General Information:

Media Type: Home Video
Type: Bluuray - Open Edition
Release Date: 2017-03-07

Geek's Thoughts: Moana has arrived on home video (Blu-ray, Digital HD, Disney Movies Anywhere, DVD) with a wide assortment of bonus material. The film takes you on an adventure with Moana who sets sail to save her people. She enlists the help of the demigod Maui and along with Hei Hei, a not so bright chicken) they sail across the ocean to return the heart of Te Fiti. The film is as enjoyable on home video as it was the big screen.

In addition to the “Inner Workings” short that preceded the film in theaters is another short called “Maui Mini-Movie: Gone Fishing”, and just as the title says it features a fishing experience for Maui. This home video release includes a large selection of bonus material totaling around 2 hours (not including the commentary). The material includes behind the scenes, deleted scenes, music featurettes and a full audio commentary by John Musker and Ron Clements the film’s directors.

 

I found the four “The Elements Of” Featurettes to be the most interesting. These covered the topics of Hair, Lava, Mini-Maui, and Water and talked about some of the technical challenges and software. I would have liked to have seen these be a bit longer. They total 15 minutes which is not short by bonus feature standards, but I find this part of the process really interesting and always want more!

If you are a fan of deleted scenes there are 7 featured in the bonus material they all include an introduction and are in various stages of production. There is also a deleted song.

For music fans there is 12 minute piece about the making of the music for the film. There is also a sequence of “How Far I’ll Go” where they switch languages, I always find these interesting. The Alessia Cara music video of “How Far I’ll Go” is also included.

he longest feature takes a look at the Pacific Islands where the story is set and the traditions and culture the film makers learned about and incorporated into the movie, this ran just over 30 minutes.

There is a featurette looking at the costumes/fashion of the characters in the film and some of the thought that went into those creations. As well as ones featuring things you didn’t know about the actors and music team. Lastly there is a piece highlighting some of the Easter Eggs in the film. Unfortunately no piece highlighting the “star” of the film and his story, Hei Hei, though.

This first release of Moana on home video is a solid release. The film is entertaining and the assortment of bonus features should have something for just about all Disney Animation Fans. It will make a good addition to your Disney movie library.