Uploaded April 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
So tired, so crappy, so rushed, so last-minute, but it's done. I wasn't as enthused this time, maybe it's because it's so somber this time around (this is the first round where Maui hasn't broken out into dance!) but we get lots of angst and backstory hints to hopefully make up for it!
STORY:
Flashback time! We get to see young Maui shortly after he's become a big brother, upset that everyone's been too busy to spend time with him. His dad warns him to not say something he will regret, though mini-Maui won't back down (don't worry, he's just being an angry little kid, he's matured out of it. Also note the wording, he never once says sister or sibling as in singular, hint hint). In the present, Maui's bringing Hei-Hei with him to the next big prince-mermaid outing, but Ariel informs everyone that it's been unexpectedly postponed. Maui isn't happy about having to wait to see Arista again. Proteus invites him and a few others to see a play now that they have some time to themselves. Sometime later, Maui mopes on the beach while Proteus and Chula are doing a little training when Arista pops up - Aquata has gone missing! Maui goes into his rare serious mode and promises nothing will happen to her and they'll bring her sister back. Maui combs the beach to spread the word and finds Garrett looking pretty down. He gets him to open up a little about what he's been going through, though Garrett is still very vague on the matter, saying only that he learned the man he considered his father (Guoliang) wasn't who he thought he was. Maui dispenses some words of wisdom, tells Garrett that the princes are splitting off into search parties and that he'll be shipping out with Guoliang because he seems trustworthy (Maui, you sweet summer child...) Guoliang and Maui lock horns over who's leading the expedition, however. Maui loses his patience and shouts "Do you want Arista to grow up without a sister?!" This shocks everyone into silence and Maui is horrified when he realizes what he's said. Guoliang gently reassumes command and Maui remains withdrawn for the rest of the day. Eventually, Aquata is found (by Garret, ironically) and Triton announces that she'll be withdrawing from the competition. Maui is grateful that Aquata is reunited with her family again, and we end on one final flashback: the first time young Maui sees baby Moana...and twin sister Vaiana. Dun dun DUUNNNN!
MUSIC: "Cloudley" by Pogo - youtube.com/watch?v=d1Xh9gA43PQ
Other notes: I wanted to make kid Maui a CGI character because making him 2D felt like cheating. Miguel? Perfect choice until I realized he spends the movie in modern clothing. So I tried body-swapping with the boys learning to dance in Moana and...isn't it obvious how much it sucks? Also, more stills than usual and less lighting and shadows, but I found some tricks I'm keeping in mind for the next round if I get in, god willing.
I own nothing, fair use, blah blah blah. Enjoy!
So tired, so crappy, so rushed, so last-minute, but it's done. I wasn't as enthused this time, maybe it's because it's so somber this time around (this is the first round where Maui hasn't broken out into dance!) but we get lots of angst and backstory hints to hopefully make up for it!
STORY:
Flashback time! We get to see young Maui shortly after he's become a big brother, upset that everyone's been too busy to spend time with him. His dad warns him to not say something he will regret, though mini-Maui won't back down (don't worry, he's just being an angry little kid, he's matured out of it. Also note the wording, he never once says sister or sibling as in singular, hint hint). In the present, Maui's bringing Hei-Hei with him to the next big prince-mermaid outing, but Ariel informs everyone that it's been unexpectedly postponed. Maui isn't happy about having to wait to see Arista again. Proteus invites him and a few others to see a play now that they have some time to themselves. Sometime later, Maui mopes on the beach while Proteus and Chula are doing a little training when Arista pops up - Aquata has gone missing! Maui goes into his rare serious mode and promises nothing will happen to her and they'll bring her sister back. Maui combs the beach to spread the word and finds Garrett looking pretty down. He gets him to open up a little about what he's been going through, though Garrett is still very vague on the matter, saying only that he learned the man he considered his father (Guoliang) wasn't who he thought he was. Maui dispenses some words of wisdom, tells Garrett that the princes are splitting off into search parties and that he'll be shipping out with Guoliang because he seems trustworthy (Maui, you sweet summer child...) Guoliang and Maui lock horns over who's leading the expedition, however. Maui loses his patience and shouts "Do you want Arista to grow up without a sister?!" This shocks everyone into silence and Maui is horrified when he realizes what he's said. Guoliang gently reassumes command and Maui remains withdrawn for the rest of the day. Eventually, Aquata is found (by Garret, ironically) and Triton announces that she'll be withdrawing from the competition. Maui is grateful that Aquata is reunited with her family again, and we end on one final flashback: the first time young Maui sees baby Moana...and twin sister Vaiana. Dun dun DUUNNNN!
MUSIC: "Cloudley" by Pogo - youtube.com/watch?v=d1Xh9gA43PQ
Other notes: I wanted to make kid Maui a CGI character because making him 2D felt like cheating. Miguel? Perfect choice until I realized he spends the movie in modern clothing. So I tried body-swapping with the boys learning to dance in Moana and...isn't it obvious how much it sucks? Also, more stills than usual and less lighting and shadows, but I found some tricks I'm keeping in mind for the next round if I get in, god willing.
I own nothing, fair use, blah blah blah. Enjoy!
