Moana will not have a love interest in new Disney movie

Directors Ron Clements and John Musker say the film is about the princess 'finding herself'

Moana and Maui as voiced by Auli'i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson

Disney princesses don’t need princes these days.

Just as Frozen heroine Elsa’s storyline centred around her self-acceptance and relationship with sister Anna with no romantic interest in sight, new female lead Moana will not fall in love in the upcoming film named after her.

Moana directors Ron Clements and John Musker, best known for Aladdin, told a Comic Con panel that Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) will remain prince-less in the animated movie, instead focusing on “finding herself” while battling to save the world with legendary demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson).

Those lucky enough to attend the event in San Diego were shown a sneak peek at the film and given more details of the plot. Moana will be set 2,000 years ago in the South Pacific, Entertainment Weekly reports, and tell the story of a 16-year-old princess with the power to control the ocean who teams up with Maui to search for a mythical land.

Here’s the full synopsis:

Three thousand years ago, the greatest sailors in the world voyaged across the vast South Pacific, discovering the many islands of Oceania. But then, for a millennium, their voyages stopped – and no one today knows why. From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes “Moana,” a sweeping, CG-animated adventure about a spirited teenager who sails out on a daring mission to prove herself a master wayfinder and fulfill her ancestors’ unfinished quest. During her journey, Moana (voice of Auli’i Cravalho) meets the once-mighty demi-god Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson), and together, they traverse the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous fiery creatures and impossible odds.

The portrayal of Maui has come under fire from some people who believe his obese size unfairly stereotypes Polynesians and could impact negatively on children. Johnson will perform a song as Maui written for him by Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Moana follows in the foosteps of Disney's highly successful outing with Zootropolis earlier this year, which garnered rave reviews and crossed the $1 billion mark worldwide.

It arrives in UK cinemas on 2 December.