INDIANAPOLIS — Movie theaters thrived once again during the Thanksgiving holiday, thanks to "Wicked," "Gladiator II" and the highly anticipated "Moana 2."
Indianapolis native John Hasbrook had a big part in bringing the Disney sequel to life as a layout artist.
"A layout artist is a cinematographer and visual storyteller of the film, and we have a huge department here. We take storyboards, we work with art, and we put it all together and translate that into the 3D space, so that could be crafting the action sequence, intimate moment or all the above," Hasbrook said.
As a kid in Indianapolis, Hasbrook said he drew every day, envisioning an art career for himself.
"I wrote a letter when I was 11 to Walt Disney Animation Studios in Burbank, saying I want to work there, and I got a letter back, saying, 'Thanks for your interest. We make the films for people like you. Here's the type of jobs we have – animator, layout artist – and here's a reading list,'" Hasbrook said. "I felt like that letter was to me. I realize now it was a form letter and goes out to a lot of people, but it felt like that was to me, inspire me to pursue this dream."
After going to Indiana University to be a doctor, Hasbrook transferred after a couple of months to pursue his dream of becoming an artist.
"It was 27 years later from the letter I got back, I started at the studio," Hasbrook said. "I started on 'Encanto' during the pandemic. It's like a true dream come true. Every day is a pinch-me moment working on these films and thinking I may be inspiring the next generations."
"Moana 2" picks up three years after the events of the first film, reuniting the titular heroine (voiced by Auli'i Cravalho) and shapeshifting demigod Maui (voiced by Dwayne Johnson) after she receives a call from her wayfinding ancestors for a journey to the far seas.
"It's an epic ride. It was exciting and entertaining to work on, and we know it's exciting and going to entertain audiences and has a little bit of everything for all audiences," Hasbrook said.
In honor of Walt Disney Animation Studios' 100th anniversary, the company released a 9-minute animated short film, titled "Once Upon a Studio," where many characters from the 62 feature films come to life through photos hanging on the walls to take a group photo.
"I was privileged to interview and be chosen as director of cinematography of that," Hasbrook said. "It was a mixture of my background in animation and live action where we had a 3D version of our studio and filmed all these locations and had the characters come out of real life. I actually have a cameo in the beginning of the film leaving the studio that night before the characters come out."
From "How Far I'll Go" to "You're Welcome," the music from the first "Moana" was a smashing success, keeping up with the Disney standards of top-tier animated musical films.
"Moana 2" features eight new songs, with Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear replacing Lin-Manuel Miranda as songwriters.
"They knocked it out of the park. It's unbelievable songs. So powerful," Hasbrook said.
"Moana 2" is now in theaters nationwide.