Auli‘i Cravalho as Moana in ‘Moana 2’. © 2024 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The upcoming Walt Disney animated feature ‘Moana 2’ will be in theaters on November 27, 2024. Moviefone was invited to the Walt Disney Animation Building in Burbank, California, along with a group of journalists to preview the first 25 minutes of the film and see just how far the animators will go to continue Moana’s story.
What Footage Did We See From ‘Moana 2’?
Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson) in ‘Moana 2’. © 2024 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Moviefone had the pleasure of screening the first 25 minutes of ‘Moana 2’, presented by directors Dana Ledoux Miller, David Derrick Jr., and Jason Hand.
Derrick, who is of Samoan heritage, spoke of his time on the 2016 film and discovering Moana’s history and heritage:
“Working on the first film was an absolute gift. Continuing her story has been one of the true honors of my career.”
Over 750 people worked on the sequel, including long-time Disney animator Eric Goldberg (‘Aladdin,’ ‘Once Upon A Studio’) as Supervising Animator.
Ahead of viewing the footage, the directors spoke of the new characters who are introduced in this movie. Aside from returning talents such as Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson, ‘Moana 2’ boasts a slew of new characters, including a band of adventuring seafarers who will accompany Moana on her journey, as well as her little sister, Simea.
The crew includes Kele, a farmer whose character is based on real-life farmers who took part in voyages. Loto, an engineer who proves to be Moana’s right-hand woman. Finally, Moni, the inspirational storyteller and a Maui superfan, rounds out the group. Each one of them proves to be an essential part of Moana’s adventure.
(L to R) Auli‘i Cravalho as Moana and Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda as Simea in ‘Moana 2’. © 2024 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The footage begins with Moana running and parkouring on an unknown island, seemingly being chased. As she clears a a cliff, it is revealed that it is Pua who was running after her. “You wanted to come this time,” said Moana to Pua, eluding to how the adorable pot-belly pig missed out on the action in the previous film. As Moana approaches the peak of the mountain, she blows into a shell to alert her presence – and listens for a call back – but no one answers. The island is uninhabited. As Moana and Pua begin to make their way off the peak, they take a tumble where Moana discovers a piece of broken pottery with a motif depicting people next to a mountain – a sign that people once lived on this island.
Sailing home with her new discovery, Moana breaks into a song about how she’s “Back Where We’re Meant To Be.” The music continues as she sails onto her home island. It is also used as an instrument to introduce the audience to Kele, Loto, and Moni. Breaking through the crowd, Moana’s little sister Simea runs to welcome back her sister. Later, Moana and Simea visit the ancestors’ cave, sharing a sweet moment much like the one shared between Moana and Grandma Tala.
In the next scene, Maui mentions that the powerful Storm God Nalo has started something, as he is seen standing in front of a large portal. We’re introduced to the mysterious Matangi, who works for Nalo. She’s not seen quite clearly in the footage as she’s shrouded in darkness and bats.
Back on the island, the village is in celebration mode as Moana is about to receive the title of Chief. Before the ceremony can finish, lightning strikes through the roof, launching Moana into the side of the hut. She received a vision about a “fire in the sky” that would guide her to the mysterious island depicted on the pottery she had discovered earlier – Motufetu. The island has the power to connect all the people of the sea, but Moana must break the curse placed by Nalo, who wanted to separate the people to weaken the sea.
Auli‘i Cravalho as Moana in ‘Moana 2’. © 2024 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
A comet appears in the sky, one that Moana must follow to find Motufetu. The song “What Lies Beyond” begins as Moana prepares for her journey. It also conveys the sadness she feels about leaving her family and little sister behind. You can catch a glimpse of Grandma Tala in this song as well. Moana explains her mission to her village and chooses her crew – Kele the farmer, Loto the engineer, and Moni the storyteller. Before she sets sail, she shares an emotional moment with Simea, who gives Moana a tiny starfish to keep inside her necklace “so you can take a piece from home.”
Moana debuts a brand new outfit for her journey as the village sends her off with a chant.
The story returns to Maui, who has been caught and bound by a new and mysterious villain. Without his hook, he’s unable to use his powers and pleads with a group of sucker fish to retrieve his hook, to no avail. Mini tattoo Maui gestures that they should call Moana for help.
Finishing off the footage presentation, we see Moana and her crew encounter the fearsome Kakamora, and later on, a giant sea monster as big as an island, with multiple rows of teeth and eyes.
New and Returning Characters of ‘Moana 2’
Heihei the rooster (voiced by Alan Tudyk) and Pua the pig in ‘Moana 2’. © 2024 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Aside from Moana and Maui, other fan favorites like Hei Hei and Pua are returning for the sequel, as well as Moana’s parents, Chief Tui and Sina. The small yet fierce coconut-like pirates Kakamora will also return.
Director Jason Hand said the following about working with Cravalho:
“There’s a quality that she alone brings to this character—Auli‘i is a leader, she’s kind, she’s funny —she really cares deeply for this character.”
On the dynamic between Moana and Maui, director David Derrick Jr. said:
“We love these two characters together—they make each other better.”
(L to R) Moana (voice of Auli‘i Cravalho), Kele (voice of David Fane), Moni (voice of Hualālai Chung) and Loto (voice of Rose Matafeo) in ‘Moana 2’. © 2024 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
He went on to explain the growth the Demi-god has since the 2016 film:
“Maui has evolved—he’s grown and changed. But he’s still the same Maui that we love. He sets out to defeat this terrible curse all by himself—which is very Maui of him. But we all know that Maui and Moana will have better luck if they team up. It’ll take Maui’s strength and bravery—he can lasso the sun and lift up an island—along with Moana’s selflessness and empathy to unite the people of the ocean.”
New characters include the aforementioned seafarers Kele, Loto, and Moni, Moana’s little sister Simea, Kotu, the Kakamora warrior, the mysterious Matangi, and the fearsome storm god Nalo.
The Music of ‘Moana 2’
(L to R) Emily Bear and Abigail Barlow. Photo: Walt Disney Animation.
For the sequel, Disney called upon Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear to create new music for ‘Moana 2’. Barlow and Bear received the Best Musical Theater Album award at the 2022 Grammy’s for their work on ‘The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical.’
Producer Yvette Merino said that the writing duo hit the ground running, and by the time they had the meeting, Barlow and Bear were ready with a song:
“We listened to what became our opening song, ‘We’re Back.’ It takes you right back into Moana’s world.”
Opetaia Foa‘i. Photo: Walt Disney Animation.
Three-time Grammy winner Mark Mancino will also be a part of the musical sound of ‘Moana 2’ and Grammy nominee Opetaia Foa’i, who worked on the 2016 movie.
Director Dana Ledoux Miller talked about working closely with Barlow and Bear and how the music will be a tool to convey Moana’s growth and journey:
“I’m like, ‘well, so Moana is growing up and she’s learning that there are consequences to her actions and that the choices she makes actually affect other people.’They’re like, yeah, yeah, we’re living that right now, we got it. So, you know, there’s a shorthand that just comes from their experience in it, but they’re also huge musical fans, and they understood what this needed. With the help of Mark Mancina and Opetaia Foa’i, they’ve really been intentional about making sure the music in this film speaks the language of the music in the first film. It’s very much an immersive experience when you watch that first film. We were intentional about making sure we weren’t reinventing that wheel, but we were expanding on it.”
What Else Did We Learn About Moana 2?
‘Moana 2’ co-director Dana Ledoux Miller. Photo by Evan Mulling.
Following the footage presentation, directors David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller held a press conference with journalists.
During the Q&A, Ledoux Miller talked about ‘Moana 2’ being her first animated film and how much she sees her culture represented on screen:
“I was a huge fan of the first time. I very distinctly remember sitting in the theater. The lights come out, and over the bumper, the first sounds, the first voices are Samoan. I realized in that moment, this film, which ended up becoming one of the biggest Disney properties ever, that that film would forever change the way people saw Pacific Islanders.”
Ledoux Miller was hired to co-write the live-action ‘Moana’ with Jared Bush and was brought onto the sequel to direct alongside Derrick Jr. and Hand.
‘Moana 2’ co-director David Derrick Jr. Photo by Mat Fretschel/Disney. ©2024 Disney. All Rights Reserved.
David Derrick Jr, who is also of Samoan heritage, talked about his excitement to continue Moana’s story:
“When we were asked to come back and continue her story, I was so thrilled because I believe I felt like Moana when she entered that cavern of the Wayfinder. I have Samoan heritage, I’m very proud of it, but I didn’t understand the depths of it. It was the navigators of the Pacific Ocean who found the last discoverable land on earth. They were able to navigate from, you know, Rapa Nui all the way to Aotearoa, all the way to Hawaii. It’s one-third of the earth. These islands are spread out like tiny jewels across a vast ocean that doesn’t divide. It connects. Going forward with this story, we really wanted to show how far the people of the Pacific would go. So for me, I love celebrating that culture, and I hope everyone sees that and appreciates that.”
The film will also cover personal relationships, such as the one Moana has with her little sister Simea – a name inspired by an ancestor of Derrick’s. This storyline was inspired by the director’s personal life.
“My eldest daughter is 21 years old, and her name is Samea, and she’s 21. We have a little son, and his name is Quentin. He’s seven years old. The two of them are the closest siblings I’ve ever seen. During COVID, he would sleep in her bed; they’d go camping together. They’re kindred spirits. There was a very difficult moment when he realized she was going to college and not coming back home. That this pillar of joy in his life was suddenly not always gonna be there.”
Derrick Jr. also discussed the themes of growing up and taking on responsibility:
“Those moments when you’re forced to grow up in certain ways. We wanted to show a maturity to Moana. We wanted to show that she could be even more invested and connected to her people and to her Island. I love that we gave her a sister to show that connection and show that love.”
‘Moana 2’ co-director Jason Hand. Photo by Alex Kang/Disney. ©2024 Disney. All Rights Reserved.
Director Jason Hand said that they aim to stay true to the first film while moving forward to the next chapter.
“There’s something left to be done in her story. I think that was the kernel of this idea, this idea of connection. But through that, her own personal growth, she still has somewhere to grow. She’s still a young person who’s growing up and finding out more about herself. That’s the kind of stuff that energizes the story, but it also energizes the storytelling through the songs because you can sing about things that are personally in your own life. So a song like “Beyond” that you heard earlier is from Moana’s personal journey that’s starting to change. She’s starting to grow. That’s a really powerful place.”
Ledoux Miller added:
“The first film was about Moana reconnecting to the past and who her people were meant to be. This film is really about Moana looking towards the future.”
“The ocean is calling them back.”
After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana journeys alongside Maui and a new crew to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost… Read the Plot
What is the plot of ‘Moana 2?’
Following the 2016 movie, ‘Moana 2’ will reunite audiences worldwide with Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) as she embarks on an all-new adventure with a new crew of seafarers. After Moana receives an unexpected call from her ancestors, she sets out on an expansive journey to the far seas of Oceania – exploring dangerous and uncharted waters.
Who is in the voice cast of ‘Moana 2?’
Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson) in ‘Moana 2’. © 2024 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.