Legendary Directors Ron Clements and John Musker Return to Annecy to Present Never-Before-Seen Footage From Their Upcoming Feature “Moana”

Walt Disney Animation Studios returns to the Annecy International Animated Film Festival with the renowned filmmaking team Ron Clements and John Musker (“The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,” “The Princess and the Frog”) to present a never-before-seen exclusive preview of the upcoming comedy adventure film “Moana,” which features an adventurous teenager who, with help from demigod Maui, sails out on a daring mission to prove herself a master wayfinder and save her people.

Clements and Musker will unveil new artwork and work-in-progress sequences from the film, and showcase the extensive research their team conducted to bring authenticity to their most ambitious production to date.

“Annecy is the world’s premier festival for animation lovers,” says Musker, “and we couldn’t be more thrilled to share ‘Moana’ with this crowd.”

Walt Disney Animation Studios will also showcase the World Premiere of the all-new short film “Inner Workings,” presented by director Leo Matsuda (story artist, “Big Hero 6” and “Wreck-It Ralph”) and producer Sean Lurie. “Inner Workings” is the story of the internal struggle between a man’s pragmatic, logical side and his free-spirited, adventurous half.

From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes “Moana,” a sweeping, CG-animated feature film about an adventurous teenager who sails out on a daring mission to save her people. During her journey, Moana (voice of Auli’i Cravalho) meets the once-mighty demigod Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson), who guides her in her quest to become a master wayfinder. Together, they sail across the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds, and along the way, Moana fulfills the ancient quest of her ancestors and discovers the one thing she’s always sought: her own identity. US Release Date: Nov, 23, 2016.

“Inner Workings” is the story of the internal struggle between a man’s pragmatic, logical side and his free-spirited, adventurous half. Created by a small team at Walt Disney Animation Studios in a unique, fast-paced style that blends CG and traditional hand-drawn animation, the short explores the importance of finding balance in daily life. The short will be released with Moana in theaters.

Joe Hogarty