Last Updated on November 27, 2024 by Stephinie Heitman
Moana 2 is a 2024 Animation, Adventure, and Family Comedy Movie directed by David G. Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller and written by Jared Bush, Dana Ledoux Miller, and Ron Clements. The film stars Dwayne Johnson, Auli’i Cravalho, and Alan Tudyk with a runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes, theatre released on November 27, 2024.
Moana 2 remains one of the most anticipated movies in Disney’s roster and could become the year 2024’s biggest hit. Audiences have eagerly awaited this sequel to one of the most beloved Disney animated movies. The first Moana was a global phenomenon that was appreciated for its stunning visuals, memorable music like ‘How Far I’ll Go’, and empowered female protagonist. Because the sequel is to follow the story of Moana, there is much anticipation – but also some trepidation. Disney’s choice to avoid having reviews up until a few hours before the first previews has raised concerns. Why would there be self-doubt on the part of a studio as self-assured as Disney and so much potential for a hit?
What’s Moana 2 About?
Moana 2 begins with Moana now a young leader of her island, Motunui, and it’s clear that she’s not the same girl we met in the first movie. In the years since her epic journey to restore the heart of Te Fiti and save her people, Moana has grown into her new role. She’s become an inspiring leader who cares deeply about her people and her island. But she’s still driven by the same adventurous spirit that led her to sail across the ocean years before. She’s determined to explore beyond her island and find out if there are other communities in the vast ocean.
At home, Moana has taken on the responsibilities of leadership. She’s become a brave warrior and protector of her island, and she’s also a loving big sister to Simea, a young girl who looks up to her a lot. Moana loves her sister deeply, but her leadership duties and the call of the sea pull her away from home.
One night, Moana sees something incredible—a shooting star that seems to point the way to a new island. This island is said to be controlled by an angry god named Nalo, and the discovery of this mysterious place sparks something inside Moana. She remembers the ancient traditions of her ancestors, who were known as wayfinders—explorers who sailed across the ocean to discover new lands and create connections between different cultures. Moana feels this deep connection to the past, and she believes that her destiny is to continue the work of these ancient explorers.
Moana sets out on another adventure, ready to brave the ocean once again. She is not alone, though. She gathers a new crew to join her on the journey: Kele, a hardworking farmer with a lot of practical skills; Moni, a chronicler who is fascinated by the stories and history of the world; and Loto, a talented builder with an eye for creating anything they might need on their voyage. Of course, her trusty animal friends, Pua the pig and Hei-Hei the rooster, are there too. They’ve been part of her family for a long time, and their quirky personalities bring light to the adventure.
As they begin their journey across the ocean, Moana and her crew follow the path of the shooting star, hoping to find the mysterious island. Along the way, they face some surprising challenges. One of the first obstacles is a group of Kakamora, the coconut warriors from the first film. This time, though, the Kakamora aren’t just pirates looking to cause trouble—they need Moana’s help. Their home is being threatened by a giant clam that’s blocking their way to safety, and only Moana’s special skills as a Wayfinder can help them get past it. The Kakamora are funny and mischievous, but they’re also in serious trouble, and Moana and her team have to figure out how to help them.
While dealing with the clam, Moana reunites with Maui, the demigod she met during her first adventure. Maui is in trouble again, this time dealing with a mysterious tormentor named Matangi. Moana and Maui are old friends, and they agree to join forces once more. Maui has some new tricks up his sleeve, including a funny rap song that brings his unique personality back to life. As they team up, Moana, Maui, and the rest of the crew face even bigger challenges, including fierce storms and dangerous seas as they get closer to Nalo’s island.
Meanwhile, back at Motunui, Moana’s younger sister Simea is feeling the weight of Moana’s absence. She adores her big sister and looks up to her as a role model, but she’s also sad and worried when Moana has to leave. Moana’s journey is more than just an adventure—it’s also about fulfilling her destiny as a leader and a Wayfinder. She’s determined to prove that her island is not alone and that there are other people and cultures out there. When she finds ancient pottery that suggests other communities once existed, she races back to share her discovery with her people.
As Moana and her crew move deeper into the heart of the stormy seas, they face their greatest test. They finally arrive at Nalo’s island, but Nalo is not what they expected. He’s an angry god who rules over the island with power and fury, and he doesn’t want anyone to challenge him. Moana’s mission becomes even more complicated as she tries to reason with Nalo and figure out a way to unite the island with the rest of the world. Her leadership and wisdom are put to the test as she works with Maui, her crew, and even the Kakamora to find a solution.
The movie builds to an emotional climax as Moana faces her greatest challenge yet. In the end, it’s not just about defeating Nalo or completing the mission—it’s about Moana finding her place in the world and embracing her role as a leader and Wayfinder. She learns that sometimes the greatest adventures are the ones that bring people together and that the spirit of exploration never truly ends.
Disney’s Challenges and High Stakes On This Movie
Disney may be choosing to play it safe now due to its turbulent history in the last couple of years. The studio experienced challenges with some of its biggest productions in the year 2023. Films like Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and Elemental opened at events such as the Cannnes Film Festival and were met with a mediocre response. This early criticism was very damaging and by the time the films were released in theaters people were no longer interested.
Disney also made a misstep with Wish, a movie that they intended to be a return to the charm of the animation hits. The movie was met with moderate reception and went on to become a failure which was not surprising for Disney in recent years. In the case of Moana 2, Disney appears committed to not making these errors. It may have reserved a few reviews to avoid changing its pace in the first few weeks of its release because of public opinion.
Conclusion
In Moana 2, we see the progression of Moana from a mere follower to a leader and an explorer. It’s a simple story of family, heroism, and togetherness which has a strong appeal to ordinary people. The following is a reflection on the theme of cultural exchange in Moana and how it reflects not just the voyage of exploration beyond the horizon, but also self-discovery including the realization that an individual’s journey is not complete until it enriches the lives of others. She is an embodiment of determination; she asserts that, yes, you may face some major issues in life, but you can always go ahead if you have faith in both yourself and your team.
All in all, Moana 2 is not as urgent an experience as the first movie but it is fun and endearing. It has fun parts, attractive music, and people’s togetherness. Of course, the fans of the original movie would like to see Moana appear even more powerful and wise to lead her friends through the new stage of the adventure.
Moana 2 2024 Parents Guide Age Rating
Moana 2 is rated PG by the Motion Picture Rating (MPA) for action/peril.
Adventure & Action: Like in the first movie, Moana 2 has numerous thrilling stunts and action-packed sequences. There are scenes of high excitement such as storms at sea, piracy (Kakamora), and the fight against mythical sea creatures like giant clams. The action sequences are quite thrilling, which may be overwhelming to watch for younger audiences; however, there is less emphatic violence. The adventure scenes depict aspects of teamwork, bravery, and critical thinking.
Mild Violence: While there is no actual violence in Moana 2, there are several scenes of mild action that might be frightening for young viewers. For instance, the Kakamora – coconut-based warriors – suddenly chase Moana and her crew in an action-packed scene. They do not wield any guns or other instruments of violence, but the sense of rivalry may seem rather high because the Kakamora are depicted as rather eager to achieve their objective. Further, the final interaction with the god Nalo may be somewhat intense as Moana is communicating with an angry, powerful character. Nevertheless, the extreme part is often presented comically and does not include blood or actual bodily injury.
Mild Scary Moments: I have noticed that there are a few scenes that can be a little creepy, especially when watched by children of a young age. The great storms and turbulent waves that Moana and her crew face could be disconcerting, particularly because these are portrayed as threatening and menacing. Nalo who is a god and obtains dominance through anger as a god of motus can be unfriendly and hazardous especially when his adversarial abilities pose life-threatening challenges to Moana and her companions. While these scenes are brought to an end through courage and unity, these may appear a bit worrisome for some children.
Mild Language: There is not much that parents may find problematic about the language used. The majority of the language is jovial and does not contain harsh or vulgar content appropriate for kids. There could be a couple of IQ comments like ‘you are stupid’ or ‘shut up’, but nothing that can be viewed as obscene or vulgar.
Music: Moana 2 is also filled with various entertaining and positive songs; however, it is not as memorable as the first movie’s songs like “How Far I’ll Go” and “You’re Welcome.” The songs in the sequel also contain themes of independence as evident in ‘Beyond’, a song about Moana’s desire to venture out into new terrain, and ‘Can I Get a Chee-Hoo’, a rap performed by Maui. The main problem is that compared to the original songs, some of them sound like cheesy pop or rap while the previous ones were deeply felt. Still, they are fun and add to the rest of the positive, adventurous flair of the film.
Sexual Content: In terms of the ‘severity’ of indecent exposure, meaning no nudity, obscene language, or any scenes portraying sexual perversion were also not depicted in the movies. There are no changes to the program’s appropriateness for the intended demographic, such as young children and families. Some parents might wish to talk about the issue of responsibility, leadership, sacrifice,e and so on, depending on the age of the child or if he shows interest in issues that are deeper than what is depicted in this cartoon.
