Lebanese Animator Shares Love for Disney Movies
DUBAI: From a young age, Lebanese animator Louaye Moulayess has been captivated by the magic of Disney movies.
Speaking exclusively to Arab News about his latest project, “Moana 2,” hitting cinemas in the Middle East on Nov. 28, Moulayess emphasized the importance of diverse voices in Disney storytelling.
From a young age, Lebanese animator Louaye Moulayess has loved Disney movies. (Supplied)
“We all grew up with different kinds of stories told to us, right? I grew up with specific Lebanese stories. For example, if I turned on the TV in Lebanon as compared to somebody in Lisbon, for example, we’re going to watch different things. Our sensibilities are going to be a bit different. Now we all have something in common, which is Disney movies,” he told Arab News.
At a time when his home country, Lebanon, is facing challenges due to Israeli attacks, US-based Moulayess finds solace in his work and the art of storytelling. “It all comes back to the stories my grandparents and parents told me,” he said, adding that Disney movies have always been a source of hope for him.
“Moana 2” Continues the Magical Journey
“Moana 2,” set in ancient Polynesia, picks up three years after the events of the 2016 original. Moana (voiced by Auli’i Cravalho) receives an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors and forms her own crew to travel the vast seas of Oceania, reuniting with her shapeshifting, magical friend, Maui (Dwayne Johnson).
“I loved the first movie. When I started working on ‘Moana 2,’ I felt like I already knew the characters very well. So, I knew Moana and I knew Maui … I knew how they moved, I knew what their personalities were. But, at the same time, they became somebody else three years after.
“So, the challenge was a bit different compared a new movie, where we would have had to figure out the characters and how they moved and how they behave. The challenge here was, I know this character, but this character has changed. How do we make it new and find the specificity of this new personality?” Moulayess said.
Passion for Animation Ignited by Disney
When asked about the moment that sparked his interest in animation, Moulayess once again credited Disney. “I think the moment I made my decision was after watching ‘Lion King.’ Like the first sequence of the ‘Circle of Life,’ after that when everything goes black and you see the title of the movie. It really shocked me in the best way. I was like, ‘Who is this Walt Disney?’ I thought it was one person doing this back when I was a kid, because I saw the name Walt Disney. I was like, ‘It must be one person doing this.’ And I decided I’d do this one day. So, this is what triggered everything. And slowly, I just gravitated towards animation,” he said.
Now based in Burbank, California, Moulayess left Lebanon for the US as a young student.
“In Lebanon, when I graduated high school, I looked around for majors that had animation, but back then, there wasn’t anything available. Exploring Animation Majors: A Path to Success in the Industry
In the world of animation, there are a select few schools that offer majors specifically focused on this creative field. One such school is the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, where aspiring animators like Moulayess have found their calling.
Moulayess made the life-changing decision to pursue his animation studies at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, leaving his hometown behind. Little did he know, this decision would lead him to incredible opportunities in the animation industry.
After completing his four years of university education, Moulayess landed a coveted internship at Pixar Animation Studios. His time at Pixar allowed him to work on the hit film “Cars 2,” an experience he describes as incredibly fortunate and rewarding.
Following his internship at Pixar, Moulayess continued to climb the ranks in the animation world. He spent seven fulfilling years at Blue Sky Studios, contributing to beloved films like the “Ice Age” series, “The Peanuts Movie,” and “Ferdinand.” In 2019, he made the move to Disney, where he worked on the highly anticipated “Frozen 2” before taking on the challenge of working on “Raya and the Last Dragon.”
Moulayess’s journey from a student at the Academy of Art University to a successful animator at top studios like Pixar, Blue Sky, and Disney is a testament to the power of passion and dedication in the world of animation. With each project he takes on, Moulayess continues to leave his mark on the industry, showcasing his talent and creativity for audiences around the world to enjoy.