Louaye Moulayess on Disney’s Global Impact and Moana 2

Dubai, November 24, 2024 – For Lebanese animator Louaye Moulayess, Disney movies have always been a source of inspiration and connection. As he prepares for the release of Moana 2 in the Middle East on November 28, Moulayess opens up about how Disney’s storytelling transcends cultural boundaries, and how it’s influenced his own work as a creator.

Moulayess, who has worked on several high-profile Disney projects, spoke to Arab News about the universal appeal of Disney films. “We all grew up with different kinds of stories told to us, right? I grew up with specific Lebanese stories. But now we all have something in common, which is Disney movies,” he explained. “They have the power to bring together audiences from around the world, regardless of where they come from.”

At a time when his home country, Lebanon, is enduring a period of conflict, Moulayess finds solace in the power of storytelling. “It all comes back to the stories my grandparents and parents told me. Disney movies have always brought me hope,” he shared, reflecting on the personal meaning these stories hold for him.

Moulayess’ latest project, Moana 2, continues the journey of the beloved characters from the 2016 original, following Moana and Maui as they embark on a new adventure in the vast seas of Oceania. For Moulayess, revisiting these characters was both a challenge and a joy. “I loved the first movie, and when I started working on Moana 2, I already knew the characters very well,” he said. “But three years have passed, and they’ve changed. The challenge was figuring out how to bring these evolved characters to life in a way that felt fresh and authentic.”

Set in ancient Polynesia, Moana 2 sees Moana, voiced by Auli’i Cravalho, reunite with her shapeshifting friend Maui (Dwayne Johnson) as they answer a call from her ancestors and set sail on a new quest. Moulayess’ role in animating this transformation highlights his deep understanding of the characters and the complexity of developing them further.

As Moana 2 heads to cinemas in the region, Moulayess is not only contributing to a global phenomenon but also sharing a part of his own cultural and emotional journey through the art of animation.