Moana's Fish Hook in Once Upon a Time: A Magical Disney Easter Egg

Moana in Once Upon a Time? The Magical fish hook's Unexpected Cameo!

Once Upon a Time's Magical Menagerie: Why Moana Stayed Missing... But Her Fish Hook Didn't!

Once Upon a Time (OUAT) was amazing. It was known for using fairytale characters and Disney characters; featuring everyone from Snow White and Cinderella to Anna and Elsa (from Frozen). But there’s one surprising omission—Moana! Despite OUAT keeping pace with newer Disney films, Moana never appeared. Yet this specific Disney property, while lacking the specific characters, found a unique way of contributing through its story elements.

OUAT found creative ways of using themes and elements of movies into this television show's own universe. When directly using an existing property proved difficult, OUAT brilliantly turned these themes into mythology, folks! We’ve seen it before: Will-o'-the-wisps from various movies or even Ursula from The Little Mermaid! And even Maui’s legendary fish hook got featured; This becomes significant later in the narrative because of how central this specific item ended up becoming, despite having seemingly less important status in its originating property!

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Maui's Fish Hook: A Twice-Used Magical Relic

Moana looking a Maui with a smug look while leaning on a ship's mast in Moana Image

Although Moana's characters remained absent from the television series, that magical fish hook from the 2016 movie did have its time in the sun! It first appeared in season 7, episode 13, “Knightfall.” Hook needed this for an important task— saving his daughter Alice, trapped in a tower. That mission didn't quite work, yet that relic was used at a later, significantly more critical point for all involved.

In Moana, the fish hook allows Maui to shapeshift— a totally awesome power that OUAT surprisingly overlooked. However, in this television series, it becomes essential: something able to break even enchantments – this dramatically increased that item’s overall value; despite this relatively limited usage for plot progression and it completely overshadows that more simple, initial usage as only plot advancement within a single episode.

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A Fish Hook Saves the Day (Twice!): A Fitting OUAT Finale

Robbie Kay as Peter Pan in Once Upon a Time Image

Even after that initial failure with Alice, the fish hook made a second appearance – for even more impactful purpose – in the series finale, “Leaving Storybrooke”! This specific element has great meaning: Hook, Rumpelstiltskin, and the heroes, are stuck inside a snow globe, in danger. It comes from seemingly out of nowhere; and Hook saves everyone – that whole sequence serves to showcase the ultimate, unexpected usage for such a unique element. This plot point also gets a surprising twist that is very difficult to predict: It turns out that it was actually Alice who put the hook into that snow globe, providing an ironic final twist after those events related to Hook’s initial plan using that very fish hook in a dramatically different way. The impact is significant – perfectly encapsulating OUAT's imaginative spirit, demonstrating those elements that makes the show unique and the many possibilities these unique characters really add into the final sequences for that particular plotline.

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Could Moana Have Appeared? OUAT’s Disney Connections

OUAT was generally good at integrating newer Disney characters. The year after Frozen came out, Anna and Elsa appeared. And that Maleficent showup, a direct sequel to Maleficent’s 2014 film, became an important part of season 5. Even Merida (from Brave) shows up in Season 5! It displays clear attempts and awareness on behalf of the creative and development team behind the television show, regarding current pop culture elements which demonstrates how popular this show remains and also what these fans like, while showcasing and satisfying certain demands and needs to deliver specific plot developments based on viewer expectation; greatly influencing overall success.

Given how closely OUAT stayed up-to-date; it sounds reasonable to consider the following; those Moana characters would’ve totally appeared if OUAT got another season! Although we don't know that storyline; this would have seamlessly connected that Disney movie with this ever-expanding universe.

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Conclusion: A Magical Tribute Through Unexpected Storytelling!

Moana herself might've remained missing from Once Upon a Time. Yet this amazing use of the fish hook really captures those unique elements and demonstrates just how creative those people who built this show were! Those elements cleverly bring those Disney details; into OUAT’s storytelling without adding the characters themselves; an ingenious use of fan knowledge. It leaves us wondering about those “what ifs” if the show actually made it beyond seven seasons.