Moana is back on the ocean and the big screen with the release of Moana 2. Directors Dana Ledoux Miller, Jason Hand, and David Derrick Jr. brought Moana back to life with the long-anticipated release on November 27, 2024.
Moana 2 faced backlash almost immediately. The movie was supposed to be dropped on Disney+, but Disney decided it should be a box office release. However, this caused much backlash because people thought the plot went nowhere and the villain was mediocre at best. However, I went on opening night and thoroughly enjoyed the film.
The animation was breathtaking. Every scene looked equally as good as the first one. The lighting was spot on, making it feel like the viewer was dropped onto Moana’s canoe to enjoy the journey alongside her. The colors were bright and fun and complemented other aspects of the movie, such as the characters and the ocean.
The water is one of the most important aspects of Moana, and Moana 2 brought it back strong. The way the water is animated is extremely life-like. The water is Moana’s friend and the way it is animated makes it feel like a character. The animators were able to convey emotions through something that normally has no emotion. The wave that follows Moana throughout her journey always seems to have its own personality.
The world below the ocean is also captured again. Viewers may remember the world under the ocean from Moana because of the “I’m So Shiny” crab. This world is brought to life again with new sea creatures and plants.
Unlike the ocean and islands, this world is dark and mysterious and the animation captures that. The artists used darker colors with a twist of neon to make it stand out from every other location. It also adds unusual fun to Moana’s journey.
Another great aspect of Moana 2 is all the characters added to her new journey. Unlike the first film, which focuses on Moana and Maui, the second focuses more on family and new friends.
One of the key characters is Moana’s little sister Simea, voiced by Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda. Simea views Moana as a hero as well as her big sister. She prefers that Moana stay on the island rather than go on a journey, which adds internal conflict within Moana.
Another aspect is a team mission, unlike the solo mission from the first film. Three new characters join Moana on her new mission, Loto (Rose Matafeo), Kele (David Fane), and Moni (Hualalai Chung). Each of these new characters has a specific role to play on the canoe. Loto fixes any issues regarding the canoe, Kele is the farmer who provides the food, and Moni is the muscle of the crew. Each of them has their issues, but with Moana’s guidance, they work as a well-oiled machine.
Music is often one of the biggest factors in a Disney film. Unfortunately, Moana 2’s soundtrack is not as good as the original. Lin-Manuel Miranda composed the first soundtrack, and it was amazing. He also composed the Encanto soundtrack and the upcoming Mufasa soundtrack. However, while Moana 2’s soundtrack tries to copy his work to make it sound similar, it does not hit as hard as the first film. Some of the songs are still decent. My personal favorite is “Beyond.”
Overall, I would give this film an eight out of ten. The animation is spectacular, the new characters add so much emotion, and the adventure is a classic Moana journey. However, I may be biased because Moana was one of my favorite childhood princesses, so some of it may be nostalgia. Regardless, it is worth watching at least once.
