Moana

Moana faces tough competition from Zootopia at the Oscars

The Disney CGI film - which has won Golden Globe and AFI awards and received Annie and BAFTA nominations - was nominated for an Oscar on Tuesday in the best animated feature film category, and should be considered the favourite to win.

Zootopia is also the only nominated animated film to top US$1 billion at the global box office; the other billion-dollar animated film, Pixar's Finding Dory, was snubbed.

Moana breaks box office in PNG

Paradise Cinema confirmed with Loop PNG that this has been its biggest box office sale ever.

The Disney film was premiered on November 24, capturing the hearts of Papua New Guineans and all other Pacific Islanders.

It attracted families, both young and old, to follow the adventurous journey of a young island princess with a mission to save her island, on the big screens.

'Moana' is Disney's latest animated feast for the eyes and ears

Adding to the studio's stable of multicultural princesses (although the title character points out she's merely the daughter of a chief), the movie begins and ends strongly, which should compensate for a flat stretch in the middle that, not coincidentally, is right around the time when the demigod known as Maui, voiced by Dwayne Johnson, shows up.

Authenticity key to Moana movie soundtrack

Moana follows the adventures of a young Polynesian princess and navigator who is accompanied by the superhero-demigod Maui, but in the run-up to the film's premiere reaction has been divided between those who have praised its cultural inclusiveness and others who feared the potential for cultural appropriation.

RNZ reports Australian based band Te Vaka was approached by Disney to help write the soundtrack and its bandleader Opetaia Foa'i said despite the controversy, the filmmakers spent years researching to get the film right.

Moana film merchandise on sale in PNG

A children's toy shop Patini, located in Vision City is the first to sell a Moana sweater, a Moana doll and the Moana costume itself.

Patini brought its first and only supply early last month and has already sold off the doll, leaving only the sweater, (K188.80 ) and costume (K430) of Moana, which is a Samoan traditional dress including sandals.

Moana is Disney's first Polynesian princess who teams up with a demi-god Maui to make an ocean voyage in the South Pacific and save her people.

Disney pulls 'brownface' Moana costume

The costume, a full-body suit with brown skin, traditional tattoos, grass skirt and bone necklace, represents the character Maui, considered a demi-god and ancestor by many Polynesians.

Activists said it was "brownface", or mocking of the culture by creating stereotypes.

Disney said it regretted any offence.