Mark Mancina scores the live action Moana

Earlier this year, composer Mark Mancina recorded his score to the new live-action adaptation Moana, based on the hit 2016 animated film. Directed by Thomas Kail, the score recording took place at the Eastwood Scoring Stage at Warner Bros., ten years after Mancina scored the original animated film, and we’re thrilled to share our exclusive photos from the scoring sessions with our readers!

The orchestra performs on Moana

Revisiting his score ten years later gave Mancina an opportunity to build on what he had done previously, as well as approach some of the same musical ideas from a different angle. The songs for the original Moana were written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa’i, and Mark Mancina; for this new live-action version, Miranda penned a new song. The score was conducted by Pete Anthony, leading a 73-piece ensemble of the studio musicians. Te Vaka was recorded in Sydney, Australia, with Opetaia Foa’i, while additional percussion was recorded at Mancina’s studio in Carmel, California.

The musicians performing on Moana

The violin section performing on Moana

The cello section on Moana

Phil O'Connor on saxophone, Donald Foster on clarinet, Rose Corrigan and William May on bassoon

Flautists Jenni Olsen and Geri Rotella and oboist Lara Wickes

The French horns perform on Moana

The brass section

In the booth, composer Mark Mancina was joined by orchestrator Larry Rench, scoring mixer Dave Boucher, score producer Marlon Espino, music editor Sebastian Zuleta, ProTools recordist Kevin Harp, and stage recordist Tom Hardisty.

Composer Mark Mancina and scoring mixer Dave Boucher

Inside the control room at the Eastwood Scoring Stage during the Moana scoring sessions

Score producer Marlon Espino, composer Mark Mancina, scoring mixer Dave Boucher, and Vice President of Music Production Ryan Hopman

Score music editor Sebastian Zuleta

ProTools recordist Kevin Harp

Orchestrator Larry Rench and score producer Marlon Espino

Moana opened in theaters on July 10th, and a soundtrack album is available from Walt Disney Records.

Pete Anthony conducts the musicians at Warner Bros.