#tamatoa inspired

[kalinop]

<Intro>

Sup, my name's Kalino Pāpa'i. I made this account because I saw my bestie Nephrite posting here, and I wanted to do the same.

I enjoy skating, painting, and collecting new gold accessories to wear. I used to live in the water (im part crab) near Nephrite and their siblings, but now i just chill on land.

I'll sometimes post some artworks on here, maybe respond to an account or two.

Feel free to ask anything, I'm up to questions.

(ooc ↓)

Heyo!! I made this account to shed some possible light on my twst oc, who was twisted from Tamatoa.

He comes from Hawaiian heritage and doesn't go to either schools. (cough cough, dropout).

And yes before you ask, his name does mean stuff in Hawaiian.

Kalino, from my research, is supposed to mean "the smart/intelligent one".

Pāpa'i, from my research, is supposed to mean "crab".

So if you put the two together, in relation, should mean "the smart/intelligent crab".

Kalino is mute, and uses sign language (ASL) whenever speaking. His favorite signs to use are "die", "octopus", and "beautiful".

:DISCLAIMER:

Kalino Pāpa'i', of course, isn't accurate to Hawaiian culture and will never be compared to or seen on the same level as it.

This character is simply for me to expand my character creations so that all of my characters aren't white Caucasians.

[shazos]

spidersona time (cuz i couldn't resist lol)

her name is spidercrab! 🦀

[ruebedo-iosis]

Twst oc based on Tamatoa.

I can see him Being a diva who only works at the lounge by lending his talents for live show nights. Totes into jazz and swing but also has a surprising knack for Rap and hip-hop. Stingy af. You think Azul tends to offer cut-throat deals, this guy will haggle or take every last penny by force. Pure greedy. His nicer quality is finding beauty in even the most unconventional things just because it caught his eye.

-R.e.i.13

[acis-arts]

God of Gold

One of my Old God Designs

This is an idea I had back when I was new to the fandom. I recently remembered and found my old drawings, so I made this redraw.

I listened to Jonathan Youngs Villain covers a lot during that time, so while I was listening to his cover of "Shiny" from Moana, I got the idea for this God.

(Edit: I forgot I can add songs on a post, so I added it this time)

The Gods of Gold already exist in the game and we can interact with them in Midas cave, but we never see them. I wanted to make them resemble Midas, being a starfish wearing a fancier Jeweled Crown.

To get an eldritch look, I choose black brittle starfish as a reference and added a bunch of eyes, to get a similar vibe as Narinders eldritch form.

As of right now, I don't have a specific name for this God of Gold, but for their personality you can imagine them similarly to Tamatoa, since his villain song was a big inspiration for this character.

Another Old God idea I had was the God of Life, being a reversed color version of Narinder (white and blue instead of black and red), but I won't be drawing that because we have Goats God now

[sunthyme]

Happy Black History Month!! It's time. For probably my favourite set of designs! However, please please please read about Hestia in specific, I want to make sure I handled her correctly and if not, please let me know and I'll remove her! Tyty so much for liking these, I'm so happy to continue.

Now for...

🪼Octavinelle🪼

First up is

💰Azul Ashengrotto💰

(he/him) Transmasc - Gay Asexual

I really love how he came out omg.

- Firstly, he's Hispanic. Duh. His name is literally Azul, I don't make the rules. I'm thinking Hondurian or Guatemalan and I'd love to hear what you think too.

- Made him plus-sized because GOD we need more body diversity and I think that he would have eventually come to terms that weight is simply a number and that number alone doesn't mean you're healthy or unhealthy, y'know? He exercises and whatnot and is very good at taking care of his body.

- Autistic, his special interest is THE GRIND(tm). His capitalistic ass could rant about business building forever.

- I gave him fins as ears cause I gave all the mer fins for funsies. More for aesthetic than anything else and I figure it's a general trait of most mer (I'll talk about the exceptions later lol)

- I loved how pretty his eyelashes were so I added some teardrops to the ends for some flavour. He still wears glasses, again too lazy lol.

Onto the twins!

🍄Jade Leech🍄

(he/him) - Bi-curious Asexual

- I brought back the og concept earrings and piercings cause I thought they looked neat. I also gave them both earrings for simplicity's sake and because I headcanon that Azul gave them each a pair for their birthday.

- Longer hair because Imma be so fr, if the twins share similar expressions, I can't tell them apart lmaooo 😭😭😭. Also, felt it suited his personality more.

- Had a punk phase and while he outgrew it, he kept the piercings anyways.

- He and Floyd have matching tattoos on their biceps, Floyd's being a shrimp with sunglasses and Jade's being his favourite type of mushroom (hen/chicken of the woods).

- Also, autistic. Who's surprised at this point? Not me. This little guy and his mushrooms. 'Little guy' being like 6'5' lol.

🐋Floyd Leech🐋

(he/she/it) Unlabelled Gender - Pansexual

- He's not actually a fan of piercings but got them because Jade wanted to match.

- She has larger teeth that actually interfere with its speech and got bullied for that when he was younger, meaning all three of the Octotrio were friends kinda by default as the 'weird' kids.

- I think he has bipolar disorder and is ADHD, both are rather obvious from his character in-game.

Onto my ocs,

🎲Hestia Benoit🎲

Third Year - (she/her) Transfem - Sapphic

Okay, first is the topic of the og character. So she draws reference to the Boogeyman from Nightmare Before Christmas which was a very controversial character because Tim Burton sucks. Hate him. I wanted to hopefully reclaim the character, though it isn't necessarily my place and if anyone has a problem with that, absolutely let me know and I will remove her. The original character took heavy inspiration from black culture, specifically New Orleans and I wanted to properly represent that with Hestia. I hope I did her justice and please please please let me know if she is offence in any way. 🩷🩷🩷

- She's the older sister of the triplets and a really good one, caring a ton about them. Her favourite thing to do is spoil her younger siblings.

- She also has crazy good luck and wins any bets she makes. If you play any game of luck with her, she'll win. She's a part of the Boardgame Club and infuriates Azul whenever they play something luck-based.

💍Konane Alohi💍

(they/he/she) Genderfluid - Panromantic Demisexual

- Konane is twisted from Tamatoa from Moana! They're indigenous Hawaiian and I will be researching more into the culture as I render them out more fully.

- I gave them the bioluminiscens that Tamatoa has though I think it would only be visible in low lighting, such as in the Octavinelle dorm.

- LOVES shiny thing, obvi. Vil keeps trying to convince her to join Pomefiore but he's like, "I get paid here and can afford more stuff so pass."

- Gets along great with Cater, they constantly do collabs on their social media.

Onto...

⚓️Josephina Killian⚓️

First Year - (she/they) Demi-girl - Bi-asexual

- Twisted from, you guessed it, Captain Hook!

- I kept as much as I could from the og design and that includes the eyebags, this girlie doesn't sleep. She's only conscious from the 30mg of caffeine she drinks in the morning.

- She and Samantha met at orientation and have been inseparable since, with Sammy always following her around.

And speaking of Samantha,

🦭Samantha Chief🦭

First Year - (she/her) Transfem - Pan-asexual

- Twisted from Smee! I gave her albinism so her hair is also white naturally.

- Because of her albinism, she avoids outdoor activities for the most part. She is part of the Swimming Club (which idk if that even exists but it does now lmao).

- SHE'S A SELKIE OMG. Sorry, same up with that on the spot lol but now she is. Very shy around people because it's her first time on land so the other mer of the dorm kinda look out for her.

That's all for now, I hope you enjoyed and I'll see y'all in part four!! 🩷🩷🩷

[freakattack]

I found this video essay about Wario and I want to know what you think of it. youtu(.)be/jSzc28SIvKQ

First of all, i am obsessed with how this ask is formatted like a phishing scam directly tailored to me. This is not a dig at you at all, but this message did make me realize that if someone actually sent me a malware link with the word "wario" on it, i would fall for it without question. Much to think about. Anyways

I did see this video in my recommended for a while but i never clicked on it because i was afraid i would get mad at it. Something about me that may surprise you is that i get really mad about stupid shit. I have to know my limits. But after doing some breathing exercises and drinking some water, i steeled my nerves enough to watch this video, just for you. And it's pretty good! It's by the tamatoa guy, and I don't remember any of the tamatoa guy's other videos but at least one must have left a positive enough impression on me that I trust the tamatoa guy to talk about wario at me. He didn't even fall into the trap of "wario land wario is completely separate from warioware wario", which would have made me eat my leg probably! But I appreciate that he thoroughly researched for this video despite having stumbled into the World Of Wario by pure chance; he even got sound bomber in there. He leaves the question of wario's relationship with waluigi open, which I can only assume is because he's hinting at a future waluigi video because there's no way he didn't figure it out after all that sleuthing. He did introduce to me a disquieting question that I had not stopped to consider until he said it out loud: What would I do if a stranger stopped me on the street to ask me "Who is Wario"? Would I give them a clinical rundown of his wikipedia article? Would I wax poetic about how he has inspired me to become a better person? Would I die? Hard to say. It makes me sad that 9 out of 10 people on the street presumably do not know him like we do, but I realize now that that is why this video is so important. This is a public wario announcement. But to address the central thesis of the video: yeah. I disagree with the idea that mario kart wario is particularly lacking in characterization compared to other incarnations - I play as him specifically to hear his Warioisms when I lose - but I agree with the general sentiment being presented here, which is that WarioWare the company is what allowed wario to finally shed the rivalry that was holding him back prior to his foray into game design. Don't get me wrong, wario will never fully be okay with mario, but now it's moreso a simple desire to dunk on him than festering hatred and envy. Wario used to be "the evil mario", but nowadays mario isn't even in his top 3 rivals. (The top 3, if you're wondering, are syrup, pyoro, and - at number one - toad. Can't say I blame him.) The fact that this microgame exists at all is a testament to how far he's come:

It's funny too, because I was just thinking the other day about how wario's friends basically domesticated the guy. A couple decades ago he spent his days terrorizing woodland creatures and putting curses on forests, and now all he does in the woods is hang out and grill hotdogs for a flock of animals and children. Finally, a wario for the whole family!

Other thoughts i had:

-Appreciate the wario world acknowledgement. In my heart of hearts i want to believe that there is a wario-esque doppelganger of my own out there that is just as passionate about Wario World as i am about warioware. Where are the dinomighty comics? I know they're out there

-I did actually get mad exactly once during the video, and it was at the very very end when he used the "what if wario had a website" question just to plug squarespace because wario's websites are some of my favorite websites on this god damn planet. I don't hold this against him because it's not his fault but it kind of felt like he kicked my dog. But that's the only time! I still deserve a sticker for that.

-On a meta level, I think wario's character development is a beautiful testament to how the cartoon characters that we shape with our hearts and minds can become so real that they begin to shape themselves. I know i'm the wario guy but believe it or not i have made my own flock of cartoon characters, and it is a beautiful feeling when they start naturally coming into their own like that. I always took this quote at face value but the interview where they say that "wario is really stupid and is always doing idiotic things" totally represents that turning point moment for him. Not that his character fits the role, or that it would be funny to have him do stupid things, but that he's already doing them! In real life! You hear that, Wario? You're a real boy!

[dani-luminae]

Details found around the new Journey of Water, inspired by Moana, in EPCOT World Nature.

Characters such as Moana (both toddler and teenager), Tamatoa, the Kakamora, and Te Fiti (not the same pictured here) are hidden in the rockwork all over the experience.

EPCOT definitely needs another interactive water feature, though I hope it will be better taken care of than some of the old waterworks around the Imagination pavilion.

[synergysilhouette]

5 Disney songs I didn't like from soundtracks I otherwise loved

Pretty simple list. I thought of making it when I realized that there were very few Disney movies with soundtracks that I absolutely loved all the way through, and sometimes it was just because of one song.

Lost in the Woods--While I'm not averse to more radio-friendly inspiration, an 80's rock song in a film that's soundtrack is influenced predominantly by musical theatre felt super off to me. I'll give it points for giving Kristoff an actual song, but I gotta deduct more points due to it being about his feelings for Anna and proposing to her, when in this movie, it came off as VERY one-sided despite her accepting. His song better be a duet (because at this point, I've kinda made peace with Kristoff's biggest story arc being that he's Anna's love interest with a nice personality).

2. All of You--We could've just stopped at "Dos Orguitas" or had a reprise of "Waiting on a Miracle"/"The Family Madrigal" and I would've been satisfied. AoY was cute, but it didn't feel memorable to me amidst all the other amazing songs in the film, and I think the emphasis on uniting the family only further shows how underused a lot of them were.

3. Les Poissons--I know it probably wasn't really written to be anything aside from a cute number, but I find it altogether unnecessary, especially since Sebastian's rivalry with Louis is in the background and short-lived.

4. Shiny--NGL, I only listen to this song when I watch the movie. While I think it's catchy at times, it's not something I altogether enjoy, and I think it's simply because of the fact that Tamatoa is an obstacle rather than the film's antagonist, and his lyrics detailing Maui's desire to please mortals should've been something that came from Maui himself (maybe a "You're Welcome" reprise?)

5. A Guy Like You--No.

[harpagornis]

Moana 2 review

Moana ends seemingly with Moana's tribe leaving Motunui. This seems to have been retconned to just Moana going on adventures. And that's the beginning of the problems.

To find a lost island (likely inspired by Polynesian home island myths like Hawaiki) she receruits a crew of frankly useless characters that do little to contribute in the story; one is even there against his ill, and is seriously the most useless one of the bunch. Moana still retains a bromance chemistry with Maui and has now an adorable little sister, so some relationships are still organic.

The villain is less sympathetic than the original movie's, though there's a minor villain with a sympathetic goal, perhaps to make up for that. Tamatoa is nowhere to be seen until the end credits, for a brief gag. Poor guy, never having his chance to shine as a villain.

A lukewarm recomendation.

[disneyvillainvie]

welcome one and all to tumblr 2023’s

Disney Villain Vie!

this is the first of hopefully many! This is a competition of some of the most beloved Disney Villains from the 1900’s to this year!

Polls are one v one (I lied lol), with 6 rounds. Credit to @nonbiney-swag-competition for giving me the inspiration for all of this! Other polls that inspired me can be found via @competition-list!

CONGRATS TO OUR FINALE COMPETITORS!

(Click for better quality)

CONGRATULATIONS TO YZMA FROM THE EMPEROR’S NEW GROOVE!

Congrats to Bill, Cruella, Maleficent, and Hades for making it to the Quarter Finals!

Matchups were decided with help of a number generator and by me. Schedule can be found here

Remember to Reblog! It helps other people find this blog :)

Pre-Competition Polls! Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4

Disney Villain Vie Round 1-First Half:

Evil Queen vs Queen of Hearts: Evil Queen

Yzma vs Rasputin: Yzma

Ursula vs Uma: Ursula

Professor Ratigan vs Governor Ratcliffe: Professor Ratigan

Scar vs Zira: Scar

Gaston vs Clayton: Gaston

Hans vs Tamatoa: Tamatoa

Cruella 101 vs Cruella: Cruella 101

Disney Villain Vie Round 1-Second Half:

Maleficent vs Shego: Shego

Lady Tremaine 1950 vs Lady Tremaine 2015: Lady Tremaine 1950

King Candy vs Emperor Belos: Emperor Belos

Bill Cipher vs Darcy: Bill Cipher

Dr Facilier vs Shan Yu: Dr Facilier

Hades vs Shere Khan: Hades

Claude Frollo vs Madame Medusa: Claude Frollo

Oogie Boogie vs Bowler Hat Guy & Doris: Oogie Boogie

Disney Villain Vie Round 2:

Evil Queen vs Yzma: Yzma

Ursula vs Scar: Ursula

Professor Ratigan vs Gaston: Professor Ratigan

Tamatoa vs Cruella de Vil: Cruella de Vil

Shego vs Lady Tremaine: Shego

Emperor Belos vs Bill Cipher: Bill Cipher

Dr Facilier vs Hades: Hades

Claude Frollo vs Oogie Boogie: Claude Frollo

Disney Villain Surprise Redemption Round

Disney Villain Vie Round 3:

Yzma vs Ursula: Yzma

Cruella de Vil vs Professor Ratigan: Cruella de Vil

Bill Cipher vs Shego: Bill Cipher

Hades vs Claude Frollo: Hades

Disney Villain Vie Round 4: QUATER FINALS!

Yzma vs Cruella de Vil: Yzma

Bill Cipher vs Hades vs Maleficent: Maleficent

DISNEY VILLAIN VIE FINALE!

Yzma vs Maleficent

WINNER: YZMA 🥇💜🎉🥂🍾🎊🥳

[katiechristiansen7916]

All the hidden characters and objects I saw during my recent trip through Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana at EPCOT. From top: Moana, her shell and baby Moana; Tamatoa; Heihei and Pua; Maui’s hook, Tefiti and Heart of Tefiti; and Kakamora.

[msweebyness]

Weeby & Sparky’s Song Ratings!!!

Hey, y’all! This was something me and Sparky did, where we rated the hero/villain songs of the characters we used for MirrorVerse! @imsparky2002 @artzychic27

Villain:

Weeby:

1. Be Prepared- God Tier. Everything about this song is amazing. It’s memorable and has a great sound. Just the most epic villain song, and Jeremy Irons absolutely kills it.

2. Oogie Boogie’s Song- Loved this song since I was a kid and that’s not changing. Catchy as all hell, and so creepily entertaining. Also, Ken Page can SING!

3. Friends on the Other Side- Fun, jazzy and that ending hits SO hard. Gotta love Keith David.

4. Poor Unfortunate Souls- Just so much fun to listen to and sing along as dramatically as possible. The perfect song to introduce us to Ursula.

5. Shiny- Tamatoa is just such a fun villain and this song always makes me get up and dance. SHINY~!

6. Gaston- Never fails to make me laugh and just an all around fun tune. So overblown and conceited, it’s Gaston as a song! Also the meme parodies are fun.

7. Hellfire- An epic and dark tune, love the choir backing and chants. Not one of my top, but still awesome.

8. Mother Knows Best- Disney managed to take gaslighting and make it into a catchy tune. Props for that.

9. Cruella De Vil- A classic that you can’t help but hum every once in a while, but not one of my top.

10. Snuff Out the Light- It’s an okay song, I just don’t see Yzma as a villain to sing, I guess.

11. You’re Only Second Rate- So-so. It’s catchy enough, but the lyrics feel a bit too…silly for Jafar.

12. Hi Diddle Dee Dee- Eh. It’s a song that exists, kinda annoying to be honest.

Sparky:

1. Hellfire - SUPREME GOD TIER. In my opinion not just the greatest disney song, but the greatest villain song of all time. Absolutely gothic, epic, suggestive and fits Frollo's character to a T. The ending gives me chills EVERY time. I would sin for Tony Jay.

2. Poor Unfortunate Souls - Now I admit I prefer the Annapatsu version, but overall it's so delightfully bombastic and dramatic. You really feel like you're being manipulated by Ursula.

3. Friends on the Other Side - Keith. David. Is. Amazing. Oh, and Randy Newman killed it with the ending.

4. Mother Knows Best - It's like the friendlier version of Poor Unfortunate Souls and really nails the manipulative horrible parent feeling.

5. Shiny Gayest song and a great tribute to David Bowie, so you know it's amazing.

6. Oogie Boogie Song - A awesome ragtime halloween bop and Oogie's got some pipes!

7. Gaston - So hilarious and perfectly arrogant, just like Gaston.

8. Hi Diddle Dee Dee - It's a joke song and it's short... but goddamn it I find it hilarious. I feel like it's the perfect sort of fake conjob song for John.

9. Be Prepared - I love Jeremy Irons performance... but overall the lyrics and tone just feel too goofy for Scar? I actually would've loved if it sounded like the 2019 version, even if Scar never sang, the orchestrals sounded awesome.

10. Cruella De Vil - Eh... it's alright. A small little jazzy tune, but man we missed out on a frantic rocker for Cruella.

11. Snuff Out the Light - Eartha King nails it but overall it's mid.

12. You're Only Second Rate - Feels like them trying to capture the magic of Friend Like Me, except Jafar isn't Robin Williams by a longshot.

Hero:

Weeby:

1. When Will My Life Begin- Whenever this song comes on, I am singing the lyrics at the top of my lungs. So bright and fun and really tells you who Rapunzel is.

2. Just Can’t Wait to be King- Such a fun and spunky tune, I’m always dancing and singing with baby Simba.

3. Almost There- Inspiring and catchy as all hell. I’ve always loved Tiana and this song really reflects her determination.

4. Go the Distance- Just a sweet, beautiful and kinda dorky song, perfect for Herc! Love this one to death!

5. Evermore- SO. FREAKIN. EPIC. Favorite song from the remake. Was…on the fence about them giving the beast a song, but they knocked it out of the park!

6. A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes- SO underrated, and just an all-around beautiful and sweet song.

7. Reflection- Such a gorgeous song, Lea Salonga’s vocals are on point and you can’t help but feel for Mulan.

8. Let it Go- Epic power ballad that I can’t help but sing to. Not my fave but I love it!

9. Friend Like Me- Robin Williams is incredible, so is the Will Smith cover, this song is just a bop.

10. Part of Your World- Jodi Benson is an amazing singer and this song is super fun for karaoke.

11. What Else Can I Do?- Love my girl Isabela and seeing her come into her own in this song!

12. Out There- A sweet and hopeful song that makes my heart hurt for Quasi. It gets me every time.

13. One Jump Ahead- Upbeat, frantic and fun, the perfect intro to Aladdin’s life.

14. Nobody Like U- Catchy as hell and SO 2000’s nostalgia.

15. Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo- So fun and makes me miss my childhood, pretending to be the fairy godmother!

16. Once Upon A Dream- Lived this song as a kid, but now…it’s just average. Vocals are beautiful but it just doesn’t stick out.

17. Belle- Eh, the song is catchy but I always felt so bad for Belle. Like, they are essentially *singing* about how weird she is TO HER FACE.

18. Someday My Prince Will Come- Beautiful vocals but just never grabbed my attention I guess.

19. I’ve Got No Strings- Just eh. Pinocchio’s part is cute, but the rest…just eh.

Sparky:

1. Reflection - Amazing vocals, absolutely tearjerking lyrics and instrumentals. It's one of if not the only hero song that's truly depressing. Also the part where she belts as she takes off her makeup... soul shattering and beautiful.

2. Someday My Prince Will Come - I know that it isn't exactly empowering but.... oh my god this song is absolutely gorgeous. It is sort of hard to understand what she's saying, but the orchestrals are phenomenal and the singer gives it everything she's got. I genuinely feel like tearing up everytime I hear it.

3. Part of Your World - This goes entirely to Jodi Benson. My god what a singer. Such an epic "I Want" song.

4. Friend Like Me - Both Robin and Will knock it out of the park. There's so much bouncyness and explosive music in this and it totally fits the character.

5. A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes - Just... beauty in auditorial form. Reminds me of a Sinatra song for some reason. My god is it beautiful.

6. Once Upon a Dream - It feels like a waltz and a lullaby at the same time. Reminds me of a Paul McCartney track.

7. Almost There - A very determined tune and subtle and grounded, perfect for Tiana. Randy Newman once again nailed it.

8. Go the Distance - Roger Bart perfectly fits it and you really feel for young Herc. It's very Broadway but I love it for that reason.

9. One Jump Ahead - Such a punchy and frantic track and really makes you feel like you are running alongside Aladdin.

10. Nobody Like U - GODDAMN! Easily the catchiest song for me and such a nice fusion of modern pop and 2000s boy bands.

11. Out There - Like you said, sweet and hopeful, though I don't really like Quasi's vocals.

12. When Will My Life Begin? - Perfectly fitting of Rapunzel, and a great pop song... but I feel like it's a bit too 2010 Pop song rather than Disney opener.

13. What Else Can I Do? - Eh... I just found the song to be sort of forgettable. Nothing against the character, the song just didn't stand out to me. Felt too much like a generic pop song.

14. Belle - It's just a song about how Belle's "odd". Not much else to say.

15. Let It Go - In my own opinion, extremely overplayed AND overrated and only saved by the fact that Idina Menzel is an amazing singer.

16. Just Can't Wait to be King - The child singer is amazing, but overall I guess I just found it to be a bit forgettable?

17. Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo and I've Got No Strings - Both of these are joke songs to me. Perfectly fine little ditties but just that, little ditties.

18. Evermore - This is entirely because they absolutely BUTCHERED Dan Stevens' voice with autotune. I mean... my god he sounds like a malfuctioning vocaloid! Pianos and strings are nice but the voice is just too horrendous. A shame, it could have been decent.

Leave your own rankings in the comments and reblogs!

[firecat17]

Moana live-action remake wishes

So recently I found out that a live-action Moana remake is in the works a mere six years after the animated one was released. That being said, and given the nature of Disney’s live-action remakes, there are some expectations I have for it that I hope it meets (which I don’t have much faith in).

Not just expectations, but in fact ideas that would make the story more ideal. BTW, all of the following ideas are based on actual criticisms (and rightfully so) by actual Polynesian reviewers. 

First off, set it in an actual, non-fictional Polynesian location, like Samoa or Tonga (Samoa would be a good choice). By doing this, Disney can avoid making all the Polynesian cultures into a monolith. Monolithing is a racist, damaging practice that refers to taking multiple similar and geographically related cultures and blending them into one, giving the illusion that they are all interchangeable. Moana isn’t the only Disney movie guilty of this (*glares in the direction of Pocahontas, Raya and the Last Dragon*). Sure, it may not represent all the Polynesian cultures this way, but at least by doing so they can avoid making a monolith. Since Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is Samoan, I’d (again) suggest setting it in ancient Samoa. Or if not Samoa itself, at least a nearby island directly related to Samoa. That means all the actors would ideally be Samoan. 

Second, hire an all (or nearly all) Polynesian production team; directors (unless one or two have already been chosen), producers, artists, designers, costumers, and more consultants than you can count. The animated movie was directed and made largely by white people.

Third, change Maui’s character. In the original Polynesian myths, Maui is described as a slender youth, whereas the movie made him into a large-figured middle-aged man. This image reinforces the harmful stereotype of Polynesians as obese. Now we know that Dwayne Johnson will be reprising the role, in which case Maui can’t exactly be young, nut at least he won’t be big. And that’s not all that needs to be changed. In the movie, Maui is made into the modern “American jerk” stereotype who relies solely on brute force and egoism (which is due to his tragic beginnings) to get by until he changes later in the movie. The mythological Maui is described as a flawed but well-meaning man who uses his resourcefulness to overcome obstacles and fulfill tasks. He can still have a tragic past and resulting insecurities, but that’s not an excuse for him to be an egotistical brute who doesn’t change for the better until later in the movie. By making both these changes, Maui can be truer to his mythological counterpart. 

Fourth, get rid of Tamatoa. Sorry Tamatoa fans, but he has to go. There are no Polynesian myths whatsoever that tell of a giant, flamboyant David Bowie crab who likes to sing anachronistic pop songs about how shiny he is. Replace him with an actual Polynesian mythological villain of some sort, one who DOESN’T get a modern glitzy David Bowie makeover.

Fifth, make all the songs authentically Polynesian. That means “You’re Welcome” and “Shiny” will have to go; they’re overly modern/American and are not only out of place in ancient Polynesia but also disrespectful. They can have some modern elements, such as being sung in English and having modern instruments, but remain true to Polynesian rhythm. Te Vaka, the famed Polynesian music sensation behind much of the animated movie’s soundtrack, will once again come in handy for such a task.

Sixth, change Te Kā’s character. Te Kā is widely inspired by Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire, lightning and volcanoes. A Polynesian reviewer pointed out how culturally appropriative it was to make Pele into a villain. Te Fiti can still exist, but have her instead turn into something like a giant skeleton to represent death and chaos instead of a lava giant. I know a giant skeleton might be scary for the kids, but at least it won’t appropriate the figure of Pele. 

That’s all for now. Knowing Disney, I have almost zero faith in them to do these things, but it’s worth a shot. Feel free to discuss these ideas with me, and Polynesians are especially welcome to share what they think! 

[heydaytravelcompany]

First Look at New Disney Treasure ‘Moana’ Show

We're excited to share more details about “Disney The Tale of Moana,” which will debut exclusively at the Walt Disney Theatre onboard the Disney Treasure in December 2024. With set design and music bursting with elements of Pacific Island cultures which inspire the classic coming-of-age tale, this innovative production will immerse audiences in a transformational adventure across land and sea. Read on for more details and a sneak peek of how “Disney The Tale of Moana” will come to life in the first stage adaptation inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios film. Towering Puppets Take Stage To create puppetry that soars to mythical heights, Disney Live Entertainment Creative Director of puppetry and articulation, Jeff Conover, teamed up with master puppet designer Michael Curry, whose creations are featured in Disney's Tony Award-winning musical "The Lion King" on Broadway. Te Kā, the massive, fiery villain guarding Te Fiti, will be a puppet of a scale Disney Cruise Line has never before produced. When Moana meets Te Kā and restores the heart of Te Fiti, the giant Te Kā puppet will shed its fiery shell and become the gentle island goddess, Te Fiti herself. Practice Your “Warrior Face” The stage show will also include a brand new song, “Warrior Face,” performed by Moana and Maui when the demigod teaches Moana how to face her fears before entering the Realm of the Monsters to face Tamatoa. “Warrior Face” will join classic favorites from the Grammy-Award winning soundtrack in the stage show, including “You’re Welcome,” “We Know The Way” and “How Far I’ll Go.” Setting the Scene in “Innocent Warrior” “Disney The Tale of Moana” will begin in modern day on the fictional island of Motunui, in a set design filled with hints of brilliant Pacific Island cultures that will appear throughout the show. The spirit of Gramma Tala, our narrator, will introduce her granddaughter, while through vibrant dance and songs in a mix of languages including Tuvaluan, Tokelauan and Samoan, we will learn how the ocean chooses young Moana for an incredible journey to restore the heart of Te Fiti. Transforming The Walt Disney Theatre in “How Far I’ll Go” In this iconic scene, The Walt Disney Theatre will transform from the island of Motunui into the open ocean as Moana’s journey moves from her home to the great voyage that she’s longed for her entire life. Twinkling stars will swirl overhead and a giant, glowing manta ray will emerge and soar above the audience as a newfound sense of courage fills Moana. The manta ray is the spirit of Gramma Tala, lighting up the sea to accompany Moana on her journey to save her people. This show looks stunning, and we know our guests cannot wait to see Moana’s incredible story unfold in a new way on the Disney Treasure! “Disney The Tale of Moana” will join a dazzling lineup of fan-favorite shows like “Beauty and the Beast” and “Disney Seas the Adventure�� in the Walt Disney Theatre. Stay tuned for more details about the Disney Treasure as we count down the days until it sets sail in December 2024. Come learn more about Disney Cruise Line Join us for an exciting immersive look at Disney Cruise Line! We're excited to be offering an immersive virtual tour of ships and itineraries on Anchors Aweigh with travel host Cameron Matthews! Read the full article

[poppycub]

A late gift from a friend of mine x3 A Tamatoa inspired pendant necklace!! Aaahhh! I love it!!!😻😻

[subukunojess]

Hepohepo (OC Reference)

Five years in the making, but I finally made a reference for one of my Moana OCs. I got inspired from reading one of my wips which involves this character. For those who have seen my blog years ago would remember him!

This is Hepohepo. Hepohepo is translated to “chaos” in Maori. I was looking at Maori and Polynesian mythology and monsters when I came across a being known as the taniwha. The taniwha is a water creature whose form depends on the body of water they reside. They could either be benevolent beings who help humans and protect sacred items or they could be violent. Some stories tell about how humans could die and become taniwha. With that in mind, I created a gay taniwha couple named Hepohepo and Raruraru. 

Raru was once a taniwha who helped guided a group of Wayfinders to a new island to call their own and became their guardian. The humans gave him offerings and came to him for advice. He gradually falls in love with the Chief’s son (who I cannot remember the name just yet) and makes a deal with him. The two become a couple in secret even though the human was betrothed to another human from a rival group. Conflict and miscommunication escalates to the point where the human gets killed by his own people. Raru becomes enraged and rebels, fighting the humans. During the battle, the human is reborn amid the chaos and calls himself Hepohepo. Reunited, the two taniwha devour and destroy the humans and wreck havoc to the seas and islands. The Gods ask Maui to take care of the situation and both Maui and Tamatoa drag the Taniwha Lovers where they are banished forever from going to the surface. Hepo and Raru then spend their days in Lalotai pampering each other and living together.

For the art reference, I did a possible look at what Hepo’s human form would have been before he became a taniwha. Not shown is an intricate tattoo of a taniwha swirled on his back. First time ever designing what he had looked like before. On the right is what he usually looks like in a humanoid form. He is a shapeshifter, so his true form is akin to a white lizard or dragon with glowing scales and red eyes. I decided to give him a warm color scheme and update his outfit a bit. I miss Hepohepo so much and I want to write more about him and Raruraru soon.