Lin-Manuel Miranda's Role in Moana
Lin-Manuel Miranda co-wrote the original songs for the Disney animated film Moana, released in 2016, alongside Opetaia Foa'i and Mark Mancina. He did not appear on screen as a main character but contributed to the film's music and voice cast. The project was produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios, a division of The Walt Disney Company, and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. For background on Disney's structure, see Forbes.
Miranda provided the voice of the character Maui's mini-hawk, Hei Hei, in a brief cameo appearance. The film's soundtrack, featuring songs such as "How Far I'll Go" and "We Know the Way," became a major commercial success and charted on the Billboard 200. The animated musical was directed by Ron Clements and John Musker, with screenplay work by Jared Bush and Pamela Ribon. The production involved Walt Disney Animation Studios' headquarters in Burbank, California.
Lin-Manuel Miranda's Career and Disney Collaborations
Broadway and Film Work
Lin-Manuel Miranda created the Broadway musicals In the Heights and Hamilton, both produced by The Walt Disney Company's Broadway division. Hamilton, which originated on Broadway in 2015, was later adapted into a filmed version released on Disney+ in 2020. Miranda's work on Moana marked one of his early major Hollywood film collaborations before he took on larger roles in other Disney projects. His transition from stage to screen is documented by sources such as BroadwayWorld.
Other Disney Projects
After Moana, Miranda worked on the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid, released in 2023, where he contributed new songs alongside composer Alan Menken. He also wrote music for the Disney animated series Elena of Avalor and the Encanto soundtrack, which won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. These projects solidified his position as a key creative figure in Disney's modern musical output. The Walt Disney Company's official site provides an overview of its recent animated releases at disney.com/movies.
Moana Cast, Music, and Production Details
The main voice cast of Moana includes Auli'i Cravalho as Moana and Dwayne Johnson as Maui, with Miranda in a supporting voice role. The film's music was recorded at multiple studios, including the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank and locations in New Zealand and Samoa. The production budget was reported at around $150 million, and the film grossed over $643 million worldwide, according to box office tracking data. The film's credits list Walt Disney Animation Studios as the production company and cite the original songs' writers, including Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Moana 2, a sequel to the original film, was announced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and is scheduled for release, with Miranda not attached as a writer or composer for the follow-up. The original Moana remains a key entry in Disney's modern animated canon and is frequently cited in discussions of Miranda's cross-platform creative work. The film's soundtrack album achieved multi-platinum certification in multiple markets and is available on major streaming platforms. Industry coverage of the Moana franchise and its music can