Many of you have probably heard of the new Disney princess movie, Moana. This movie has received a lot of praise even before it was released, because it was Disney’s first Pacific Islander princess.

Moana is the story of a girl who was chosen by the sea to save her people. It takes place in Ancient Polynesia, and the main characters of the movie are Moana (played by Auli’i Cravalho) and the demigod Maui (played by Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson). Both actors were fitting for the role because of their Pacific Islander descent. When Moana’s island slowly starts to lose their food, it’s up to Moana to help save them. She goes out into the sea in search of the vanished Maui, who needs to help her restore the heart of Te Fiti (which he once stole). The two then go on an unforgettable and wild adventure.

For those of you who grew up watching Disney movies, you are probably used to a princess and a prince charming. There’s usually a damsel in distress. Moana strays away from this archetype, and is a reason why it’s so beautiful. Moana isn’t a story about finding true love, or finding “the one.” Moana finds love within herself. It is a story about finding who you are and embracing your roots and where you come from. While watching the movie, there were so many deep messages that moved me. Moana reached points where she wanted to give up, but she persevered. She kept fighting on, even when it was getting difficult. She’s a warrior.  Usually, there’s a prince charming there to save the day, and to save the princess. Moana is a completely different story. She didn’t count on anyone else to save her but herself. The main character is a girl, whose sidekick is a massive man who is powerful, yet arrogant. It’s refreshing to see the change in roles. From watching the movie, I hope that little girls everywhere get the idea that they can be their own hero, and they’re the ones in charge of their life, no matter what anyone else says.

For those of you debating if you should see it or not, you should totally go out and see it. It’s worth the money. It was a beautiful story, and had the cutest characters. Also, the animation in the movie was extraordinary. Not to mention, the soundtrack was completely amazing. (I recommend the song “How Far I’ll Go by Auli’i Cravalho to get a feel of the movie.) If you decide to watch the movie, I promise you that you will fall in love with it the way I did.