In 2016, we met Moana for the first time and the world instantly fell in love with her and her adventures. It also marked the first voice role of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, who played Maui, everyone’s favorite demigod who was the clear standout character of the movie. Despite being a huge success commercially and critically, there wasn’t much happening on any sequel plans. A TV series was announced sometime later to everyone’s surprise. But Moana rose from the depths of the ocean to become the most streamed movie of 2023, and Disney decided to rework the planned series into a movie. Almost exactly 8 years later, we finally have the return of the Wayfinder and the shapeshifting demigod on the big screen.
Moana 2 picks off shortly after the events of the first film and takes us back into the vibrant world of Motunui and the spirited daughter of the sea. As the movie points out, her story is far from over and we go on another journey of self-discovery, community, and courage. David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Miller direct this sequel with Miller and Jared Bush on scripting duties. Auli’i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Temuera Morrison, and Nicole Scherzinger reprise their roles while Rose Matafeo, David Fane, Hualalai Chun,g and Awhimai Fraser are among the new additions to the voice cast.
proving that Moana’s story still has waves to make.
The narrative definitely suffers from the format shift and if you pay enough attention, you’ll notice where the episodes were removed and where subplots felt rushed. This heavily impacts the first half of the movie which also suffers due to another major problem. The best part of the first movie was when Moana and Maui were together on screen which they were for most of it. But that’s not the case here. They are not together on screen as much here, and as a result, the lack of energy in the narrative is very apparent. However, the second half is a different story, coming together beautifully and significantly surpassing the first in both depth and execution. There are also a couple of impactful heavy emotional and poignant moments at the end.
The stakes are raised in this installment, with a new conflict that tests Moana’s leadership and determination. Fans of the first movie will find plenty of familiar elements, including moments of humor, heartfelt dialogue, and ocean-bound action, but there’s also enough fresh material to keep the sequel engaging. The new characters are a major highlight, adding depth and charm to the story. These additions are instantly lovable, and bring a fresh and energetic layer to Moana’s world, seamlessly fitting into the larger narrative. Also, the end sets up bigger adventures ahead for Moana and her new crew.
Many have been wondering how much the loss of Lin-Manuel Miranda will affect the songs in this sequel. This time they may not have the instant iconic status of “How Far I’ll Go,” but they are more than decent and give you some catchy tunes from time to time. The singing performances, however, are noticeably improved, with the cast bringing more emotional resonance and vocal dynamism to their roles. The vocal performances are stellar from the entire cast even apart from the musical sequences. Maui stands out yet again, but the new characters do more than enough to leave a positive impression.
Talking about the visuals, Moana 2 maintains a high standard of animation, though it doesn’t deliver the best that Disney animation is capable of delivering. The lush, vibrant ocean landscapes and intricate character designs are still a joy to behold, but the overall quality feels slightly more subdued, which might be down to the sudden format shift. Even then, the visuals are never a hindrance to the narrative and often impress the viewer with its colorful composition.
Moana 2 is a worthy sequel that celebrates the enduring spirit of its predecessor while introducing new dimensions to her story. It may not have the groundbreaking innovation or polish of the first film, but its heartfelt narrative and adorable characters make it a satisfying follow-up. Fans of Moana will find themselves charmed once again with this grand adventure that maybe imperfect, keeps the heart of the franchise alive and sets up exciting things to come. It’s a solid sequel that makes for a fun family outing. Moana 2 gets a Chee-Hoo from me.
Moana 2 releases in cinemas on November 27.
