Moana is an animated Disney film that tells the story of a young Polynesian princess who sets out on a journey to restore the heart of Te Fiti, an ancient goddess who bestows life on the islands. The film is filled with lessons on resilience, and it is a reminder that no matter how difficult life is, we can always find a way to overcome adversity. In this article, we will draw lessons from Moana’s journey to maturity and relate them to other Disney characters’ struggles.
Embracing Change: Moana and Elsa
One of the significant themes in Moana is embracing change. Moana, as a child, was fascinated by the ocean, but her father, Tui, forbade her from venturing out into the open sea. She eventually sets out on her voyage to find Maui and restore Te Fiti’s heart. On her journey, she faces many challenges and uncertainties, but she never gives up. She navigates through storms and ultimately learns to appreciate the power of the sea, and it becomes her ally.
Similarly, Elsa from Frozen had to embrace change when she was confronted with her powers. Elsa had the power to create ice, but she was also afraid to hurt the people she loved. She ended up isolating herself from the world until she learned to embrace her powers and use them for good. Her journey to maturity and self-discovery taught her to control her powers and to become a better person.
Moana and Elsa shared a common journey towards embracing change, and they both learned to accept their unique abilities and how to use them to overcome adversity. In a conversation between Moana and Elsa, Moana would say, “It’s okay to be different, Elsa. Embrace your powers, and they will guide you towards your destiny.”
Overcoming Fear: Simba and Belle
Another theme in Moana is overcoming fear. Moana learns to face her fears when navigating through different obstacles and overcoming Maui’s initial rejection. She learns to confront her own vulnerabilities and to take risks in the face of challenges. Similarly, Simba, from The Lion King, had to confront his fear of becoming king. He was initially scared of his responsibility and ran away from his problems, but he later returned to his pride and regained his throne.
Likewise, Belle from Beauty and the Beast had to overcome fear to save her father and the Beast from the evil Gaston. She persevered against overwhelming opposition and ultimately conquered her fears to save those she loved.
In a conversation between Moana, Simba, and Belle, Simba would say, “Confronting our fears can make us stronger,” to which Belle would add, “We may be scared, but we should never give up.”
Fighting for One’s Dreams: Tiana and Rapunzel
Moana had to fight for her dreams to save her people and become a wayfinder. She pursued her goals even though nobody else believed in her. Tiana, from The Princess and the Frog, had to fight for her dream of owning a restaurant. She worked tirelessly to save money and finally reached her goal.
Rapunzel from Tangled, on the other hand, fought for her dream of seeing the lanterns. She took the initiative and left the tower to pursue her dreams. She found the courage to stand up to Mother Gothel and finally saw the lanterns, which symbolized her hope.
In a conversation between Moana, Tiana, and Rapunzel, Moana would say, “Believe in yourself, and your dreams will come true.” Tiana would reply, “Keep fighting, even when it seems impossible,” while Rapunzel would add, “The impossible is always possible if you believe it.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, the lessons we can draw from Moana’s journey to maturity are universal, and our favorite Disney characters’ challenges demonstrate our ability to be resilient in adversity. Finding resilience in adversity can be challenging, but with perseverance, courage, and faith in oneself, we can overcome anything. Moana, Elsa, Simba, Belle, Tiana, and Rapunzel all learned valuable lessons in resilience, and we can learn from them too. With these lessons, we can all be inspired to overcome the adversities in our lives and find the strength to achieve our goals.
Lessons in resilience can be learned from Disney characters such as Moana, Elsa, Simba, Belle, Tiana and Rapunzel, who all overcame fear, fought for their dreams, and embraced change.
“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt.