Disney's Moana officially announced

In the wake of the groundbreaking success of Frozen, Walt Disney Animation Studios is hard at work at their next princess feature, Moana, staring a Polynesian princess in the title road. The November 23rd, 2016 release will follow the March 2016 release of WDAS's Zootopia, a complete 180 from their princess franchises. Find out more about Moana's story, get a look at the first piece of concept art, and read snippets of an interview with esteemed Disney directors, Ron Clements and Jon Musker, all after the break!

Official Synopsis:

In the ancient South Pacific world of Oceania, Moana, a born navigator, sets sail in search of a fabled island. During her incredible journey, she teams up with her hero, the legendary demi-god Maui, to traverse the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous sea creatures, breathtaking underworlds and ancient folklore.

Segments from the IGN interview with directors Ron Clements and Jon Musker:

“John and I have partnered on so many films—from The Little Mermaid to Aladdin to The Princess and the Frog,” said Clements in a statement. “Creating Moana is one of the great thrills of our career. It’s a big adventure set in this beautiful world of Oceania."

“Moana is indomitable, passionate and a dreamer with a unique connection to the ocean itself,” added Musker. “She's the kind of character we all root for, and we can't wait to introduce her to audiences.” 

As excited as I was for Frozen, Moana looks like it will be particularly special. Not based on previous material, Moana is entirely an original project hailed from the fantastic minds behind some of Disney's greatest: The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and Beauty and the Beast. I also love how Walt Disney Animation Studios is combining elements from their previous movies, such as Pocahontas, Lilo and Stitch, and Atlantis, to evoke a certain ancient islandy-like tone. Watch out for Moana, coming to theaters on November 23rd, 2016!