One of the best parts about watching a Disney Animations Studios film is seeing all the Easter Eggs. In fact, Easter Eggs is one of the reasons to see the film in the theatre more than once and then go buy it on Blu-Ray when it comes out. I've seen Moana three times now and I can't wait to see it again to find even more Moana Easter Eggs. Here are 15 Moana Easter Eggs I've found and some of the parallels and Easter Eggs I've made between some of the other Disney films, and I didn't even include any of the zillions of hidden Mickeys scattered throughout the movie. PS, there maybe spoilers ahead.
1. Baymax
In the scene with the Kakamora coconut warriors, when Moana lands on the Kakamora’s boat, there is a Kakamora with a Baymax face. Who doesn't love the adorable Baymax from Big Hero 6.
2. Sven
When Maui is having trouble shape-shifting Tamatoa’s liar after he retrieves is magical fishhook, one of the animals he shape-shifts to is Sven from Frozen.
3. Olaf
Did you see Olaf in Moana? If you blinked, you may have missed him. Olaf from Frozen can’t live on an island because it’s too warm, but his carrot nose makes an appearance on the island as Sina helps Moana pack up to get on the canoe.
4. Flounder
In the 2D animation scene during “You’re Welcome,” Flounder from The Little Mermaid is among the swimming fish.
5. Squirt and Crush
In the beginning of the movie, the little sea turtle is Squirt and in the water you see Crush, as well. I’m pretty sure I spotted see Dory in that same sequence, as well.
The question of the day is…is the sea turtle in Moana Crush or is Squirt in Moana? You decide. Timeline wise? I don't know if it's Squirt and/or Crush in Moana. What I do know, is that it is at least one or the other. Disney Animation always adds their own characters and the directors confirmed it. That's good enough for me.
6. Wreck-It Ralph
If you stay for the credits, you’ll get to see the Wreck-It Ralph as a tapestry. This is a nod to the fact that Wreck-It Ralph 2 is the next Disney Animation Studios film scheduled to release (March 9, 2018).
7. Flash
In the realm of Monsters sequence, watch for Flash from Zootopia as an bioluminescence faced “monster.” You’ll see an animal with a glowing face and four toes that looks a bit sloth-like.
8. Lilo and Stitch
When Moana grabs the frond and uses it to scoot Squirt toward the water, it’s a nod to when Stitch does the same with the sea turtles in Lilo and Stitch.
9. Lilo and Stitch
Moana says, “Mmmm that’s good pork,” in front of Pua, a joke that’s that’s similar to the reference Lilo’s sister makes about giving Lilo’s fish a tuna sandwich.
10. Princess and the Frog
When they are about to enter the Realm of Monsters, Maui lands first, Moana crashes down on top of him. In the Princess in the Frog, Tiana falls first, Naveen crashes down second. (My 9-year-old daughter mentioned this one to me).
11. Hercules
Maui’s backstory is the reverse of the Hercules backstory. Also, Dwayne Johnson was in a live-action Hercules in 2014
12. Rocketeer
One of the objects that falls off Tamatoa looks like a rocket. Moana uses it as a drum while she's baiting Tamatoa, but is it a nod to the sequel Disney is creating of the 1991 movie the Rocketeer?
13. Film Directors Ron Clements and John Musker
Director Ron Clements and John Musker are known for hiding caricatures of themselves in the Disney animated films they have directed. They’ve directed so many of my favorite films over the years, including Aladdin, The Princess and the Frog, Hercules, The Little Mermaid, and so many more.
This time, their appearance can't be seen in any crowds.
During this song, “Where You Are,” at the beginning of the film is where you'll see Ron and John hiding.
When the villagers come out to place a cloth on a clothesline, look at the fabric detail. Ron and John are hidden in the design. They also seem to be hidden in the Kakamora in the same scene with Baymax.
14. Little Mermaid Parallels/Easter Eggs
It makes sense to see lots of “Under the Sea” parallels give that The Little Mermaid is Lin-Manuel Miranda’s favorite Disney Movie and Directors John Musker Ron Clements directed The Little Mermaid.
Gramma Tala’s necklace she gives to Moana is a call back to the necklace in The Little Mermaid that was used by Ursula to hold Ariel’s voice. The necklace represents a vessel for holding a key to the resolution in the film.
Also, the rock in Maui’s cave is similar to the statue of Prince Eric in Ariel’s Grotto and the face breaking off is nod to when Eric’s face breaks off his statue.
You can’t help but see the parallels of the fathers of the Ariel and Moana wanting their daughters to stay within the limits of their habitats. However, unlike King Triton, Chief Tui’s mandate is one created from fear and trauma through his personal experience beyond the reef, not one of oppression and because “that’s the way things have always been.”
The brilliant and fun reference to Sebastian the Crab in the end credit scene of Moana is a great hat tip to The Little Mermaid as well.
15. Aladdin Parallels/Easter Eggs
The carpet having its own character goes beyond the water just being an important part of the story and part of the Polynesian culture. The water is very Aladdin Magic Carpet-esque. The water guides her forward in her journey without words, it helps her, it chose her. The water even high-fives her like the Magic Carpet does.
Maui’s fast and furious transformations during his shape-shifting are a nod to the transformations the Genie undergoes in Aladdin.
Word on the street is the Genie’s lamp is floating around, too, but I haven’t seen it yet. I would venture a guess it’s in Tamatoa’s liar, though. Comment if you’ve seen it!
What other Easter Eggs have you seen or parallels have you made with other films from Disney?
My good friend Carol over at All Mommy Wants found a bunch of Moana Easter Eggs, too. You should read her post, too!
Like this post? Read out Spoiler-Free Moana Review
Jana
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Brittany says
December 10, 2016 at 6:39 pmAladdin’s lamp is on tamatoa’s back to the left of maui’s hook when he first jumps on his back to steal back his hook. It’s only there for a second.
Jana says
December 10, 2016 at 9:39 pmOooh thanks! I’ll have to check the next time I watch!
Lucy says
October 16, 2017 at 8:48 pmDory makes an appearance as the stranded fish when baby Moana is called by the ocean then you see her swim away with crush and squirt.
Joshua Jones says
January 14, 2017 at 1:44 pmProbably Crush and his father since this happens in the past.
Shelby Roberts says
January 25, 2018 at 1:02 amYes that’s what I was thinking since he’s like 150 years old in finding nemo and that’s present day
Frankie dis. says
January 16, 2017 at 5:08 pmTamatoa high fives the tattoo of himself exactly the same way genie high fives carpet in aladdin.
DAD says
March 27, 2017 at 5:40 pmit’s maui not tamatoa
Bekah says
May 17, 2017 at 1:40 pmThe magic carpet itself makes an appearance in tapa form. If you look at the design of the fabric the pig gets covered by in “How far I’ll go”, it’s based on the carpet’s design.
The sun flower from Tangled makes an appearance in the scene where Moana’s island is healed.
Also, I think there’s a reference to Rescuers Down Under when Maui is fighting Te Ka in the form of a lizard. He runs down her arm saying “hot, hot, hot!” in a way that reminds me of Frank the lizard. I’d have to watch RDU again to be sure.
Jana says
May 17, 2017 at 9:09 pmI’m sure you’re right! There are so many!!
Brittany says
February 10, 2017 at 3:36 amSince this movie takes place earlier in time would you think the turtle in this movie is Crush? Then possibly the turtle in Lilo and Stitch is Squirt?
Jana says
February 12, 2017 at 8:45 amOh maybe! Maybe It’s Crush as a baby and his dad. Good theory! I love it!
Jennifer says
June 13, 2017 at 7:21 amThat’s exactly what I was thinking. Finding Nemo takes place in modern times and Crush states he is 150 and still young. So it would seem to me the little turtle in Moana obviously couldn’t be Squirt but could be Crush as a baby.
Roger says
February 20, 2017 at 8:38 pmI think the whale that swallows Dory and Marlin in Finding Nemo is actually Maui in whale form. It might explain why the whale was so helpful!
Shilo says
March 15, 2017 at 10:59 amI think the monster with a head dress that gets blown up back into the water is actually Stitch. He does have 4 fingers like a sloth but so did Stitch. And in Moana, this guy has 4 arms also like Stitch.
Jana says
March 15, 2017 at 12:39 pmOoooh I’ll have to watch that scene again. I could easily see having Stitch in this movie somewhere!
batman says
March 16, 2017 at 1:25 pmi think yhe bow baby moana gets is similar to the one in lilo & stitch 2
Rockhound6165 says
July 17, 2017 at 2:43 pmIt’s been confirmed on the Moana DVD that the aforementioned monster is indeed Flash.
Jana says
July 18, 2017 at 4:48 pmYes! Ron and John mentioned it when we interviewed them!
Scarlett says
March 25, 2017 at 12:11 amWhat about the shout-out to Aladdin directly in the Shiny song? After Maui’s failed shape shifting sequence, Tamatoa refers to himself sparkling like a “diamond in the rough”!
Jana says
March 25, 2017 at 9:55 amHa, yes! There are so many!
Stephanie says
March 27, 2017 at 8:49 amAlso when Maui rolls the coconut off his elbow in his song sequence it’s just like Aladdin did with the apple
Just Saying says
April 29, 2017 at 11:40 amTomatoa could have caused the curse. He wanted someone like him to earn the lamp and his treasures.
Saarah says
April 9, 2017 at 11:39 amTarzan parallels! When Moana and the ocean first meet and they nod their heads to the side in confusion is exactly how Tarzan and Kala interact for the first time. When Maui comes back, its almost in the exact same scenario as when Tarzan returns from the ship. they even quote, “you came back.” but Maui’s and Tarzan’s response are different.
AJ says
May 30, 2017 at 9:33 amThe guy you want to get in touch with is Brien Hindman – he was my teacher in an online modeling class, and also an “Environment Modeling Supervisor” at Disney for Big Hero 6, Moana, and some of the other recent Disney movies. So he was basically in charge of building the worlds, houses, foliage, props, etc for both movies. He told us about a bunch of the Easter Eggs in both of those films.
For example, in Big Hero 6 – he hid goats EVERYWHERE. I won’t spoil it by telling you where they are. There’s also a tiny Wreck-It Ralph statue (like the one on the 50th Anniversary cake) found on top of Hiro’s computer monitor in his room.
BUT! There is no direct tie-in to Pixar films… so the part about Crush or Squirt isn’t correct.
Jana says
May 30, 2017 at 6:22 pmOh that’s so much fun! I would love to have taken a class with him. The studios do work in some collaboration with one another on projects. You can actually see the turtle (whichever it is) in that Baby Moana scene, but the directors confirmed that egg in an interview during the press junket.
Reyna Neuman says
June 29, 2017 at 12:40 pmI think David’s necklace from Lilo and Stitch is a reference to Maui’s hook!
Carli says
February 24, 2019 at 6:46 amYES!!! I knew I couldn’t be the only one who caught this!!
Angelina says
July 7, 2017 at 9:28 amI think that heihei the bird in the movie is meant to be represents Becky the bird from Finding Dory? But who knows.
Corie says
July 12, 2017 at 2:29 pmMoana/Little Mermaid reference:
When Tamatoa is beginning to sing and is looking upward and sings “fish are dumb dumb dumb” through the water above him, it’s just like when Ariel is finishing part of your world. Looks that way at least 🙂
Daniel says
September 1, 2017 at 1:52 amThanks for pointing out all these easter eggs in Moana! I missed like half of them!
vickie couturier says
September 12, 2017 at 11:55 amthese are so cool,,my grandkids would enjoy these,,im going to do them next year
Heather Edwards says
November 11, 2017 at 10:49 amNow that I have finally watched this movie I am going to have to try to look for all of these.
Heather Shuler says
December 26, 2017 at 1:27 pmFrom Pocahontas Both of the Chiefs tell their daughters about the paths they choose ” it suits you.”
Kevin says
September 16, 2018 at 6:51 amIt wouldn’t be possible for crush to be in Moana maybe an ancestor of his. If Samoa was settled in 800bc and Polynesians started colonizing central islands in around 1000AD.
So Moana should have taken place around then. Crush is not 1000-2000 years old.
Jana says
September 16, 2018 at 6:23 pmFrom an age standpoint, of course not! From a standpoint of the animators always add in their previous animations of Easter Eggs, he’s there!