Moana:"I'm so happy and grateful." ME:I's Tsuzumi to voice Moana in the Japanese version; Maui will be voiced by Matsuya Onoe.

It was announced on June 23rd that TSUZUMI from the girl group "ME:I" will voice Moana (Catherine Lagaia), the protagonist of the live-action film adaptation of the Disney animated classic "Moana" (directed by Thomas Kale, opening in Japan on July 31st), while Kabuki actor Matsuya Onoe will voice the legendary hero Maui (Dwayne Johnson), just as he did in the animated version. The announcement was made at an event held in Tokyo on the same day.

TSUZUMI performed the song "How Far I'll Go" from the film live. Recalling when ME:I was chosen as the end song for "Moana 2," TSUZUMI said, "Moana is my favorite Disney film, so when ME:I was chosen as the end song for Moana 2, I was so happy. However, I was on hiatus at the time and couldn't participate, so I was really happy and disappointed at the same time, and my emotions were all jumbled up. I was practically in tears."

She then expressed her joy, saying, "That feeling of frustration, and my strong desire to work with Moana, really pushed me forward, giving me the courage to participate in this audition, and I'm so happy and grateful that I was chosen." A congratulatory message from Tomona Yabiku, the voice actress for the animated version, to Tsuzumi was also shown.

"Moana" tells the story of Moana, a girl with a special bond to the sea who lives on the mystical paradise island of Motunui in the South Seas. To save her beloved family and the world, she embarks on an adventurous journey across the vast ocean. She searches for the legendary demigod Maui, and together they overcome various hardships, forging her own path in life.

The first animated film in the series, "Moana," produced in 2016 (released in Japan in March 2017), grossed over $640 million worldwide (approximately 96 billion yen, according to Box Office Mojo, calculated at 1 dollar = 150 yen, the same applies below) and was nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Animated Feature Film 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 adaptation, 19-year-old rising star 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 musical adventure "Moana" will be released on July 31st.