Moana x Ocean

"The ocean is a friend of mine."

- Moana

Moana x Ocean is the friendship between Moana Waialiki and the Ocean from the Moana fandom.

Canon
Even as a baby Moana always felt drawn the sea. This is what got her to head towards the beach on the very day that ocean saw an infant girl helping a baby sea turtle to safely cross from the beach into the sea. Before she began to collect seashells she could find on the sand. To reward Moana of her noble act of kindness, the ocean helps baby Moana with her shell collecting by revealing the ones under its waves, before creating a large watery wall. That allows Moana to see the turtle she helped. Because Moana was too young to understand that she was seeing the magical entity of the sea itself, she didn't know why a small shiny green stone was making its way towards her within the watery wall. The ocean had been searching for a hero to deliver a desecrated demigod to Te Fiti, so her heart can finally be returned to her. They believe that they have finally found that hero within Moana and enjoyed playing with her. After hearing the baby's father calling out to her, the ocean carefully carried Moana back onto the beach away from the waves. Moana says "bye bye" to her new friend, while the ocean waves bye to her. Tala saw what happened between them and kept the green stone Moana dropped safe.

As Moana grew she began to believe that what happened that day was a dream. From how she and the ocean never got the chance to play or interact with one another again. Thanks to her parents doing whatever they can to keep her away from the water that surrounds their home island. Whenever Moana felt that her parents aren't looking or are anywhere near the sea, she tries to either sail on it or simply let the water touch her skin, only to fail at every turn. Luckily her grandmother understands and supports her granddaughter's love for the sea, as she too has a respect for the ocean. Tala teaches Moana a dance based on the movement of its waves, as well as trying to give Moana opportunities to sail on it like she wants to; but Tui always got in her way. With Moana being her father's heir, she tries to distance herself away from the ocean in order to be the daughter he wants her to be. Until he accuses Moana of still wanting to go out into the sea, for simply recommending the idea of going beyond their boarders to catch fish. When the food on or near their island was either dying or disappearing from it.

Moana's song, "How Far I'll Go" expresses Moana always feeling drawn to the water of the ocean. No matter how hard she tries to fight the erg to see what lies beyond the shoreline of her island. From having this feeling that the ocean had been calling out to her. When Moana's first attempt at sailing beyond the island's boarders ended badly, she felt like it was a sign that she should focus on becoming the next chief. Until Tala revealed their voyaging ancestry to Moana and how Maui stealing Te Fiti's heart is the reason that the ocean had become too dangerous to sail upon for years. After Tala reveals that she saw the Ocean entrusting the heart to Moana, the living essence of the ocean makes themself known to them. Moana was amazed by this and knowing that she and the ocean are friends, she felt that they'll watch her back on her journey to Maui and then Te Fiti.

Normally the ocean doesn't help those who sail upon them whenever someone comes across danger on their waves. They did, however, kept Moana from falling asleep and then spirit her and her boat onto Maui's island. After she came across a large wave that would have drowned her. At first Moana was angry at the ocean for washing her up on an unknown island and tried to kick them, but the ocean moved their watery "body" away from her foot. Knowing that she'll catch on to where they have sent her to. When Maui tried to steal Moana's boat to escape his island prison, the Ocean helps her to get back on it. Along with them making sure that whenever Maui tried to toss her off it, they'll be there to get her back on it again. Even though the ocean didn't aid them in their battle with "coconut pirates," the ocean still aids Moana in setting to do his part of their mission. To make sure Maui does teach Moana how to sail through the art of wayfinding, they placed a blow dart on his behind and then hand Moana her oar. Before the two high-five each other. Showcasing their friendship and respect for one another.

On the side mission to get Maui his book back, Moana comes to realise that the ocean had chosen her to be their hero for a reason. This gives Moana the courage to face the next set of dangers that comes her way and to trust herself. Hoping that she'll be able to find what the ocean had saw in her. After a failed attempt to get passed a lava demon, with the ocean doing nothing to help them, along with Maui leaving her, Moana began to believe that the ocean had chosen the wrong person to save the world. These thoughts have her giving the heart back to the ocean, in hopes that they'll be able to find the right person. The ocean was hesitant before answering her request, knowing that they alone won't be able to change her mind from the state she was in. Before Moana able to sail home in defeat, the spirits of her grandmother and ancestors help her to realize who she is. As well as the hero that the ocean knows her to be, before driving into its water in order to reclaim the Heart of Te Fifi.

In the final battle as Moana realized that Te Kā is Te Fiti, the ocean answers Moana's request to part for her. So she can finally return the heart back to the Island Goddess. The ocean then holds Moana up as the goddess restores herself back to her true form, before landing Moana on her island and then bring both Maui and Heihei to her. During their journey together Maui had told Moana why the ocean likes it when he helped to create new islands, as it gives people like Moana and her ancestors to sail out to find them. Thanks to Moana the ocean will be able to have those days back. As after Moana returned home and placed the seashell that the ocean have her in thanks on top of the mountain, she got her people to go back to their wayfinding roots. Moana was also pleased with this outcome, as she looks forward to what else the ocean has to offer as she and her tribe sail towards a new island to call home.

Moments

 * Ralph Breaks the Internet
 * Moana summons the ocean from a near by fountain, so Ariel and Elsa can do their parts to save Ralph.

Fanon
Because the Ocean seen in the 2016 Disney film is also classed as a character, as well as them being a magical entity of the real life South Pacific ocean, it got people to wonder if the bond Moana has formed with the Ocean should be classed as a friendship than a cargoship. Even though treating it as a cargoship allows people to explore Moana's fondness and connection to the large body of water she has always been surrounded with, before re-meeting the spirit that lives within it. As it is one of the main reasons why fans view Moana as the second Disney Princess of the Sea, with Ariel from The Little Mermaid being the first. This is what got many people to ship the two sea/ocean Disney Princesses together. It also helps that Moana's name is one of her culture's words for "ocean."

Their friendship and respect for one another is the main reason why fans like to draw or reference Moana in a watery setting, in their fanworks of her. With Tumblr having many Simboards of Moana that commonly have gifts of the real life ocean and other water references, along with references to its aqua blue color. That is why AUs of Moana having an elemental power or connection is commonly water. As seen in an AU of Avatar: The Last Airbender, with Moana commonly being placed as a waterbender or a Katara-like character. There have been times when Moana has been placed beside other characters who have their own connections to the sea or simply water itself. Like when a Pokémon AU commonly has Moana specializing in water-types.

Most fanfics of cargoships on AO3 are more commonly tagged under "character" & other, while the Ocean being a character has allowed them to have their own tag. Making it easy for people to find fanfics of Moana and her unique watery friend.

Fandom

 * FAN FICTION

Trivia

 * "Moana" is the Hawaiian word for "ocean" (or any large body of water).
 * Moana's friendship with the ocean can easily be compared to the relationship that Mirabel Madrigal from Encanto has with her family's enchanted house.
 * As well as the bond that Elsa, Anna, Olaf and a young Iduna form with the wind spirit, Gale in Frozen II. Along with Elsa taming the Nokk, who is a water spirit that takes the form of a horse who is made out of water.