Maui is a larger than life character in Moanawhich makes sense considering his background. The demigod of wind and sea was presented in 2016 Moana film, but it’s become clear that this is far from the last audiences will see of him. Maui Returns for 2024 Sequel Moana 2and there’s no telling where this franchise and character will go after this. Audiences are likely to learn about Maui’s history as the Moana the films continue to expand his story. Still, a lot has already been established between the existing story and the mythology this character is based on.
Moana is the true heroine of Moana films, but Maui can’t be completely left out (nor would he want to be). The character is quite fickle and quirky – morally good, but also self-obsessed and full of mischief. The first Moana The film laid the groundwork for his story, explaining how he became a demigod, received his magic hook, and unwittingly started a plague that nearly destroyed all life in the Pacific Ocean. Going to Moana 2There’s still a lot to learn about what Maui does now that it’s righted its past mistakes – but let’s first take a look at his background and inspiration.
Maui was a human created by the gods before Moana
The First Moana Movie Explained Maui’s Origin
Maui pretends to enter Moana that he is pure, indifferent confidence. However, the Disney film ultimately reveals that this character’s bravado hides someone who has been deeply hurt. During Maui and Moana’s confrontation with the great crab Tamatoa, it is suggested that the demigod was abandoned as a child and that your desire to give humans everything they want comes from the hope of earning their love. Later, faced with Moana’s urgent questions, Maui explains that a mortal son was born, but his family didn’t want him. So they threw the child into the ocean to die.
Maui used these powers to improve the lives of humans, hoping they would love him like his parents apparently never did.
It’s a tragic story, but the gods of Moana they must have seen something in Maui (just like they saw something in Moana itself). The baby was rescued by the gods and raised as a demigod. Maui received the magic hook that gave him the ability to change shape. Before the events of MoanaMaui believed he was nothing without this power. As a demigod, he was immortal, but the hook was what made him special. Maui used these powers to improve the lives of humans, hoping they would love him like his parents apparently never did.
Why Maui stole Te Fiti’s heart and was banished
Maui spent 1,000 years on a desert island
During the song “You’re Welcome” in MoanaMaui explained all the different feats he accomplished trying to please humans. He is credited with lassoing the sun toward the earth and therefore lengthening the days. He created breezes, pulled islands out of the sea for people to explore, and buried eel guts to create coconut trees. Every time he did something, a tattoo would appear on Maui’s skin, commemorating the gift he gave to humans. However, it never seemed to be enough. Maui was desperate for approval and this led him to make a terrible mistake.
The opening scene of Moana describes how Maui stole Te Fiti’s heart, but was thwarted by a lava monster and banished to a desert island (without the heart or the hook) for a thousand years. It is later revealed that Maui only stole the heart because he wanted to give it to mortals as a gift. He believed they could use this stone to create life, but this was an honor restricted to the gods. Maui had no idea that stealing the heart would stop the flow of creation, and for the next thousand years, a plague spread across the sea, killing everything it touched.
Maui’s powers in Moana explained
Maui’s main power in Moana came from his hook. This was how he could transform into different animals, with a giant falcon being the demigod’s favorite. It becomes apparent in the 2016 film that even with the grappling hook, Maui’s ability to shapeshift is tied to his own confidence. After his monumental mistake of stealing Te Fiti’s heart and several centuries alone and powerless on an island, Maui’s confidence wavered and he therefore struggled to transform freely once he retrieved his hook. With Moana’s help, he slowly got the hang of it again.
Although Maui believed he was nothing without his hook, this is proven in Moana that this was not true. He was still a demigod, and although he didn’t possess the kind of power of gods, he could perform some incredible feats. Raising islands from the sea or lassoing the sun had very little to do with shape-shifting, so Maui is presumed to have herculean strength. Additionally, Maui is immortal and does not age or die from natural causes. Still, his fear of facing Te Ka implies that he may die from his injuries.
Maui is inspired by a demigod from Polynesian legends
The real Maui is a folklore hero and trickster
Although the character seen in Moana is fictional, it is based on legends and myths from various Polynesian cultures (via Bouffant post). Maui is considered a folklore hero and is not typically worshiped. However, this character is loved similarly to European stories like Robin Hood or King Arthur. Legends of Maui originates in one variation or another from Hawaii, New Zealand, Tahiti, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and more. This is truly remarkable, as the stories surrounding Maui and the other gods of Polynesian mythology stretch more than 4,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean, demonstrating just how effective travelers like those seen in Moana they really were.
Many of Maui’s feats described in the Moana song “You’re Welcome” come directly from these Polynesian legends.
Many of Maui’s exploits described in Moana the song “You’re Welcome” comes directly from these Polynesian legends. This mischievous and flawed hero has been at the center of many creation stories, including the origin of fire and the sky. Maui’s own story of birth and origin in Moana it also fits into some versions of the demigod’s real stories. There is even a legend about a time when Maui tried to help humans become immortal, but failed and was severely punished by the gods as a result.
Dwayne Johnson plays Maui in the Moana films
Dwayne Johnson plays Maui in Moana, Moana 2 and The Live-Action Moana
Maui is voiced by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in Moanaactor and former professional wrestler. Johnson is Samoan on his mother’s side and has made his adoration for his character public in Moana. He returned to the role to Moana 2 and will also play Maui in the upcoming live-action remake of Moana. Among all these Disney movies, Johnson will forever be associated with the character Maui. Of course, the true hero of folklore goes far beyond an actor or film, going back centuries and across miles and miles of islands in Oceania. Without considering, Moana and Johnson are responsible for bringing Maui into the mainstream.