Disney announced it's making another movie with a notable female protagonist. This one, "Moana," is about a girl from Oceania who goes in search of adventure. She's the latest in a long line of princesses and strong women from the studio. Check out our short list of Disney (and Pixar) movie heroines: 
Elsa is the star of 2013's "Frozen," based on Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen." This year, the film became the highest-grossing animated film of all time. 
Merida, a Scottish princess, sets out to break her family's curse in Disney-Pixar's 2012 film "Brave." She's a skilled archer, a good sword-fighter and a pretty good horsewoman, too. 
So what if "Tangled's" Rapunzel defends herself with a frying pan and holds prisoners captive with her long, magical hair? The character was no shrinking violet in the 2010 film. 
Mulan bent traditional gender roles when she took her father's place in the Chinese army in 1998's "Mulan." Don't pretend you didn't get chills when she climbed up that pole during the "I'll Make a Man Out of You" training montage. 
She might have traded her voice in for a pair of stems, but "The Little Mermaid's" Ariel (from the 1989 film) was still one tough chick. Would you disobey your pop if he carried a triton that granted him unlimited power? Didn't think so. 
Helen "Elastigirl" Parr and her daughter, Violet, fight alongside the rest of the Incredible family to defeat Syndrome in 2004's "The Incredibles." 
Belle is literate and brave. She takes care of her father, fends off an arrogant hunk and teaches table manners to an enchanted prince in 1991's "Beauty and the Beast." 
"Finding Nemo's" Dory, who starred in the 2003 Pixar film, might suffer from short-term memory loss, but the brave little regal tang wasn't afraid to stand up to sharks, jellyfish and whales on the way to P. Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney. 
Despite being abandoned by her former owner, "Toy Story's" Jessie -- a central character in "Toy Story 2" (1999) and "Toy Story 3" (2010) -- is upbeat and ready for action. She even gives Woody and Buzz Lightyear a run for their money. - New Disney heroine: Moana, a navigator from Oceania
- Film due to be released in late 2016
- Moana is "indomitable, passionate" with "unique connection to the ocean"
(CNN) -- Get ready for another addition to the line of Disney heroines: Moana, an ocean adventurer.
"Moana," a film about a teenage girl in "ancient Oceania," according to the plot description, is scheduled to make its debut in late 2016.
Moana, who is described as a "born navigator," sets out on a voyage to seek a mysterious island. Her primary companion is Maui, a demigod, and together they "traverse the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous sea creatures, breathtaking underworlds and ancient folklore."
Ron Clements and John Musker ("The Little Mermaid," "The Princess and the Frog") are directing.
Disney has always been a place for princesses -- a tendency that's earned them some criticism over the years -- but it's hard to argue with the box office. Last year's "Frozen" is the highest-grossing animated film of all time, and other Disney classics -- including "Beauty and the Beast," "The Little Mermaid" and "Cinderella" -- have been cash cows for the studio, influencing both popular culture and the bottom line. (More "Frozen" is coming, too.)
"Moana" promises more of the modern version: beautiful, clever and adventurous, said Musker in a statement, according to the Los Angeles Times.
"Moana is indomitable, passionate and a dreamer with a unique connection to the ocean itself," he said. "She's the kind of character we all root for, and we can't wait to introduce her to audiences."
