Moana 2
Walt Disney Animation Studios is responsible for the production of Moana 2, an American musical adventure film set in 2024. David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller directed the second Moana movie, which was based on a screenplay by Miller and executive producer Jared Bush.
Dwayne Johnson and Auli’i Cravalho reprise their roles from the first film. It takes place three years later and follows Moana (Cravalho) as she reunites with the demigod Maui (Johnson) and forms a wayfinding team to locate the lost island of Motufetu, break its curse, and reunite the ocean’s inhabitants.
Moana 2 was originally planned as a Disney+ miniseries, but by February 2024, it had been reworked into a movie sequel. The first film’s co-songwriters, Mark Mancina and Opetaia Foai, returned to score and write the songs, and Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear took over for Lin-Manuel Miranda as additional songwriters.
Moana 2 had its world premiere on November 21, 2024, at the Lanikuhonua Cultural Institute in Kapolei, Hawaii. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures released the film on November 27 in the United States.
The movie made $1.059 billion worldwide, surpassing its predecessor and ranking third among 2024 releases. At the 82nd Golden Globe Awards, it was considered for a nomination for Best Animated Feature Film.
Plot
Moana spends her days exploring other islands near her home island of Motunui in the hope of finding people connected to the ocean three years after her adventure with the demigod Maui and the island goddess Te Fiti.
Her ancestor, Tautai Vasa, explains in a vision why none of those people are anymore connected: the evil storm god Nalo wanted power over humans, so he dug a mythical island called Motufetu, which connected all islands, into the ocean.
If Moana is unable to raise Motufetu, Tautai also warns that the Motunui people will die out in the future. Along with her pet pig and rooster, Pua and Heihei, she gathers a group of people from Motunui—craftswoman Loto, historian Moni, and grumpy elderly farmer Kele—to follow the path of a comet across the ocean toward Motufetu.
In the meantime, Motufetu is captured by Matangi, Nalo’s enforcer, and Maui is looking for him because he had an argument with Nalo in the past. Maui is hesitant to get in touch with Moana because he is concerned that she might not survive if she comes to help.
The Kakamora, a tribe of vicious coconut-like pirates that Moana had previously encountered, capture Moana and her crew and reveal that Nalo’s actions against Motufetu had separated them from their home island. One member of the Kakamora, Kotu, helps the crew paralyze a gargantuan monster clam inside of which is Matangi’s lair.
Moana meets Matangi and learns that she is unhappy serving Nalo while the crew is searching for Maui. Before sending Moana and her friends to Nalo’s location, Matangi helps Moana escape and reunite with Maui and her friends.
Maui warns that fighting Nalo will result in death for mere mortals and that Nalo’s realm is more deadly than the mortal realm. The group is ambushed by the monsters of Nalo, causing damage to their raft and washing them ashore on an isolated island. Moana starts to feel hopeless, but Maui tells her to keep going.
The group plans to raise the island so that Moana can touch it after Moana is revived because that is the only way to restore Motufetu and stop Nalo. When the group ventures out to confront Nalo, they encounter a massive storm as they repair her raft.
Moana asks Maui to raise the island high enough for her to touch it after realizing that Nalo is attempting to prevent the humans from breaking the curse. With a lightning bolt, Nalo deprives Maui of his demigod powers as he begins to pull up the island with his gigantic hook.
Moana dives into the ocean in a desperate attempt to touch the island underwater. Moana is successful until Nalo’s lightning bolt kills her. Moana receives a wayfinder’s tattoo as a result of Maui’s magical chant summoning the spirits of Tautai Vasa and Moana’s ancestors, including her grandmother Tala, to assist in her rebirth as a demigoddess.
Motufetu is finally raised by Maui, who has also regained his powers as a demigod. He assists Moana in reconnecting the people with the ocean. A celebration in Moana’s honor is held when the crew, led by a flotilla of ocean people, returns to Motunui.
In a scene near the end of the credits, Nalo is planning his vengeance and getting ready to punish Matangi for helping Moana when the enormous crab Tamatoa shows up to support him.
Voice cast
credit – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moana_2#Voice_cast
- Auliʻi Cravalho as Moana,[7][8] the curious daughter of village chief Tui and his wife Sina, who is chosen by the ocean to break the curse on the island of Motufetu
- Cravalho reprises her role in the film’s Hawaiian language dubbing.[9]
- Dwayne Johnson as Maui,[10][11] a strong-willed shapeshifting demigod who accompanies Moana on her journey.
- Hualālai Chung as Moni, a member of Moana’s wayfinding crew and a fan of Maui’s[12]
- Rose Matafeo as Loto, a brainy but quirky craftswoman member of Moana’s wayfinding crew[12]
- David Fane as Kele, a grumpy farmer and member of Moana’s wayfinding crew[12]
- Awhimai Fraser as Matangi, Nalo’s enforcer who controls bats.
- Fraser reprises her role in the film’s Māori-language dubbing.[13]
- Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda as Simea, Moana’s little sister[12]
- Temuera Morrison as Tui, Moana’s father, and chief of Motunui Island.[12] Unlike the first film, where his singing voice was done by Christopher Jackson, Morrison does his own singing.
- Morrison reprises his role in the film’s Māori language dubbing.[13]
- Nicole Scherzinger as Sina, Moana’s mother and Chieftess of Motunui[12]
- Rachel House as Tala, Tui’s late mother and Moana’s paternal grandmother, who returns as a manta ray spirit
- House reprises her role in the film’s Māori-language dubbing.[13]
- Gerald Ramsey as Tautai Vasa, Moana’s ancestor
- Alan Tudyk as Heihei,[14] Moana’s pet rooster
Additionally, some of Dwayne Johnson’s family members have voice roles in the film including daughters Jasmine and Tiana as members of Moana’s fan club “MOANA-BE’s”, and his mother Ata Maivia Johnson as a villager.[15] Tofiga Fepulea’i voices the storm god and main antagonist Nalo in the mid-credits scene, which also features the giant coconut crab Tamatoa from the first film, reprised by Jemaine Clement.
🌊 Moana 2 (2024): A Cinematic Odyssey Across the Seas
Moana 2 sails beyond the horizon of its predecessor, delivering a tale rich in adventure, heritage, and self-discovery. Released on November 27, 2024, this sequel not only rekindles the magic of the original but also charts new territories in storytelling and animation.
🌀 A Voyage Beyond: Plot Synopsis
Set three years after Moana’s initial journey, the sequel finds her as a seasoned wayfinder, exploring distant islands to reconnect her people with their oceanic roots. A prophetic vision from her ancestor, Tautai Vasa, reveals that the legendary island of Motufetu, once a nexus uniting all islands, was submerged by the storm god Nalo. To prevent her people’s extinction, Moana assembles a diverse crew—including craftswoman Loto, historian Moni, and the grumpy farmer Kele—to locate and restore Motufetu. Their expedition is fraught with challenges, including confrontations with Nalo’s enforcer, Matangi, and treacherous storms that test their resolve.
The climax sees Maui attempting to raise Motufetu, only to lose his powers to Nalo. In a selfless act, Moana dives into the depths to touch the island, breaking the curse but seemingly sacrificing herself. Her ancestors revive her, transforming Moana into a demigoddess adorned with new tattoos symbolizing her journey. The film concludes with a triumphant return to Motunui and a mid-credits scene hinting at future conflicts, as Nalo vows revenge, joined by the formidable Tamatoa .
🎭 Cast & Characters: Voices That Breathe Life
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Auliʻi Cravalho returns as Moana, portraying her evolution from a curious teenager to a confident leader and demigoddess.
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Dwayne Johnson reprises his role as Maui, the charismatic demigod whose journey intertwines with Moana’s destiny.
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Rose Matafeo voices Loto, the inventive craftswoman whose skills are pivotal to the crew’s success.
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Hualālai Chung brings depth to Moni, the historian whose knowledge guides their path.
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David Fane embodies Kele, the reluctant yet endearing farmer who adds humor and heart.
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Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda introduces Simea, Moana’s younger sister, adding a fresh dynamic to the narrative .
🎶 Melodies of the Ocean: A New Musical Horizon
Departing from the original’s musical roots, Moana 2 features compositions by Mark Mancina and Opetaia Foaʻi, with fresh contributions from Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear—the youngest and first all-female duo to score a Disney animated film. Notable tracks include:
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“Beyond”: Performed by Auliʻi Cravalho, this anthem captures Moana’s yearning and determination.
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“Can I Get a Chee Hoo?”: Dwayne Johnson’s energetic number that echoes Maui’s signature flair.
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“Finding the Way” and “Tulou Tagaloa”: Sung by Olivia Foaʻi, these songs infuse Polynesian rhythms, honoring cultural heritage .
🎬 Behind the Scenes: Crafting the Sequel
Originally envisioned as a Disney+ series, Moana 2 transitioned into a full-length feature under the direction of David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller. This strategic shift, championed by Disney CEO Bob Iger, emphasized the importance of theatrical releases in revitalizing the studio’s animated ventures .
📈 Box Office & Reception: Riding the Wave of Success
With a production budget of $150 million and a promotional campaign exceeding $100 million, Moana 2 made a splash at the box office:
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Opening Weekend: Garnered $221 million, setting records for a Thanksgiving release.
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Global Gross: Surpassed $1.059 billion, outpacing its predecessor and becoming the third highest-grossing film of 2024.
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Audience Reception: Earned an “A–” CinemaScore and an 87% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, reflecting widespread acclaim .
📺 Streaming & Home Media: Bringing the Adventure Home
After its theatrical run, Moana 2 became available for digital download on January 28, 2025, and began streaming on Disney+ on March 12, 2025. Its home media release on March 18, 2025, included 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD formats. The film’s streaming debut was met with enthusiasm, amassing 27.3 million views in its first five days on Disney+ .
🌺 Cultural Resonance: Celebrating Polynesian Heritage
Moana 2 continues Disney’s commitment to authentic representation, weaving Polynesian mythology and traditions into its narrative. The inclusion of Tokelauan language songs and cultural motifs pays homage to the rich heritage of the Pacific Islands, offering audiences a deeper connection to the story’s roots.
🔮 Future Horizons: Teasing the Next Chapter
The mid-credits scene, featuring Nalo’s vow for vengeance and the return of Tamatoa, sets the stage for a potential third installment. Moana’s transformation into a demigoddess opens new avenues for storytelling, promising further exploration of her powers and responsibilities.
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