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Anna is a better heroine than Moana
1) Anna has more working against her emotionally and thus more to overcome
2) Her journey is more perilous
3) Her final victory comes from being more heroic
A Thread:
1) Anna has more working against her emotionally and thus more to overcome
2) Her journey is more perilous
3) Her final victory comes from being more heroic
A Thread:
The main difference at the start of these two’s journey is how much more is going against Anna. Anna is neglected by her sister who she loves and both her parents die at the same time. Even after this her sister continues to shut her out. Anna isn’t being set up for success.
Moana in contrast has everything going for her. She has parents who love her, a grandmother who loves her and a whole village that sings a about how much they love her. The amount of love, praise and just being raised to lead makes it obvious she will be capable of great things.
The biggest problem that Moana has is...her dad disagrees with her on how to best help their island.
Anna’s biggest problem is her sister Elsa continues to show she doesn’t love Anna and even says
Now to be fair Moana does lose her elderly grandma who passes away peacefully from old age lying in her own bed surrounded by loved ones. Which doesn’t seem as traumatic as...
Now their journeys. Anna must head up the mountain and back to Arendelle. On the return journey she has a frozen heart that is slowly killing her...
Moana must sail across the ocean. Moana sailing across the ocean seems incredibly difficult but she can’t drown! The ocean is on her side. The most dangerous part of sailing is non existent for her.
Next up their allies! Moana has the demi-god Maui on her side who posses the power of strength, and shape shifting. Oh and remember the ocean? That’s on her side too.
Who does Anna get? A snowman that likes warm hugs and an ice salesman who talks as his reindeer to himself.
Now I know I’m downplaying Olaf and Kristoff. My point is if you had to choose which pair you wanted on an adventure you’d probably pick the demi-god/ocean combo.
Now for the villains on their journey! Moana must face off against the corrupted god Teka a giant lava monster! And Anna must face off against Hans a charming douche. Ok Moana wins this round, Teka is for sure a greater threat...BUT
Teka is defeated by Moana singing...that thing every Disney Princess can do. It’s a great scene but also kind of an easy win.
In fact Anna tried singing to help Elsa. She ends up having her heart frozen so that she is slowly dying for the remainder of the movie. Now during her final confrontation with Hans she is dying and against someone who can’t be changed by the power of song.
Now both our heroines use non violent ways to overcome their obstacles. But Anna’s is much more heroic because she actually gives her life to save Elsa. Her final victory comes from self sacrifice for a person who has neglected her for years.
This connects back to how both characters started their journeys. Moana is always shown love and understanding and she uses those things on Teka to bring Te Fiti back.
Anna is shown love that’s true. But she’s also shown neglect from Elsa and apathy/selfishness from Hans. Anna choosing Elsa over herself is more inspiring because it would make sense for Anna to become cold and to choose herself. But she doesn’t she chooses someone else.
Don’t get me wrong Moana is great but considering all she has going for her it makes it kind of obvious she will succeed. But Anna overcoming more obstacles/conflicts makes her victory more interesting/inspiring.
Thank you for attending to my Disney Talk.
Thank you for attending to my Disney Talk.
