Moana

Like many designers, it took Keil a long time for the breakthrough.

Her very first engagement as a designer was creating the wardrobe for Miss Samoa in 1996.

And something which started off as a hobby has brought her far from her kitchen table, onto local and regional runways and eventually the big jump to the red carpets of Hollywood.

The Disney CGI film - which has won Golden Globe and AFI awards and received Annie and BAFTA nominations - was nominated for an Oscar on Tuesday in the best animated feature film category, and should be considered the favourite to win.

Zootopia is also the only nominated animated film to top US$1 billion at the global box office; the other billion-dollar animated film, Pixar's Finding Dory, was snubbed.

Moana was up for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for How Far I'll Go. It was beaten by Zootopia and the song City of Stars from La La Land respectively.

One of the directors of Zootopia used theiir time at the podium to take a subtle dig at Donald Trump, highlighting how the film promotes diversity and acceptance even in these troubled times.

It's been nominated for best animated motion picture and best original song for a motion picture.

Oscar-nominated film-maker, New Zealander Taika Waititi, is behind the script about a Polynesian princess called Moana.

The film follows Moana's quest as she sails the Pacific Ocean in search of a fabled island, with help from demigod Maui.

Maui is voiced by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and 16-year-old Auli'i Cravalho voices Moana.

RNZ reports ahead of its release, some feared the potential for cultural appropriation and the portrayal of Māui came under fire for reinforcing negative stereotypes about Polynesian obesity.

Now that people have seen the film in its entirety and not just the trailer, some have formed new opinions.

The film follows the chief of Motunui's daughter, Moana, as she journeys across the Pacific to find the demi-god Māui, to convince him to return the heart of Te Fiti in order to heal the land.

The production cost was $75 million. Introducing rookie Hawaiian teenager Auli‘i Cravalho, 15, and famous actor Dwayne Johnson, of Samoan heritage. One movie critic calls it: “Proof you don’t need white heroes to star in a hit movie.”

 While still in the U.S., I went out with my son’s family to see the opening show of Moana. The grand kids were all excited, they’ve been waiting to see the initial introduction of the first Polynesian theme animated movie for children.

Adding to the studio's stable of multicultural princesses (although the title character points out she's merely the daughter of a chief), the movie begins and ends strongly, which should compensate for a flat stretch in the middle that, not coincidentally, is right around the time when the demigod known as Maui, voiced by Dwayne Johnson, shows up.

Moana follows the adventures of a young Polynesian princess and navigator who is accompanied by the superhero-demigod Maui, but in the run-up to the film's premiere reaction has been divided between those who have praised its cultural inclusiveness and others who feared the potential for cultural appropriation.

RNZ reports Australian based band Te Vaka was approached by Disney to help write the soundtrack and its bandleader Opetaia Foa'i said despite the controversy, the filmmakers spent years researching to get the film right.

A children's toy shop Patini, located in Vision City is the first to sell a Moana sweater, a Moana doll and the Moana costume itself.

Patini brought its first and only supply early last month and has already sold off the doll, leaving only the sweater, (K188.80 ) and costume (K430) of Moana, which is a Samoan traditional dress including sandals.

Moana is Disney's first Polynesian princess who teams up with a demi-god Maui to make an ocean voyage in the South Pacific and save her people.

The costume, a full-body suit with brown skin, traditional tattoos, grass skirt and bone necklace, represents the character Maui, considered a demi-god and ancestor by many Polynesians.

Activists said it was "brownface", or mocking of the culture by creating stereotypes.

Disney said it regretted any offence.