Opening in theaters on Wednesday, November 27, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ highly anticipated Moana 2 continues the seafaring story of Moana — and is the result of tireless teamwork from directors David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller to bring the film to life in an exciting and authentic way.
The trio were supported by producers Christina Chen and Yvett Merino, as well as Jared Bush (Disney Animation’s newly appointed Chief Creative Officer), who wrote the screenplay with Miller. For several years, the directors worked closely with actors, animators, consultants, designers, musicians, and others in order to do justice to Moana — a character so beloved that Moana, released in 2016, was the most streamed film of 2023 across all U.S. platforms.
As they shaped every aspect of this new story, the filmmakers worked closely with the Oceanic Cultural Trust — a collective established during the production of the first film. “They were with us every step of the way,” Hand recalls. “They helped give us ideas for what the film could be, but they also made sure we got it right. That was really important.”
Miller, who is Samoan, remembers feeling a profound sense of pride when the first film was released in theaters. “Seeing Moana onscreen, that was the first time I’d ever seen a Pacific Islander heroine,” she says. “It changed the way I saw the world, really. And to then see her celebrated by the whole world was game-changing.”
Of the new film, Miller says, “We worked really hard to make sure she has an adventure that lives up to her growth and really pushes her beyond anything she’s ever done before.”
Hand notes, “Moana 2 puts Moana in an incredibly difficult situation, and we as the audience get to enjoy watching her figure her way out of it. It’s fun, it’s funny, it’s a musical — which is a huge part of Disney Animation’s legacy — and it’s really stunning to look at.”
Uncharted Waters
Derrick has been with Moana since the very beginning. Because of his own Samoan ancestry and personal connection to Moana’s quest to understand her heritage, he joined Disney Animation to work on the Academy Award®-nominated 2016 film, storyboarding such important sequences as “How Far I’ll Go” and “I Am Moana (Song of the Ancestors).”
“In the first film, Moana wondered how far she could go. She felt this pull to the future and to the horizon,” Derrick says. “And now, in continuing her story, she’s going to go beyond — even farther than she ever knew she could go. It’s empowering. It’s about growth, evolution of self, and community. We always talk about Moana’s relationship with the ocean. The ocean isn’t something that divides the people of the sea; it’s something that unites them.”
In the sequel, set three years later, a now 19-year-old Moana (voiced by Auli’i Cravalho) has “found her footing as a leader in Motunui, but she hasn’t taken her eyes off the ocean,” Miller says. “We wanted to see how she can bridge the two loves of her life: land and sea.”
After receiving an unexpected call from her ancestors, Moana turns to the people of Motunui for help. She interviews potential crew members and ultimately recruits the engineer Loto (voiced by Rose Matafeo), the farmer Kele (voiced by David Fane), and the storyteller Moni (voiced by Hualālai Chung) to join with returning favorites Maui (voiced by Dwayne Johnson), Heihei (voiced by Alan Tudyk), and Pua.
Together, the crew embarks on an expansive voyage to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters. Moana’s increased responsibilities — to herself, to her family, to her people, and to her island — can sometimes be at odds, which force her to make difficult and sometimes divisive decisions. “Growing up means the choices you make are different. The reason you make choices are different,” Miller explains. “We wanted to see what that evolution looks like — to ground it in family with her little sister, Simea, to push Moana to her limits and figure out what her new focus would be.”
“Moana 2 is introspective in that it invites us to be connected to who we are and who we will be,” Derrick adds. “There are so many beautiful messages about community in the film.”
Staying in Motunui
Anticipation for the new film is high, partly because Moana hasn’t disappeared since the first film was released in 2016.
Beyond Moana‘s presence on Disney+, there are myriad ways that fans have been able to stay connected with the story and characters over the years. As Cravalho puts it, “Disney magic can be felt everywhere.”
Around the globe, fans of Moana can experience her world live and in person: from the “Moana: A Homecoming Celebration” stage show at Hong Kong Disneyland to the Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana attraction at Walt Disney World Resort, to the upcoming Disney The Tale of Moana aboard the Disney Treasure cruise ship, which will bring Moana’s musical journey to the stage for the first time ever.
Speaking of music, the film’s soundtrack can be found on all streaming platforms, so fans can get excited for the new film and be familiar with the tunes before they sit down at the theater. “I grew up in the era of The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, and Beauty and the Beast, and I remember driving home from the movie theater, singing the songs that had already imprinted and become a part of who I was,” Miller says. “Moana 2 has those same special characteristics. The music is memorable; you can’t stop singing the songs.”
And that’s not to mention the apparel, books, games, and toys offered at Disney Store and other retailers. Earlier this month, a wave of new products inspired by Moana 2 was released so that fans of all ages have another way to connect with the characters leading up to the release of the sequel.
“That’s what makes Disney such a special company — it can reach people in a variety of different ways,” Hand says. “The best part about working at Disney is the reach that it has.”
That’s what led 178 million people to watch the first trailer for Moana 2 in just 24 hours, showcasing the unique ways Disney keeps fans engaged and connected with stories between new chapters on the big screen.
Wind in Their Sails
While making the film, the directors never lost sight of the millions of people around the world who have been inspired by Moana — including, in many cases, their own family members. “My son, who’s 7 years old, says, ‘I want to be strong like Moana,” Derrick says, smiling with pride. “People look to Moana and want to be like her. She’s like the best of us.”
“Working on this film is honestly a dream come true,” Hand says. “I’ve wanted to work at Disney Animation since I was a little kid, and I love the films we make here. I loved working on the first film with Ron Clements and John Musker, and to continue Moana’s story is extremely special to me. Moana is the film my family and I rewatch more than any other film I’ve worked on. I hope everybody loves Moana 2 as much as we enjoyed making it.”