continuing my analysis of this ridiculously cute splash animation source Part One
before maui even has time to think "wait where did my hook end up?"
OH HAI
BONK
BYONG
for a brief shining moment, maui's head is big enough to hold his ego. almost
nice catch.
but wait, lets look at that moment just a second longer, where he catches the hook
is it just me or does his new hook seem to have a hair trigger? first it boinks him into a half-shape he clearly didnt intend, then maui's fin barely brushes the hook before he's back to man-form.
like in moana 1 he always had to put a moment of conscious effort into it, like channeling mana or even just giving a little squeeze. but in the trailers & promo stuff he seems like he shifts almost before he's touching the hook, or on accident like this. maybe its because this hook is basically brand new or maybe because he was super rusty? but even in the heart stealing flashback, when he was easily at the height of his mastery he wasnt quite this snappy. smooth, graceful, nearly seamless, yes- but deliberate, in control.
does this point to possibly maui being stronger in his powers? could he one day progress to the point where he doesn't need to rely on manaiakalani* quite as much? maybe more able to remotely channel mana thru it? I'd love a thor/mjolnir "are you the god of hammers" development for maui.
this is the kind of juicy animation detail i thrive on.
im gonna have to make a part three so i can give the next few frames space to breathe, because oh my god is it cute. less than 2 seconds of animation that clutch my heart and squeeze it like a squeaky rubber chicken. I still havent even gotten to the article itself because im hyperventilating over the finale of this dumb little 4th wall break promo animation.
*the hawaiian proper name for maui's hook, and the constellation scorpio. yes maui is a scorpio, he is a textbook scorpio. scorpio sun, leo rising, sagittarius moon and i might have to present a ted talk on the subject very soon.
