Categories
Myths and Legends Pop Culture

The Legend of Moana-Nui-Ka-Lehua

Official Disney Moana movie still

Did you know that Disney’s 2016 film Moana is based on a Polynesian legend?

Moana-Nui-Ka-Lehua was a Polynesian water goddess/mermaid, who resided in the ocean between the two islands Hawaiian islands of K’aui and O’ahu. It was Moana’s duty to guard the Ka’ie’ie Channel with the help of two two shark gods named Kuna and Kahole-a-Kane.

According to some legends, Moana appeared as a fish, while in others she was as a half-human half-fish hybrid (mermaid). Moana had the power to summon storms whenever she wanted.

Official Disney Moana movie still

Moana according to legend, wasn’t always the well-mannered goddess as depicted in Disney’s film version of Moana. Like many other deity’s and goddesses, Moana was mischievous and playful.

Moana prevented the volcano/fire goddess Pele from being with her human Lohiau by brewing a storm, so that the couple couldn’t go beyond the reef to be married.

However, there was one god, who could match Moana and that was Maui. Moana met the fisherman god, Maui (the island of Maui is named after him), when she found him fishing in her waters. She snatched his fishhook from the rock it was sitting on.

Maui, was known for being a trickster god and wasn’t going to take Mauna stealing his fishhook lightly. So, he pursued Moana, until he was able to capture her. Maui, then brought Moana to shore, where she passed away. Maui, paid his respects to the mermaid goddess by burying her body and built a shrine in her honor. Moana’s spirit was metamorphosed into a oli’a lehua, which is one of Hawaii’s most sacred trees.

 

Categories
Disney's The Little Mermaid Pop Culture

Celine Lecomte Illustrations

Chibi Ariel and Eric illustration by Celine Lecomte

Celine Lecomte is a self-taught French illustrator, who has been drawing Disney characters, since she was a little girl. Her digital illustrations are fashioned in the wildly popular chibi style. A key feature in the chibi style of illustration is that the characters are short, chubby, and adorable!

The characters in her illustrations are colorful, playful , and lighthearted. One feature that stands out for Celine’s work are that the character’s in her illustrations are very expressive, most notably with their large eyes.

Ariel and Moana illustration by Celine Lecomte

Celine’s love of Disney and cartoons is apparent in her illustrations. She has drawn various Disney characters as mer-people (whether they are one or not)! Her love for all things Disney and mermaids are what makes her art fun!

One thing that makes Celine’s work so distinct and unique, is that it’s made for everyone!

Chibi Ariel pin Celine Lecomte

Celine’s illustrations are so popular, that she has an Etsy shop, where she sells a variety of her mermaid art (prints), pins, and keychains. Her store is defiantly worth checking out! You never know, what kind of mermazing treasures you’ll find!

 

Categories
Disney's The Little Mermaid Pop Culture

Wonderful World of Disney: The Little Mermaid Live (Cast)

Disney’s The Little Mermaid 30th Anniversary Logo

2019 marked a big milestone for Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.” The film had celebrated it’s 30th anniversary and in honor of that anniversary, Disney had decided to host a live-hybrid event titled: “The Little Mermaid Live”.  Disney had announced that they would be using puppets, Disney magic, and star-studded cast to bring this Disney Classic back to life. 

Disney was wise in it’s casting for this event, by selecting Auli’i Cravalho as Ariel, Graham Phillips as Prince Eric, Queen Latifah as Ursula, Shaggy as Sebastion, and John Stamos as Chef Louis.  

“The Little Mermaid Live” is Auli’i Cravalho’s second project with Disney. She originated the singing and acting voice for the Disney-Pixar film “Moana” in 2016. Her voice is soft, yet powerful, which is why she was perfectly cast for the role of Ariel. 

Auli'i Cravalho (Photo by JSquared Photography/Contour by Getty Images)
Auli’i Cravalho (Photo by JSquared Photography/Contour by Getty Images)
Graham Phillips (Photo by Paul Archuleta/Getty Images)
Graham Phillips (Photo by Paul Archuleta/Getty Images)
Queen Latifah (Photo by Jim Spellman/FilmMagic)
Queen Latifah (Photo by Jim Spellman/FilmMagic)
Shaggy (Photo by JSquared Photography/Contour by Getty Images)
Shaggy (Photo by JSquared Photography/Contour by Getty Images)
John Stamos (Photo by Paul Archuleta/Getty Images)
John Stamos (Photo by Paul Archuleta/Getty Images)

Previous
Next

There was no doubt, to many fans however, that Queen Latifah would steal the show as the sassy and villainess, Ursula. Queen Latifah, is a female rapper, actress, and entrepreneur. 

A few changes that Disney made in the hybrid production would be to include a few songs from Disney’s Broadway Production of “The Little Mermaid” such as ‘Her Voice’ and ‘If Only’. Giving fans, who had never seen or heard the Broadway soundtrack, the chance to discover it for the very first time. 

For all fans of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid”, it is a must to watch “The Little Mermaid Live” to experience film and live theater merge together for a unique experience.