6 Things You May Not Know About Maui

1.The Rock

Maui is voiced by Dwayne Johnson. If you thought that was an obvious choice, you weren’t alone! Even though the character wasn’t specifically conceived with Johnson in mind, it quickly became clear that he was perfect for the role. Co-directors John Musker and Ron Clements were aware of Johnson’s connection to Polynesia, and of course, Johnson certainly had the appearance of a demigod! Consequently, Johnson was asked to take on the role immediately, and no other actors were auditioned.

2. Smile!

Maui’s appearance was greatly inspired by Dwayne Johnson…far beyond his muscular physique. For example, Maui’s dimples were based on Dwayne Johnson’s dimples. You’ll also notice that in several scenes, Maui raises his eyebrow in a cocky manner, just like Johnson!

3. Well, It’s Her Story After All…

Originally, the film’s plot was going to center around Maui, with Moana playing a secondary role. However, after an early research trip to the South Pacific, the story was quickly changed to focus on Moana.

4. Putting On Muscle

In addition to his shifting role in the film, Maui’s physical appearance was also different in the movie’s early stages. Specifically, he was much shorter in stature and also bald. As Maui’s design was refined, the animation team researched athletes such as football players and wrestlers. Curiously, one of the sources of inspiration was High Chief Peter Maivia, a professional wrestler and an actual Samoan high chief. Why is this curious? He was Dwayne Johnson’s grandfather!

5. Impeccable Research

To ensure authenticity in Maui’s look, the art team researched every aspect of Polynesian design, including materials, patterns, and dyes used in clothing. They also studied the tattoos of Samoan chiefs when it came time to design Maui’s tattoos.

6. Back to Basics

Maui’s tattoos presented a particular challenge to the animation team. In the end, traditional hand-drawn animation was combined with 3D CG animation to bring Maui and his tattoos to life. The tattoo of Mini Maui was created by making hand-drawn sketches on paper in the traditional Polynesian tattoo style.

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