Moana has gone far into modern Disney pop culture, appearing in everything from LEGO specials to the Walt Disney Company centennial short. Once upon a time there was a studio. With Moana 2Moana and her demigod friend Maui are back in the water for a new adventure that dares to go further and bolder. New characters, more visually stunning animation, and a deeper exploration of Polynesian mythology guide this heartfelt sequel that surpasses the original, even if it falls short in one or two places..

Although it follows a similar framework to that Moana, Moana 2 justifies its existence. This is clearly the next step in Moana’s journey from aspiring sailor to confident scout whose leadership skills are tested like never before. It’s enjoyable as long as it doesn’t bother navigating several familiar tropes and a soundtrack that makes the absence of composer Lin-Manuel Miranda quite noticeable.

Moana 2 sends Moana on a more dangerous journey

The search for a mysterious island is at the heart of the film’s story

The decision to convert Moana 2 from a Disney+ series to a movie raised eyebrows at first, but it was the right decision. If the first Moana it was about Moana proving her ability to cross the ocean, Moana 2 goes further and explores what she does with this newfound confidence. As a scout, Moana now spends her time venturing from island to island in search of other tribes…or at least signs of human civilization that once resided on their shores. At her side are her loyal/obligatory animal companions Pua and Hei-Hei, while Moana’s life now includes her sister Simea and a source of attention for her past exploits. So much so that her father, Chief Tui, believes Moana has proven herself worthy of winning the title of Tautai, their tribe’s highest honor.

During the ceremony, however, Moana is struck (literally) with a warning of doom for all her people. The only way to save them is to find Motufetu, a legendary island that once confined countless tribes across the sea until it was hidden by a malevolent storm god named Nalo. Set foot on Motufetu and Moana can break Nalo’s curse. To do this, she needs a team, recruiting eccentric shipbuilder Loto, fanboy artist Moni, and cantankerous farmer Kele to help her reach the island in one piece. Fortunately, the sentient spirit of the ocean remains on his side, as does Maui, who finds himself embroiled – once again, literally – in battling Matangi, a bat-commanding witch whose agenda just so happens to coincide with the mission. from Moana.

The film is constantly in motion, testing Moana, Maui and her teammates as they battle creatures of the deep, survive dangerous currents and, inevitably, learn to work together as a team. It’s a step up from Moana’s original character arc, requiring her to work with people whose quirks/moods aren’t necessarily suited to sailing and finding a way to embrace those quirks to ensure success. But this trope has been done many times before, and the supporting cast – while funny and likable – are never as interesting as they could be.

More intriguing is the way directors David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller expand the film’s world-building, introducing new revelations about that universe that expand moviegoers’ understanding of what came before. The coconut-headed Kakamora, for example, makes a return that could easily have amounted to clumsy fan service. Instead, Moana 2 offers a tragic story that helps viewers empathize with Kakamora’s marauding ways, successfully tying their return to the film’s larger theme of the unification of lost communities.

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Moana and Maui’s interactions are a highlight of Moana 2

Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson fully sell their character growth

Moana 2 continues the franchise’s tradition of making its antagonists forces of nature rather than traditional over-the-top Disney villains. They are not so much characters as divine representatives of primordial elements that Moana and Maui cannot simply vanquish with a magic oar or hook. There’s much more to Matangi than her villainous appearance suggests, and what Nalo lacks in identity, he makes up for with a dark, foreboding presence that validates Maui’s inclusion in the story by as a powerful ally. This also explains why, despite her eagerness to complete this mission, things might be too dangerous for Moana to handle.

This also allows Moana 2 to further explore his avenues, and fortunately, the chemistry between Cravalho and Johnson remains as strong as ever. Both excel at making their relationship goofy, heartfelt, and even heartbreaking, with Moana seeing Maui as a fun older brother figure and Maui seeing Moana as one of his few mortal friends. Moana was Cravalho’s first film role, and fans can sense her increased confidence this time around, effortlessly transitioning her character from confident guide to awkward older sister, all while selling the weight that Moana’s responsibilities place on her.. Even if it’s frustrating Moana 2 sidelines Moana’s parents again – not helped by Simea being so adorable as viewers will demand more from her – her dedication to this community is felt everywhere.

Johnson, meanwhile, plays Maui with equal parts arrogance and charm – keeping the warrior larger than life even as he fights far stronger foes than usual. Yet it’s not all fun and games, no matter how much he enjoys swinging his fishing hook and transforming into birds or giant sharks. A big change for Maui this time around is that he is willing to tone down his ego and play seriously when necessary, thus elevating his potential. Moana 2Moana’s drama by showing viewers that he truly understands the issues Moana and her team are facing. It’s a tight balancing act, but Johnson, who will play Maui for real in the upcoming live-action Moana remake, succeeds. Not to mention, it’s a great source of action, sight gags, and self-aware humor, all of which only add to this demigod’s winning personality.

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Moana 2’s music doesn’t really hit the mark

The film’s soundtrack lacks remarkable success

Or Moana 2 what falls a bit short is its soundtrack. Trim Moana‘s original songs were always going to be challenging, and new co-composers Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear try their hand at a new range of sea tunes for the viewer’s pleasure. Some, including the villain song “Get Lost” and Maui’s training montage “Can I Get A Chee Hoo?”, actually deliver catchy beats. But overall, these songs never reach the earworm level that made “You’re Welcome” and “How Far I’ll Go” such memorable classics among Disney fans..

Fortunately, the film remains visually stunning for everyone to see. Moana 2Animation loves to channel the natural beauty of its environments, from mountain peaks to luminescent spirit creatures that turn the ocean a beautiful neon blue.. There are even some 2D segments At The Maui exhibits and hilarious sensitive pec tattoo, demonstrating Disney’s willingness to experiment with classic visuals in a 3D space. These scenes make the world of Moana 2 feel dangerous and awe-inspiring, inviting viewers to get lost in this endless ocean and enjoy the thrill of sailing at high speed in the face of deadly danger. That sense of adventure is hard to beat.

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Moana 2 lays the groundwork for a possible Moana 3

Story and world-building hint at more to come in the Moana universe

Moana 2 is the latest entry in a very strong year for animation, after Inside Out 2, Transformers One, To flowAnd The wild robot in terms of experimental visuals and heartfelt storytelling. Even though its music doesn’t quite live up to what came before it and the involvement of its supporting cast can seem iffy in places, the film still remains a lot of fun, giving its co-leads more things to do, grow and explore while creating the movie of this world. the backstory and long-term issues seem richer. A mid-credits teaser only adds to these stakes – even if it appears to be a holdover from the film’s streaming origins – potentially setting up bigger things to come in Moana’s future.

If people liked the first Moanathey’ll probably feel the same way about its sequel. Many of the film’s strengths hinge on this signature friendship between Moana and Maui and when it focuses on their bond and intense moments of sailing on beautifully rendered seas, Moana 2 revives that familiar Disney charm. Kids and their parents will enjoy watching it together over the Thanksgiving holiday and probably watching it again when it inevitably arrives on Disney+.

Moana 2 premieres in theaters on November 27, 2024.

Moana returns to the open sea for a new adventure that takes her far beyond the horizon. Facing new challenges and meeting unknown allies, she seeks to restore balance to her island after discovering an ancient threat. Alongside her loyal friends and the demigod Maui, Moana must navigate dangerous waters and mystical realms.

Director

David G. Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, Dana Ledoux Miller

Release date

November 27, 2024

Cast

Auli’i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Alan Tudyk, Rachel House, Temuera Morrison, Nicole Scherzinger, Hualālai Chung, David Fane, Rose Matafeo, Awhimai Fraser, Gerald Ramsey, Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda

Writers

Dana Ledoux Miller, Jared Bush, Jason Hand, Ron Clements, John Musker

Runtime

100 minutes

Studio(s)

Walt Disney Images, Walt Disney Animation Studios

Benefits

• Moana and Maui’s friendship remains a strong moment.
• The animation is a step up from the original Moana.
• The film delves deeper into the traditions and culture of Moana’s world.
• There is a constant supply of humor throughout.

Disadvantages

• The music is a notable downgrade from the first film.
• The supporting cast needs to be used more.

Develop