Okay, so let’s talk about the Moana live-action trailer — or, well, the “live-action” trailer, depending on how generous you’re feeling. Disney dropped the first teaser for the remake, and fans were, let’s just say… not swept away by the tide. In fact, they’re calling it “CGI slop.” Yeah. Slop. That’s not exactly the fairytale reception Disney was probably hoping for.
Here’s the situation. The new version stars Catherine Laga’aia as Moana — she’s 17, from Samoa, clearly talented, and passionate about representing her roots. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson returns as Maui, which, honestly, feels like the biggest anchor this movie has going for it. But when the teaser hit, the reactions? Rough waters.
Now, the visuals — they’re stunning, sure. You’ve got whales breaching, a sweeping aerial shot of the island, the ocean parting dramatically — it’s all beautifully rendered. But that’s kind of the problem.
Fans are asking: isn’t this just the animated movie… but shinier? A lot of folks online are pointing out that nearly the entire trailer looks like CGI. So much so that one person joked only “0.42 percent” of it appears to be actual live-action footage. Oof.
And then there’s the bigger question floating out there — why remake Moana at all? The original came out in 2016. The sequel just dropped in 2024. It’s still fresh, still beloved, and still visually stunning in its own right.
What’s the point of recreating it shot-for-shot with what looks like even more animation, but calling it “live-action”? Fans are wondering if Disney’s just recycling material to cash in on nostalgia — except the nostalgia isn’t even old yet.
Critics say this looks like the most unnecessary remake to date, and some are even saying the CG somehow looks worse than the original film. That’s a big statement. And you can feel the collective confusion out there — not about the cast or the culture (which are being celebrated), but about the execution.
This isn’t Aladdin or The Little Mermaid, where the original is decades old and the medium shift felt like a tribute. Moana’s still practically in toddler years.
Of course, The Rock is hyped. He’s been vocal about how personal this project is for him, connecting it to his Polynesian roots and his late grandfather. And honestly, that part? That’s powerful. No one’s questioning the heart behind the project. But that trailer? It didn’t hit hearts — it hit eyebrows, raised all over the internet.
So now we wait. July 2026. Will this ride the wave or wipe out hard? Disney’s got time to polish things up, but for now, the fan verdict is clear: this ocean feels suspiciously shallow.
