Encanto's Moana Easter Egg Is Even Better Than You Realize

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Disney's latest animated feature, Encanto, features a nod to Moana that's even better than merely a fun Easter egg. In fact, there's a surprisingly large number of Disney Easter eggs in Encanto, with references to everything from Hercules to Wall-E. But a subtle allusion to Moana, while less obvious than others, is actually pretty deep and significant.

Encanto is in many ways a continuation of Disney's long legacy of creating feel-good musical animated features for kids. Of course, it also has some notable distinctions, such as being one of few Disney movies set in Latin America and the first to represent real-life Colombia. The beauty of Encanto is how it marries fresh story concepts with Disney's existing strengths, such as heartwarming relationships, stellar music, and colorful animation. Because it is part of this longstanding legacy, it makes sense that Encanto is full of references to other Disney movies, which is itself a trick the studio is known for.

Related: Encanto’s Two Frozen Easter Eggs Explained

Encanto's MoanaEaster egg is especially significant because it's not only a fun moment but also draws attention to the deeper meaningful parallels between the two films. It's a particularly subtle reference, with Camilo sharing one joking line with Maui: "Worth a shot." But by linking Encanto and Moana together, the allusion emphasizes something much bigger, which is Disney's recent trend of representing more diverse and authentic storylines and cultures.

Both Moana and Encanto, along with Raya and the Last Dragon, are examples of a new Disney storytelling practice: forming story trusts specific to the places and cultures featured in the films. Moana's Oceanic Story Trust was the first of its kind