Moana: Disney’s New Frozen?

Are you ready to Let it Go when it comes to Frozen? Well, Disney has announced their next major animation and if strong female leads are your thing, you’re in for a treat. If strong female leads aren’t your thing, we pity you and are delighted Hollywood is embracing sassy backbones.

Moana is the name of the CG-animated caper and promises to be, according to the official statement, a sweeping, comedy-adventure about a spirited teenager on an impossible mission’to fulfill her ancestors? quest.? Moana will be set in the ?ancient South Pacific world of Oceania? so expect stunning backdrops, rolling waves and acres of sumptous colour. Where Frozen had blankets of glowing and sparkling snow, Moana will have frothy azure seascapes.

Moana is the eponymous lead, ?a born navigator? in search of a mystical island. Her sidekick will be Maui, a demi-god, and the plot promises ?an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous sea creatures, breathtaking underworlds and ancient folklore.?

And as for the character of Moana herself? John Musker, co-director of the film, promises that Moana will be ?indomitable, passionate and a dreamer with a unique connection to the ocean itself? She’s the kind of character we all root for, and we can’t wait to introduce her to audiences.? Sounds epic. And inspiring. And when will we see the story of Moana on screens? Late 2016 is the studio’s estimate.

No words yet on the musical element, but considering Ron Clements and John Musker are the dream team behind the production – notches on their IMDB belt include The Little Mermaid and Aladdin – we have hummable hopes.

However, while Moana seems to be ticking all the Disney boxes, will it be able to surpass the popularity of Frozen? Last year the animated musical came from out of nowhere to steal the hearts of children and adults the world over with its twist on the Snow Queen fable. And that song. How many parents want to take Idina Menzel aside and take her to task for ruining car journeys? So far Frozen can claim to be the highest grossing animated film of all time – as well as the highest grossing movie with a female director. We’ll have to wait and see if Moana can melt that ice ceiling…

And now, for tenous reasons at best, have an auld sing-a-log to Frozen‘s Oscar-winning anthem ‘Let it Go’. Do you think Disney can get any better than this?

Follow Jeanne Sutton on Twitter @jeannedesutun