"Moana," a live-action film adaptation of the classic Disney animated film (directed by Thomas Kale), will be released in Japan on July 31st. To commemorate the 54th birthday of Dwayne Johnson, who plays the legendary hero Maui, the Japanese version of the poster featuring Maui was unveiled on May 2nd.
"Moana" tells the story of Moana, a girl chosen by the sea, who embarks on an extraordinary adventure across the beautiful and mysterious ocean with the legendary demigod Maui to save her beloved family and the world. The first animated film, "Moana" (released in Japan in March 2017), produced in 2016, grossed over $640 million worldwide (approximately 96 billion yen, according to Box Office Mojo, calculated at 1 dollar = 150 yen), and was nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song. "Moana 2," released in December 2024, was an even bigger hit, grossing $1.05 billion (approximately 157.5 billion yen).
In the live-action film, 19-year-old rising star Katherine Lagaia, known for her "miraculous singing voice," has been cast as Moana, while Johnson, who played the same role in the animated version, will reprise his role as Maui.
The trailer for the film was released in March, revealing Johnson's portrayal of Maui. On social media, there was a flurry of excited comments such as, "Dwayne Johnson as Maui is amazing!", "Dwayne is so perfect for the role, it's like he was born to play Maui!", and "The Rock's Maui is so cool...".
The newly released Japanese poster features the striking tagline, "This summer, be enveloped in the beautiful world of the ocean," and depicts Moana with a determined expression against a backdrop of dynamic waves, alongside the strong Maui holding a giant fishhook. At their feet are Moana's companions from the animated version, the piglet Pua and the chicken Heihei. The poster also includes the tagline, "My heart is calling to me," which expresses Moana's feelings, and the visual is so lifelike and immersive that it seems as if it could come to life at any moment, just like the world of the animated version. "Moana," a musical adventure perfect for summer, centering on Moana who sets out into the open sea to save her beloved family, will be released in Japan on July 31st.
