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Tamatoa's lair is the home of the giant crab collector, Tamatoa in the film Moana.

Background

Tamatoa's lair is a giant, upward spiraling seashell said to be located in the deepest, darkest part of Lalotai, the Realm of Monsters. Inside lies a wide array of golden and shiny treasures that had been hoarded by the villainous crab for thousands of years. The very top of the shell has an opening that acts as the only source of light, as well as the source of Tamatoa's food supply; fish from the sea catch a glimpse of Tamatoa's glittering shell below them and are immediately attracted to it. As such, they mindlessly swim into his seashell's opening, falling into his lair and into his mouth. There is also a cage made from discarded bones on the right of the lair's interior, which Tamatoa uses to hold his prisoners.

When the seashell's light source is covered, it is revealed that the lair is covered almost entirely in a type of luminescent paint, which gives it (and the material inside) a glowing, neon appearance.

Trivia

  • Art director Ian Gooding compares the design of Tamatoa's upward spiraling seashell lair to the architecture of the Guggenheim museum.[1]

References

  1. Julius, J., Lasseter, J., Malone, M. (2016). The Art of Moana. Chronicle Books, page 113. 
v - e - d
Moana Logo 2
Media
Moana (soundtrack/video) • Moana 2Moana (2025)Gone FishingChibi Tiny Tales

Video games: Moana: Island LifeMoana: Rhythm RunDisney Emoji BlitzDisney Heroes: Battle ModeDisney Magic KingdomsDisney Sorcerer's Arena
Books: The Art of MoanaDisney Princess Beginnings

Disney Parks
Art of Disney AnimationCastle of Magical DreamsIt's a Small WorldJourney of Water, Inspired by Moana

Entertainment: Believe! Sea of Dreams"A Whole New World" A Magical Disney SongbookBelieve! Sea of DreamsFantasmic!Follow Your DreamsMickey’s Storybook AdventureMoana: A Homecoming CelebrationRivers of Light: We Are OneThe Tale of Moana
Parades: A Million Splashes of ColourDisney Adventure Friends CavalcadeDisney Harmony in Color! ParadeMagic HappensMain Street Electrical ParadeMickey & Friends Street Celebration
Fireworks: Disney EnchantmentHappily Ever AfterHarmoniousMomentousWonderful World of AnimationWorld of Color: OneIlluminate! A Nighttime CelebrationWondrous Journeys
Spring: Disney Pirate or Princess: Make Your Choice
Summer: Adventure is Out There!Summer Blast

Characters
MoanaMauiGramma TalaChief TuiSinaHeiheiPuaMini MauiTamatoaKakamoraTe Fiti/Te KāOceanEight-Eyed BatsMatai VasaMotunui Villagers

Deleted characters: Moana's Brothers

Locations
MotunuiMaui's IslandLalotaiTamatoa's LairTe Fiti
Songs
Tulou TagaloaAn Innocent WarriorWhere You AreHow Far I'll GoWe Know the WayYou're WelcomeShinyLogo Te PateI Am Moana (Song of the Ancestors)Know Who You Are

Deleted songs: UnstoppableMoreWarrior Face

Objects
Maui's Fish HookHeart of Te FitiMoana's NecklaceMoana's Boat
See Also
As Told by Emoji
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