Plans for Disney films in te reo

Disney has announced plans to release reo Ma¯ ori versions of Frozen and The Lion King.

Filmmakers Chelsea Winstanley and Tweedie Waititi were leading the productions, after working on the inaugural reo Ma¯ ori Disney production, Moana Reo Ma¯ ori.

The duo would lead a team based in Aotearoa to translate and record the two animated films.

Waititi said she hoped the new versions of the very popular children’s films would help strengthen te reo.

‘‘Kia taorotia te reo Ma¯ ori ki nga¯ uri puta noa, puta noa! In order for our language to thrive it must reach the hearts and homes of our people.’’

Disney said it planned for The Lion King Reo Ma¯ ori to premiere in June 2022, to align with Matariki.

The plan was for Frozen Reo Ma¯ ori to be released during Te Wiki o te Reo Ma¯ ori in September next year.

Production for Moana Reo Ma¯ ori started in 2017, and it was launched for Matariki 2020.

Winstanley and Waititi, of the reo Ma¯ ori-focused production group Matewa Media, led a national search for voice talent to record Moana Reo Ma¯ ori – hiring children, newsreaders and bringing Jemaine Clement back to finish the film.

Frozen premiered in 2013. It earnt US$1.28 billion In the box office, making it the highestgrossing animated film ever.

The Lion King, which originally debuted in 1994, was remade in 2019.