Watch: Behind the scenes video reveals how Moana came to life thanks to the Pacific

Disney has released a new clip giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming Moana, looking at how the islands of the Pacific influenced the movie.

The film's directors Ron Clements and John Musker travelled to various Pacific islands and spent time with the locals observing the culture and way of life.

A Moana family photo.

From that, they were able to include huge parts of Polynesian culture in the story of Moana, including family dynamics, traditional music, dance, arts, waka and food preparation.

Moana's family weaving baskets.

Moana showcasing traditional dance.

They also revealed that the idea to make the ocean a character in itself came from the connection between Polynesian cultures and the water.

Moana characters take to the water in a traditional waka.

The video was shared by Moana star Auli'i Cravalho (who plays Moana) on Facebook, accompanied by the caption: "So proud to be a part of such an incredible film that celebrates the history and culture of the Pacific Islands. Can't wait for you all to see Moana!"

It features Cravalho as well as co-star Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, as well as Kiwi actors Temuera Morrison and Rachel House.