production Roles
Former Blue Sky and Disney veteran named Group Head of CG for Feature Animation; Holger Voss upped to Group Head of CG for Visual Effects, Alexander Savenko to Group Head of Production Technology, and Danny Smith to Group Head of Infrastructure Technology.
