Walt Disney Pictures debuts their new animated film Moana on November 23, 2016, and while it features the debut of their first Polynesian princess, there's going to be tons more characters to love. Disney has released clips featuring Gramma Tala, Moana's Grandmother, and Tamatoa, the giant hermit crab.
Here's Disney's official description of the film:
Three thousand years ago, the greatest sailors in the world voyaged across the vast South Pacific, discovering the many islands of Oceania. But then, for a millennium, their voyages stopped – and no one today knows why. From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes “Moana,” a sweeping, CG-animated adventure about a spirited teenager who sails out on a daring mission to prove herself a master wayfinder and fulfil her ancestors” unfinished quest. During her journey, she meets the once-mighty demi-god Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson), and together, they traverse the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous fiery creatures and impossible odds. Directed by the renowned filmmaking team of Ron Clements and John Musker (“The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,” “The Princess & the Frog”).
While we're all looking forward to newcomer Auli'i Cravalho and her depiction of Moana, as well as the vocal stylings of Dwayne Johnson as Maui, there's several other familiar voices in the cast. New Zealand actor Rachel House (who played the amazing child welfare worker in Taika Waititi's Hunt for the Wilderpeople) is voicing Gramma Tala (Nicole Scherzinger plays Sina, Moana's mother) and Disney has released the first clip featuring her. Like most Grammas, she's looking out for her young ones.
Earlier this year we found out Alan Tudyk is voicing rooster Hei Hei (and two other characters) but another New Zealander, Jemaine Clement (of Flight of the Conchords fame), is voicing Tamatoa in the film. He's a giant hermit crab with a penchant for shiny things. Here's a silly feature with Clement discussing the character.