The first trailer for the live-action remake of Moana has been branded ‘CGI slop’ by underwhelmed Disney fans who are struggling to see how it differs from the original animated movie.

The forthcoming film, starring Catherine Laga’aia as the titular character and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson as Maui, is due to hit theaters on July 10, 2026.

The minute-long teaser was unveiled on Monday and revealed Laga’aia, 17, in the starring role.

‘I am a girl who loves my island and the girl who loves the sea,’ she sang while standing atop a luscious green mountain on the island of Motunui. ‘It calls me.’

Another snippet showed a huge whale diving in and out of the water, while a third revealed an aerial shot of a bird swooping around the island.

In one scene, the youngster was seen standing on the shore while the sea parted around her. 

The trailer has sparked a huge response online with many naysayers all saying the same thing: that the film looks like a copycat version of the original, but with CGI.

Taking to X, one said: ‘So we’re getting a CGI slop fest marketed as a “live-action” adaption for a… *checks notes* CGI-animated film that just got a CGI-animated sequel last year… right.’

The trailer for Disney’s live-action remake of Moana has sparked a sea of unfavorable reviews 

The first teaser for the new movie was released on Monday and has been branded ‘CGI slop’

Another said: ‘0.42 percent of this trailer is live-action.’

Echoing a similar sentiment, another wrote: ‘Holy s**t the CG looks worse than the original film. An impressive achievement!’

‘Almost indistinguishable from a fully animated movie…,’ observed a fourth.

Someone else declared: ‘This might be the most unnecessary shot-for-shot live-action remake in history.’

The first Moana film was released in November 2016 and starred Auliʻi Cravalho in the titular role.

A sequel, Moana 2, was released in November 2024.

‘I’m really excited to embrace this character because Moana is one of my favorites,’ newcomer actress Laga’aia said in a statement.

‘My grandfather comes from Fa’aala, Palauli, in Savai’i. And my grandmother is from Leulumoega Tuai on the main island of ‘Upolu in Samoa.

Many Disney fans have questioned the point in the film because of its use of CGI 

The trailer features dramatic scenes of boats plowing through the unruly waters 

An aerial shot of a bird swooping down towards the tropical island is also featured 

The original Moana film premiered in November 2016 

‘I’m honored to have an opportunity to celebrate Samoa and all Pacific Island peoples, and to represent young girls who look like me.’

The Rock also expressed his pride in being able to bring a live-action Moana to the big screen.

In a statement shared to his Instagram in 2023, he said: ‘This story is my culture, and this story is emblematic of our people’s grace, mana and warrior strength. 

‘I wear our culture proudly on my skin and in my soul, and this once in a lifetime opportunity to reunite with MAUI, inspired by the spirit of my late grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, is one that runs very deep for me.’