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Moana 2

Moana 2 is an American computer-animated musical-adventure-comedy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. It is the sequel to Moana (2016). It is the 63rd animated feature in the Disney Animated Canon. It was released on November 27, 2024.

Synopsis

Walt Disney Animation Studios' epic animated musical Moana 2 takes audiences on an expansive new voyage with Moana, Maui, and a brand-new crew of unlikely seafarers. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she's ever faced.

Plot

Three years after the first film, Moana spends her days exploring new islands in hopes to find other people who are connected to the ocean. One day, she gets a vision from her ancestor, Tautai Vasa, that the reason why no one is connected to the ocean anymore is because the evil storm God Nalo wanted power over the mortals, so he sunk a mystical island called Motufetu down to the depths of the ocean, which connected all islands and that her island will be deserted if Moana doesn't find a way to revive the island. She brings a crew of people from Motunui, craftswoman Loto, Maui fanboy Moni, and grumpy elderly farmer Keke, alongside her pet pig and rooster, Pua and Heihei, to find the island.

Meanwhile, Maui is seeking Motufetu himself since he had a previous quarrel with Nalo, but he is captured by Nalo's enforcer, Matangi. He is reluctant to contact Moana for help due to fearing for her life. Eventually, Moana and her crew meet the Kakamora, who soon reveal that Nalo's actions against Motufetu caused them to be disconnected from their home island. One of them helps the crew destroy a giant monster clam that takes them to Matangi's lair. While the crew find Maui, Moana meets Matangi, but learns that she isn't happy serving Nalo and actually helps Moana escape his lair and reunite with Maui and her friends before sending them to where Nalo is.

Maui soon reveals that Nalo's realm is more deadly compared to the mortal realm and that fighting him will be suicide. After they get washed ashore on an isolated island, Moana begins to despair, but Maui encourages her to keep trying as they plan on Maui raising the island and Moana touching it as that is the only way to restore Motufetu and stop Nalo. Her friends repair the damaged raft, and they soon ride to face Nalo. Despite their best efforts, Nalo manages to strip Maui of his Godhood, forcing a desperate Moana to touch the island under sea, with Nalo's storm killing her in process. Maui (having regained his Godhood) jumps in and with the help of Moana's ancestors, they revive her, with Moana becoming a demigoddess (complete with demigod tattoos), and Maui raises Motufetu, reconnecting the ocean with the mortals.

Moana returns home and a celebration is held in her honor. In a mid-credits scene, Nalo is about to punish Matangi for helping Moana with him planning revenge. They are soon visited by Tamatoa, who wants to join their cause to get revenge on Moana for her actions against him in the first film.

Cast

Production

During a Disney Investor Day meeting in December 2020, chief creative officer Jennifer Lee announced that an animated series titled Moana, based on the 2016 film of the same name, was in development at the studio for Disney+.[1] The series entered development simultaneously with the live-action remake.

On February 7, 2024, Bob Iger announced that the series had been reworked into a theatrical feature film.

Release

Moana 2 was scheduled to be released in theaters on November 27, 2024. A sneak peek at the film is set to screen at the 2024 Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 14, 2024.[2] The first trailer for the film was released on May 29, 2024.

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 61% of 216 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.2/10. The website's consensus reads: "Riding high on a wave of stunning animation even when its story runs adrift, Moana 2 isn't as inspired as the original but still delights as a colorful adventure." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 58 out of 100, based on 50 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews. Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A–" on an A+ to F scale.

International premieres

Videos

Gallery

The Disney Wiki has a collection of images and media related to Moana 2.

Trivia

  • This movie has a mid-credits scene. This is the usual practice of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it's unusual for the Disney Animated Canon.
    • Furthermore, this mid-credits scene involves the villains and hints at a potential sequel, which is something the MCU tends to do with its mid- and post-credit scenes, making it the second Disney Animated Canon film to end on cliffhanger (first being Fun and Fancy Free, which has Willie the Giant seeking revenge on Mickey).
  • In 2020, a sequel to Moana was announced in the form of an animated series that was set to debut on Disney+.[1] This was eventually retooled into a theatrical feature film.[3]
    • In fact, this marks the first Walt Disney Animation Studios film that was originally intended as a TV series.
      • This is also the second Disney-owned film to be in this case, after The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild, though it was still released on Disney+ even after being retooled into a film.
  • Unlike the first Moana film, the sequel has no involvement whatsoever from it's original creators Ron Clements and John Musker.
  • This is the the first Walt Disney Animation Studios sequel since Frozen II in 2019.
    • Coincidentally, both films take place three years after their respective predecessors.
  • This is the first Walt Disney Animation Studios film to be produced in 2.00:1 aspect ratio.
    • This aspect ratio is commonly used on contents produced for streaming service, while Moana 2 was originally developed as a Disney+ series.
  • This is the first Disney Princess film that is a sequel to be a part of the Disney Animated Canon.
  • This is the first film by WDAS produced mainly at their Vancouver studio in British Columbia, Canada.
  • This is the first Moana film to be produced in 2.00:1 aspect ratio, unlike the first film that was produced in 2.35:1.
  • Moana is the twenty-eighth Walt Disney Animation Studios film to become a franchise, after Fantasia, Bambi, Saludos Amigos, Cinderella, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, The Jungle Book, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, The Rescuers, The Fox and the Hound, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, Mulan, Tarzan, The Emperor's New Groove, Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Lilo & Stitch, Brother Bear, Tangled, Wreck-It Ralph, and Frozen.
  • There is an eight-year gap between the release of first movie and the sequel.
  • This is the third Disney film to be released on November 27 after Treasure Planet and Frozen.
  • Moana 2 is the first film not to follow the recent tradition of Walt Disney Animation Studios using their end credits to reference their next movie.
    • The reason that this tradition does not continue for this film is because the Disney+ series was still in development when Wish released in 2023, and the next WDAS film after Wish was not confirmed at that time.
    • Although Moana appears in the Wish end credits, this is unrelated to this tradition, as the end credits of Wish features all iconic characters in all WDAS films.
    • The tradition returns in this film as Gary from the upcoming Zootopia 2 makes a surprise easter egg as one of the woven tapestries near the end of the end credits.
  • To celebrate the movie's release, Disney Heroes: Battle Mode released a new costume for Moana and special events.
  • This is the first Walt Disney Animation Studios film to have the closing Walt Disney Animation Studios logo appear after the Walt Disney Pictures logo, as opposed to having the former logo appear before the latter logo.
  • This is the ninth Walt Disney Animation Studios film to have the voice talents in the end credits, after Bolt, Tangled, Wreck-It Ralph, Big Hero 6, Zootopia, Moana, Ralph Breaks the Internet and Strange World.
  • The film marks the first time Pua meets Maui, due to the former not tagging along in the first film.
  • This is the first Walt Disney Animation Studios film to be distributed by Studio Distribution Services on physical media in the United States and Canada after Disney shifted their physical media distribution to Sony Pictures Entertainment before Sony joined this joint-venture distribution unit between Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment in August 2024.
  • The events of the film most likely take place in the month of June. The five stars that mark the location of Motufetu make up Cassiopeia (called 'Iwa Keli'i, "frigate bird," in Hawaiian),[4] which is to the east of Polaris at midnight during the month of June. In the film, Cassiopeia is positioned such that it must be to the east of Polaris.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Holloway, Daniel (December 10, 2020). "'Moana,' 'Cars,' 'Princess and the Frog' Spinoff Series Set for Disney Plus". Variety.
  2. ↑ "Moana 2". Annecy International Animation Film Festival (May 8, 2024). Retrieved on May 28, 2024.
  3. ↑ Stephan, Katcy (February 7, 2024). "'Moana 2' Set at Disney With Surprise 2024 Release Date". Variety.
  4. ↑ "Hawaiian Star Lines and Names for stars." Hawaiian Voyaging Traditions. Retrieved January 31, 2025.

External links

v - e - d
Media
Moana (soundtrack/video) • Moana 2 (soundtrack/video) • Moana (2026) • Gone Fishing • Chibi Tiny Tales

Video games: Moana: Island Life • Moana: Rhythm Run • Disney Emoji Blitz • Disney Heroes: Battle Mode • Disney Magic Kingdoms • Disney Sorcerer's Arena • Disney Dreamlight Valley
Books: The Art of Moana/2 • Disney Princess Beginnings

Disney Parks
Art of Disney Animation • Castle of Magical Dreams • Esperanza Character Carousel • It's a Small World • Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana

Entertainment: Believe! Sea of Dreams • Dreams Take Flight • "A Whole New World" A Magical Disney Songbook • Fantasmic! • Follow Your Dreams • Mickey’s Storybook Adventure • Moana: A Homecoming Celebration • Rivers of Light: We Are One • The Adventure of Rhythm • The Tale of Moana • When You Wish
Parades: A Million Splashes of Colour • Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade • Disney Harmony in Color! Parade • Disney Starlight • Magic Happens • Main Street Electrical Parade • Mickey & Friends Street Celebration
Fireworks: Disney Enchantment • Happily Ever After • Harmonious • Momentous • Wonderful World of Animation • World of Color: One • Illuminate! A Nighttime Celebration • Wondrous Journeys
Spring: Disney Pirate or Princess: Make Your Choice
Summer: Adventure is Out There! • Summer Blast

Characters
Moana: Moana • Maui • Gramma Tala • Chief Tui • Sina • Heihei • Pua • Mini Maui • Tamatoa • Kakamora • Te Fiti/Te Kā • Ocean • Eight-Eyed Bats • Matai Vasa • Motunui Villagers

Moana 2: Simea • Loto • Kele • Moni • Kotu • Matangi • Nalo
Deleted characters: Moana's Brothers

Locations
Motunui • Maui's Island • Lalotai • Tamatoa's Lair • Te Fiti • Motufetu
Songs
Moana: Tulou Tagaloa • An Innocent Warrior • Where You Are • How Far I'll Go • We Know the Way • You're Welcome • Shiny • Logo Te Pate • I Am Moana (Song of the Ancestors) • Know Who You Are

Moana 2: We're Back • Tuputupu (The Feast) • Beyond • Finding the Way • What Could Be Better Than This? • Get Lost • Can I Get a Chee Hoo? • Mana Vavau • Nuku O Kaiga
Deleted songs: Unstoppable • More • Warrior Face

Objects
Maui's Fish Hook • Heart of Te Fiti • Moana's Necklace • Moana's Boat • Moana's Oar
See Also
As Told by Emoji

v - e - d
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) • Pinocchio (1940) • Fantasia (1940) • Dumbo (1941) • Bambi (1942) • Saludos Amigos (1942) • The Three Caballeros (1944) • Make Mine Music (1946) • Fun and Fancy Free (1947) • Melody Time (1948) • The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949) • Cinderella (1950) • Alice in Wonderland (1951) • Peter Pan (1953) • Lady and the Tramp (1955) • Sleeping Beauty (1959) • One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961) • The Sword in the Stone (1963) • The Jungle Book (1967) • The Aristocats (1970) • Robin Hood (1973) • The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977) • The Rescuers (1977) • The Fox and the Hound (1981) • The Black Cauldron (1985) • The Great Mouse Detective (1986) • Oliver & Company (1988) • The Little Mermaid (1989) • The Rescuers Down Under (1990) • Beauty and the Beast (1991) • Aladdin (1992) • The Lion King (1994) • Pocahontas (1995) • The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) • Hercules (1997) • Mulan (1998) • Tarzan (1999) • Fantasia 2000 (1999) • Dinosaur (2000) • The Emperor's New Groove (2000) • Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) • Lilo & Stitch (2002) • Treasure Planet (2002) • Brother Bear (2003) • Home on the Range (2004) • Chicken Little (2005) • Meet the Robinsons (2007) • Bolt (2008) • The Princess and the Frog (2009) • Tangled (2010) • Winnie the Pooh (2011) • Wreck-It Ralph (2012) · Frozen (2013) • Big Hero 6 (2014) • Zootopia (2016) • Moana (2016) • Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) • Frozen II (2019) • Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) • Encanto (2021) • Strange World (2022) • Wish (2023) • Moana 2 (2024)

Upcoming: Zootopia 2 (2025) • Frozen III (2027) • Frozen IV (TBA)

Pixar Animation Studios
Toy Story (1995) • A Bug's Life (1998) • Toy Story 2 (1999) · Monsters, Inc. (2001) • Finding Nemo (2003) • The Incredibles (2004) • Cars (2006) • Ratatouille (2007) • WALL-E (2008) • Up (2009) • Toy Story 3 (2010) • Cars 2 (2011) • Brave (2012) • Monsters University (2013) • Inside Out (2015) • The Good Dinosaur (2015) • Finding Dory (2016) • Cars 3 (2017) • Coco (2017) • Incredibles 2 (2018) • Toy Story 4 (2019) • Onward (2020) • Soul (2020) • Luca (2021) • Turning Red (2022) • Lightyear (2022) • Elemental (2023) • Inside Out 2 (2024)

Upcoming: Elio (2025) • Hoppers (2026) • Toy Story 5 (2026)• Coco 2 (2029) • Incredibles 3 (TBA) • Untitled film (TBA)

Disneytoon Studios
DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp (1990) • A Goofy Movie (1995) • The Tigger Movie (2000) · Peter Pan: Return to Never Land (2002) • The Jungle Book 2 (2003) • Piglet's Big Movie (2003) • Pooh's Heffalump Movie (2005) • Planes (2013) • Planes: Fire & Rescue (2014)
Disney Television Animation
Doug's 1st Movie (1999) • Recess: School's Out (2001) • Teacher's Pet (2004)
20th Century Animation
Spies in Disguise (2019) • Ron's Gone Wrong (2021) • The Bob's Burgers Movie (2022)

Upcoming: Ice Age 6 (2026)

Films with Stop Motion Animation
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) • James and the Giant Peach (1996) • Frankenweenie (2012)
Other Disney units
The Brave Little Toaster (1987) • Valiant (2005) • The Wild (2006) • A Christmas Carol (2009) • Gnomeo & Juliet (2011) • Mars Needs Moms (2011) • Strange Magic (2015) • The Lion King (2019) • Mufasa: The Lion King (2024)
Live-Action Films with Non-CG Animation
The Reluctant Dragon (1941) • Victory Through Air Power (1943) • Song of the South (1946) • So Dear to My Heart (1949) • Mary Poppins (1964) • Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971) • Pete's Dragon (1977) • Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) • The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003) • Enchanted (2007) • Mary Poppins Returns (2018) • Disenchanted (2022)