Yesterday’s big animation news was that Taika Waititi will be writing the screenplay for Disney’s next animated princess film, Moana.
But who exactly is this Taika Waititi?
Taika Waititi was born on August 16, 1975 in Wellington, New Zealand. He initially entered the film industry as an actor, but quickly expanded his resume, writing, directing and starring in a number of short films.
(Bonus! Most of these shorts can be viewed here.)
After Waititi’s short, Two Cars, One Night, began winning awards at film festivals, Waititi was offered the opportunity to helm his first feature film, Eagle vs Shark (2007). Eagle vs Shark is a goofy, Napoleon Dynamite-esque romantic comedy starring Jemaine Clement from The Flight of the Concords. Not-so-coincidentally, 2007 also saw Waititi directing episodes of — wait for it — The Flight of the Concords.
A string of TV directing jobs followed, including recurring gigs on Super City and The In-Betweeners. But perhaps the most notable work of Waititi’s is an independent film he wrote, directed and starred in, Boy (2010).
Boy is an amazing, odd, incredibly imaginative and heartfelt film about an 11-year old boy who’s obsessed with Micheal Jackson and reconnecting with his troubled father. Its characters are eccentric yet relatable, one-of-kind yet wholly familiar. The film is kind of like Northern Exposure or Gummo or Lilo & Stitch in that its uniquely removed setting informs the characters and story in such a way that adds unexpected nuance and an almost mythical quality.
In addition to acting, writing and directing, Waititi is also a painter, standup comedian, fashion designer and photographer. Or, to put it another way, dude keeps busy.
Waititi is a Maori of Te-Whanau-a-Apanui descent, and hails from the Raukokore region of northeast New Zealand. One cool thing about Waititi writing Moana is that Disney has actually hired a person of Polynesian decent to write about a person of Polynesian decent. Seems obvious, but it is all too rare. (I know what you’re thinking — ‘But they still hired a man to write about a woman!’ — and hey, when you’re right, you’re right.)
I look forward to seeing what such a creative person brings to the screenplay for Moana. While most screenplays are written by writers more concerned with words than images, Waititi’s work in photography, fashion and directing gives me hope that Moana will be the sort of cartoon that takes full advantage of its unique place as a ‘visual medium.’ Also, Waititi is funny. And goddamn if I don’t love me some funny in my cartoons!
Related: First Look — Moana
