Moana - great lessons for kids

Rating: 8/10 (5 December 2016)

So i took my daughter who is 5 to see this movie a few weeks ago. Of course i was expecting the usual Disney princess story line but i found that this one had a few different significant lessons in it. Keep in mind this movie is based in Hawaii on an island.
1. Growing up... Moana being next in line as Chief on the island wanted to explore the ocean yet her father was holding her back from even setting a toe into the ocean. He himself was the same way and ended getting hurt and lost a friend to the ocean. Her mother was a little more understanding of her daughter not trying to hold her back from her dreams. Lesson for parents you..even if you are afraid to let go of your child you need to give them a chance to express themselves and learn from trial and error you cant protect them all their life.
2. Grandmother and Death...Moana's grandmother was very free spirited and related to Moana in fact many of the scenes we see her trying to help Moana go out on the ocean and discover who she is. The grandmother being on her death bed tells Moana to go because the island is slowly dying and their people are in trouble. Grandmother knows Moana is the last hope of their tribe to survive. She like any other elder are the ones we look to for guidance. When grandmother passes away Moana sees her change into a stingray and "becomes her guardian angel" This was a way to explain to children that even though death is sad you can still keep that loved one in your thoughts and forever hold on to their memories.
3. Environment- The movie shows that our environment is in trouble and without doing anything to help it we are all doomed as our food supplies will disappear and vegetation will be ruined. The reason Moana sets sail is to give back the heart stone so her island can heal. The message is to protect the environment and for a kids movie i think they did a great job at it.
The movie was cute my daughter enjoyed it i enjoyed it. I like how Disney incorporated myths and legends as well as traditions and culture. I would recommend this film. The animation was great the music was great and catchy. was it Disneys best film no but the story line had a good meaning to it and i feel that my daughter understood it well with some explanation.