Moana 2 arrived on Disney+ just a few days ago and has already become the most-watched movie on the streaming platform. Since its first installment in 2016, the successful animated film has become a favorite among both kids and adults, surpassing other films from the production house.
We all know that Moana is inspired by Polynesian culture, but have you ever wondered how this film was made and where the ideas came from to develop the entire story? Here, we tell you a little about this process.
How was Moana 2 made?
To bring this film to life, the creative team undertook a deep cultural immersion into the Pacific Islands. Anthropologists, cultural experts, historians, and explorers from Fiji, Moorea, Samoa, Tahiti, and other islands shared their experiences and knowledge, laying the foundation for a narrative true to the region’s rich culture.
Inspired by this transformative journey, Walt Disney Animation Studios established the Oceanic Cultural Council, a key pillar in the film’s production. This council, made up of specialists, worked closely with directors Jason Hand, Dana Ledoux Miller, and Dave G. Derrick Jr., guiding the filmmakers and artistic teams at every stage of the process.
The result is an emotional “love letter” to the Pacific and its people, a testament to the power of collaboration and respect for cultural diversity.
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“The first film set the gold standard for how we work with a creative cultural council. Every step of the way, they helped inform not only the decisions we made in the story but also the appearance of the canoes, the islands, the plants, the animals, and the costumes,” explained Derrick, whose family is of Samoan descent.
For the creation of the sequel, the production team leveraged the extensive research conducted for the first film and continued their collaboration with the Oceanic Cultural Council. Just like Moana: A Sea of Adventures, Moana 2 is distinguished by its meticulous attention to detail in every aspect of the production, from the visuals to the narrative.
Director Dana Ledoux Miller revealed that this second installment is inspired by the island communities of the Pacific, exploring ancient stories and legends related to navigators’ meeting places.
“We imagine that, generations ago, many ocean channels led to one island, allowing navigators from all over the ocean to meet and learn from each other through shared experiences. But long before our story began, there was a goddess who did not like this human connection, so she decided to sink that island and send it to the bottom of the ocean, cursing the meeting place and making all those channels disappear,” she said.
What do the songs in Moana 2 mean?
The music was also a fundamental part of the storyline in Moana 2, as the songs in the movie helped to drive the story forward in a dynamic way. For the film, five original songs were written, each with a meaning specific to the scene. Here’s an explanation:
- “New Horizons”: A new welcome to Moana’s world. It shows where Moana is in her life at this moment and captures her spirit.
- “In the End”: Represents Moana’s internal struggle.
- “Nothing Better Exists”: The song introduces Moana’s crew, highlighting each member’s personality.
- “Let Go”: The lyrics of this song, sung by Matangi, say the opposite of everything Moana knows about her world.
- “I Want to Hear a Chee Hoo!”: This song is meant to remind Moana of everything she is. In the first movie, Moana lifts Maui’s spirits, and now, he does the same for her.
Moana 2, the most-watched movie on Disney+
Moana 2 arrived on Disney+ on March 12 and, within its first five days on the platform, the film garnered 27.3 million views worldwide, making it the biggest release from Walt Disney Animation Studios since the film Encanto (2021) and the third-largest animated film release of all time on Disney+.
The movie also became the third highest-grossing film of 2024, surpassing one billion dollars at the global box office and becoming the fourth film from the studio to do so, only behind Frozen, Zootopia, and Frozen 2.
What is Moana 2 about?
The sequel reunites Moana and Maui on a new and exciting journey, this time accompanied by a crew of unusual sailors. After receiving a mysterious call from her ancestors, Moana must embark on a journey across the vast seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-forgotten waters, to experience a unique adventure.
At the beginning of Moana 2, the brave Polynesian, now leading her people, questions why they have not found other peoples in their maritime explorations. During a vision, Moana is visited by one of the first navigators of Motunui, Tautai Vasa, who tells her about the lost island of Motufetū.
To fulfill her destiny, Moana will have to risk everything by confronting Nalo, the storm goddess, and search for this vanished island that unites the peoples of the ocean. It will be a journey like no other, and in order to have any hope of success, Moana will need a crew willing to join her on this adventure, which includes Heihei, the rooster, and Pua, the pig.
Moana 2: Cast
The movie brings back Auli’i Cravalho as Moana and Dwayne Johnson as Maui. In addition to them, other actors voice the characters:
- Hualālai Chung as Moni
- Rose Matafeo as Loto
- David Fane as Kele
- Awhimai Fraser as Matangi
- Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda as Simea
- Temuera Morrison as Tui
- Nicole Scherzinger as Sina
- Rachel House as Grandmother Tala
- Gerald Faitala Ramsey as Tautai Vasa
- Alan Tudyk as Heihei
Will there be a Moana 3?
So far, Disney has not officially confirmed a third installment of Moana; however, certain details in the sequel suggest that Moana 3 could become a reality.
If you’ve already seen the second film, you’ll remember that there’s a post-credit scene where Nalo promises to seek revenge on Moana. Additionally, after the spirits of the ancestors bring her back to life, Moana becomes a demigoddess, opening the door to new and exciting adventures.
When would Moana 3 be released?
If it materializes, the third installment of Moana could take several years to arrive, as the gap between the release of the first two films was eight years.
