Disney to Screen Never-Seen ‘Moana’ Sequences at Annecy

Unseen artwork and work-in-progress sequences from “Moana,” produced by the Walt Disney Animation Studios, will be unveiled at June’s Annecy International Animation Film Festival, one of the world’s biggest toon events.

The sneak-peek will be presented by “Moana” directorial duo Ron Clements and John Musker, whose collaboration dates back to “The Great Mouse Detective.” Since then they have written and directed Disney titles such as “The Little Mermaid” (1989), “Aladdin” (1992), “Hercules” (1997) and “The Princess and the Frog” (2009).

CG animated feature film “Moana” follows an adventurous teenager (Moana), the chief’s only daughter, and from a family of illustrious sea wayfarers, who sails out on an intrepid journey helped by a demigod Maui (voiced by Dwayne Johnson) to prove herself a master pathfinder and save her people.

Clements and Musker will take an Annecy audience through their research on “their most ambitious production to date,” per a Disney statement.

Cast voices include Johnson (“The Scorpion King“), Alan Tydyk (“Wreck-It Ralph “) and newcomer Auli’l Cravalo.

Walt Disney Animation Studios will also world premiere at Annecy the short “Inner Workings,”  directed by Leo Matsuda, a story artist on “Big Hero 6” and “Wreck-It Ralph.” In a hybrid technique mixing CG and hand-drawn animation, “Working” turns on the internal struggle of a man between his rational side and his free-spirited adventurous half.

“Moana” will hit U.K. theaters on Dec. 2nd. The Annecy International Animation Film Festival runs June 13-18.