Disney’s sequel streak continues with Moana 2, which sees the return of the island of Motunui and its beloved heroine Moana (voiced by Auli’i Cravalho). For the reason that occasions of the 2016 field workplace hit, Moana has grow to be a licensed Tautai, or grasp navigator, and hopes to reconnect her individuals populations from different islands that have not been seen in generations. A name from the ancestors illuminates a brand new path ahead, and she or he units out with a crew to seek out the island of Montufetu, which was as soon as an historical assembly level for all navigators.

Moana is extra reluctant than regular to depart as a result of her three-year-old sister, Simea (Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda), will likely be left behind — an emotional household tie that serves an analogous goal to Gramma Tala within the first film. Moana 2 additionally ups the stakes by introducing Nalo, the god of storms, whose curse has prevented people from discovering one another throughout the ocean for a few years. With the assistance of her demigod buddy Maui (Dwayne Johnson) and her fellow vacationers, although, Moana is ready to tackle the monster storm he sends.

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Why Moana 2 Was Initially Going To Be A Disney+ Present & Why Disney Modified It To A Film

The feature-length Disney animated film sequel Moana 2 was initially developed as a Disney+ sequence earlier than altering course, for quite a lot of causes.

ScreenRant interviewed Derrick, Hand, and Miller about their analysis and inspiration for Moana 2. As co-writer, Miller shared how conversations with the wayfinder Nainoa Thompson helped illuminate Moana’s central arc within the sequel, whereas Hand revealed the evolution of Nalo’s significance within the story, and Derrick mentioned the reversal of Moana and Maui’s dynamic.

Moana 2 Took Inspiration From A Actual-Life Polynesian Wayfinder

“Within the midst of a storm, it’s important to let go of the whole lot you assume is true.”

Display screen Rant: Dana, you co-wrote this movie. Might you share a number of the particular tales from Pacific Island communities that impressed the screenplay from Moana 2?

Dana Ledoux Miller: Completely. We have been so lucky to work with the Polynesian Voyaging Society and Nainoa Thompson, who’s a grasp wayfinder, and there have been so many occasions that they got here and talked with us.

Once we determined that we have been going to place Moana in a monster storm, I noticed I knew nothing about what it will be wish to be on the ocean in a monster storm. We have been all actually lucky to speak to them about what that basically appears like. Nainoa informed us loads of issues, however one of many issues that he stated that was so significant and ended up inspiring loads of Moana’s story is this concept that whenever you’re within the midst of a storm, it’s important to let go of the whole lot you assume is true. You actually haven’t any management over the state of affairs.

Nainoa informed us that he discovered that feeling actually liberating and liberating as a result of it forces you to assume in another way and to study one thing new. That was actually a serious turning level for us in crafting the story as a result of we realized we’ll put somebody who at all times is aware of what to do, at all times pushing ahead and charging by means of life and is main the way in which, in a state of affairs the place she’s not going to know what to do or the way to transfer ahead. And that is going to be a extremely large problem for her. That was fairly thrilling.

Display screen Rant: David, Moana’s group is flourishing however nonetheless must develop within the sequel. What challenges does Moana face in driving that development?

David Derrick Jr.: Moana and her individuals have been remoted for a very long time. She reconnected her individuals to who they’re meant to be within the first movie, and we see that the village has grown. She has a little bit sister now, so issues have modified for Moana, however her purpose continues to be the identical. She’s in search of connection.

The individuals of the Pacific and Moana see the ocean not as one thing that divides, however as one thing that connects. So, she is aware of that there are others on the market, and she or he’s hoping to seek out them. She desires to offer her little sister Simea the entire ocean.

Display screen Rant: Jason, the Ocean is its personal character on this movie. Are you able to discuss how the ocean’s function in Moana 2 differs from the primary movie?

Jason Hand: Considered one of our favourite scenes early on within the movie is Moana really introducing her little sister to the ocean. It is such a strong factor to share one thing that you just love or that you just skilled whenever you have been a child and to really be capable of share that. I felt like we have been tapping into one thing like that in that second and that connection.

Moana says to her, “Regardless of how far I will go, the ocean will at all times join us.” Even when she’s out on her journey, she really sends her a message and will get a message again from Simea. I feel that type of stuff is a manner that we really broaden on that concept of the ocean connecting us; utilizing Moana and the ocean collectively. I really like that half.

How Nalo, The God Of Storms, Turned Moana 2’s Villain

“It serves as this factor that is maintaining everyone disconnected, and we actually love that.”

Display screen Rant: Dana, how did the idea of the traditional assembly level for the navigators affect the storyline and characters character growth of Moana 2?

Dana Ledoux Miller: We talked rather a lot about how the ocean is what connects everybody throughout the Pacific and never what divides us. There are locations all through the Pacific that have been assembly factors for actual historical navigators, and in serious about how we’d get Moana to reconnect with different individuals, we began considering rather a lot in regards to the reverse of that disconnect.

We love the concept that there was as soon as this place, lengthy earlier than Moana existed, the place all of the wayfinders of the ocean got here collectively. We thought of what it will imply if that was misplaced or taken from them. The concept Moana is chasing after that felt like a extremely nice problem for her on this movie.

Display screen Rant: I really like the connection between Moana and Maui on this movie. Are you able to discuss the way it evolves within the sequel?

David Derrick Jr.: Maui’s by no means actually cared about individuals earlier than, and he cares about Moana, and that offers Maui a vulnerability. The factor I really like is the expansion of their relationship. There is a second the place Maui wants to offer Moana a pep discuss, and it is in an unimaginable track. “Can I Get A Chee Hoo?” And it is actually Maui returning the favor that Moana gave him within the first film.

Display screen Rant: Nalo is the god of storms. Are you able to discuss how that god was developed, and the importance of him in Moana’s journey?

Jason Hand: We have been at all times impressed by the concept that these gods are an embodiment of nature. Clearly, within the first movie, we had Te Kā with that unimaginable lava, and we needed one thing that was like that. There are such a lot of wonderful tales that we examine and discovered about from our consultants, and it felt like if you are going to be out as a navigator, an extremely large storm was going to be a extremely good impediment.

Additionally, it serves as this factor that is maintaining everyone disconnected, and we actually love that. It actually got here collectively in a manner that, I feel for all of us, it was stunning. It is so wonderful as filmmakers to be working with an unimaginable crew that is ready to create one thing. You’ve got by no means seen something like that up on display screen, and we liked making that. However the thought was that we would have liked a really highly effective god that would do this, and this god of storms does it.

Moana 2 Began Out As A Disney+ Sequence – However The Administrators Aren’t Going Again

“I feel we did study that Moana works rather well on the massive display screen.”

Display screen Rant: Moana discovers rather a lot about herself on this movie. Are you able to discuss what you guys found about yourselves by means of making this movie?

Dana Ledoux Miller: I might say I found that I am able to much more than I noticed. That is my first time directing and first time working in animation, so there was a extremely steep studying curve. I am actually grateful that I had a group that was so supportive.

But additionally whenever you’re in a tough state of affairs, you do not at all times know the way you will react, and I feel I discovered rather a lot. I discovered I am able to much more than I assumed. And that is what Moana goes by means of on this movie too, so it type of mirrored her in that manner.

Jason Hand: You by no means fairly know what the journey you are beginning is. It began out as a sequence on Disney+, and it advanced into what it’s now, and I am so comfortable it did. However you by no means actually fairly know what life goes to throw at you. I feel Moana is definitely experiencing that, and I do know I felt that engaged on this.

I am so pleased with the work we did, however if you happen to have been to ask me 4 years in the past what I assumed, it will be a a lot completely different story.

David Derrick Jr.: On this persevering with story of Moana, she goes additional as a result of she goes collectively not simply with Maui, however with the crew. And for me, I do know that with out Jason and Dana and our complete crew, I by no means would’ve gotten this far. I do know that collectively and once we are related, we will at all times go farther than aside.

Display screen Rant: If there are extra adventures for Moana, would you see these persevering with as a Disney+ sequence or in Moana 3?

David Derrick Jr.: I feel it at all times begs for the massive display screen.

Jason Hand: I feel we did study that Moana works rather well on the massive display screen.

Learn Extra About Moana 2

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ epic animated musical “Moana 2” reunites Moana (voice of Auli‘i Cravalho) and Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson) three years later for an expansive new voyage alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers. After receiving an surprising name from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana should journey to the far seas of Oceania and into harmful, long-lost waters for an journey in contrast to something she’s ever confronted.

Try our different Moana 2 interviews right here:

Supply: Display screen Rant Plus

Moana 2 is the sequel to the 2016 animated movie Moana. Directed by David G. Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller, the movie continues the journey of Moana as she embarks on new adventures, exploring the huge Pacific Ocean whereas encountering new characters and challenges alongside the way in which.

Director

David G. Derrick Jr. , Jason Hand , Dana Ledoux Miller

Launch Date

November 27, 2024

Studio(s)

Walt Disney Photos , Walt Disney Animation Studios

Distributor(s)

Walt Disney Studios Movement Photos

Writers

Dana Ledoux Miller , Jared Bush , Jason Hand , Ron Clements , John Musker

Solid

Auli’i Cravalho , Dwayne Johnson , Alan Tudyk , Rachel Home , Temuera Morrison , Nicole Scherzinger , Hualālai Chung , David Fane , Rose Matafeo , Awhimai Fraser , Gerald Ramsey , Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda

Character(s)

Moana , Maui , Hei Hei , Tala , Chief Tui , Sina , Moni , Kele , Loto , Matangi , Tautai Vasa , Simea

Runtime

100 Minutes

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