Building moana's kakamora barge

Abstract

In Walt Disney Animation Studio's Moana, a key moment in the story calls for the protagonists to confront a floating island barge crewed by coconut-clad pirates: the Kakamora. Combining a large moving set on an animated ocean with active crowds, sails, ropes and effects simulations required coordination across multiple departments and some on-the-fly innovations. To handle the challenges the sequence presented, we made extensive use of automation and procedural tools along with some creative design decisions to save artist time and allow for greater reuse.