If you have spent any time on Disney Twitter (X) or TikTok Indonesia, you have likely seen the hot take: "Moana dubbing Bahasa Indonesia is better."

At first glance, this seems like patriotic bias. But after listening to both the original English track and the Indonesian version back-to-back, I have to agree. The 2016 Disney masterpiece Moana (or Sang Petualang) isn't just well translated in Indonesian—in some key ways, it is superior.

Here is why the Bahasa Indonesia dub deserves a standing ovation.

Let’s address the elephant in the room: How Far I’ll Go. In English, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s lyrics are genius but sometimes syllable-heavy.

Enter the Indonesian version, "Sebatas Mimpi" (which translates to "As Far as a Dream"). The lyricist didn't just translate; they localized.

When Disney released Moana (titled Vaiana in many European markets) in 2016, it was hailed as a cultural milestone. For the first time, Disney delved deeply into Polynesian mythology, complete with wayfinding, demigods, and a powerful oceanic narrative. But for millions of Indonesian viewers, a fascinating debate emerged. Is the original English soundtrack superior, or does the Bahasa Indonesia dubbing present a more compelling, emotional, and culturally resonant version of the film?

After dissecting both versions, comparing lyric translations, and analyzing vocal performances, a growing consensus among Southeast Asian film critics and Disney fans is this: The Bahasa Indonesia dubbing of Moana is not just “good for a dub”—in several key aspects, it is actually better than the original English.

Here is why.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is a global superstar, but his voice work for Maui in English is essentially Dwayne Johnson reading lines. He has charisma, but he lacks range. His singing in You’re Welcome is fun but stilted.

Enter Nando (Septian Nando) , the Indonesian voice actor for Maui. Nando does not try to mimic The Rock’s deep bass. Instead, he gives Maui a musical theater tenor with a comedic edge. When the Indonesian Maui sings “Sama-Sama” (the Indonesian title for You’re Welcome), he swings the rhythm like a jazz performer.

Furthermore, Nando captures Maui’s vulnerability better. In the scene where Maui’s hook is damaged, his Indonesian whisper of “Aku... tak punya apa-apa” (I have nothing) is devastatingly fragile—a nuance Johnson’s macho delivery glosses over.

Kelemahan umum dubbing Indonesia sering kali terletak pada jarak kualitas suara antara pengisi suara dialog (Voice Actor) dan penyanyi (Singer). Terkadang terasa jomplang. Namun, Moana berhasil memecahkan stereotype ini.

Penyanyi yang mengisi suara Moana (Cherish Fauziannah) dan Maui (Leto) memiliki kualitas vokal yang luar biasa kuat. Mereka tidak hanya "menyanyikan lagu," tapi "membawakan pertunjukan." Suara Cherish memiliki dinamika yang luas—lembut saat menenangkan, namun berdaya juang tinggi saat klimaks. Leto, sebagai Maui, membawakan karakter yang keras namun karismatik dengan vokal yang berat dan penuh tenaga, sangat cocok dengan karakter dewa setengah manusia.

This is the secret weapon of the Indonesian dub. While Hawai’i and Polynesia are geographically distant from Indonesia, they are linguistically and culturally linked via the Austronesian language family. Words like “mata” (eye), “laut” (ocean), and “mana” (spiritual power) exist in both Bahasa Indonesia and many Polynesian languages.

When Moana sings about the “laut biru” (blue ocean), an Indonesian ear hears a direct kinship to their own maritime heritage (the Penumpang Austronesia). The original English version treats Polynesian culture as an exotic "other." The Indonesian version makes it feel familiar.

Moreover, the concept of “leluhur” (ancestors) is sacred in Indonesian culture. The Indonesian dub emphasizes this word far more heavily than the English script, which relies on “grandma” and “the past.” For an Indonesian audience, the story stops being about a specific Pacific island and starts being a universal story about their own struggle between modern conformity and ancestral calling.

Maretha Dee, the voice of Moana in the Indonesian dub, doesn't try to copy Auliʻi Cravalho. Instead, she channels a different kind of bravery.