Do we like them?

Do we like Moana?

A character from Moana (2016)

Our score: 9 out of 10. Yes, we'd back her. She's brave, stubborn and kind, and she takes on a huge task out of love for her people. Her only real flaw is that she's headstrong.

Moana is the daughter of the chief of Motunui, a island community in the ancient Pacific. She has loved the ocean since she was a child, but her father forbids anyone from sailing past the reef. She is expected to lead her people one day, and she takes that duty seriously.

When crops fail and fish disappear from the island, Moana decides to go beyond the reef and find a way to fix it. She goes against her father's wishes and sets off on a dangerous voyage. She is pushed on by her grandmother's encouragement and by the ocean itself. She is determined and quick to learn. She starts with little sailing skill, but she gets by on grit and cleverness.

We score her high because her courage is always aimed at helping others, not at winning glory. She is stubborn and sometimes rushes in, but she listens, owns her mistakes and keeps going. She treats even prickly companions with respect, and that's why we'd follow her.