Moana has been getting a lot of attention these days, partly due to the Disney princess’s fifth anniversary and partly due to the ongoing Ultimate Princess Celebration that celebrates all Disney princesses — and now, Moana is headed for even more limelight with her upcoming Disney+ series! A director for the Walt Disney Animation Studios Moana series was just announced recently by Disney Animation in the Tweet below, and it is storyboard artist David G. Derrick Jr. who will be taking the reins as the director of the animated Disney princess series.
Just announced: David G. Derrick Jr. will direct Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Moana” series for @DisneyPlus. Derrick first joined Disney Animation to work on 2016's Moana, which deepened his connection with his family’s Samoan roots. pic.twitter.com/0MslhBs9OD
— Disney Animation (@DisneyAnimation) January 21, 2022
David G. Derrick Jr. worked on the original Moana movie from 2016, giving him plenty of experience with Moana’s setting, storyline, and the character’s development. He also has a Samoan background and expressed excitement about continuing to highlight Polynesian culture, saying the following as part of the announcement about directing the new Moana series: “Working on Moana was a gift, personally and professionally. The film Moana caught and shared the spirit of Polynesia with the world. I am honored to continue her story and to celebrate the rich and beautiful cultures of the Pacific Islands”.
David G. Derrick Jr. has also worked on Raya and the Last Dragon (2021), Encanto (2021), the new version of The Lion King (2019), and the Marvel animated show The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes (2010-2012). For Dreamworks, he worked on Megamind (2010) and How to Train Your Dragon (2010).
The adventurous plot of Moana’s first movie, its open-ended finale about her explorations of the ocean, the comical dynamic between Moana and the demigod Maui (voiced by Dwayne Johnson), the poignancy of Moana’s deep love for the sea, and the incredible scenery in the Polynesian setting from the 2016 feature film all make for a perfect follow-up, so a “long-form musical series that follows spirited voyager Moana as she ventures far beyond the reef” makes a lot of sense. Disney+’s use of a director who already has experience with both Moana and Polynesian culture will most likely make this new Moana series even better!
The new Moana series is set to premiere on Disney+ in 2024, after the 2023 premiere of the animated series starring Princess Tiana. Until then, Moana voice actress Auli’i Cravalho will also be keeping her voiceover skills ready by starring as the lead character in another new animated series! Are you excited to see more of Moana and Auli’i, and to see what David G. Derrick Jr. does as director of the Disney+ show?
