Moana 2 Creative Team Charts New Waters With Heart, Music, and Cultural Depth
Walt Disney Animation Studios is bringing audiences back to the Pacific with Moana 2, a sequel that expands the beloved story of the titular wayfinder while introducing new challenges, characters, and emotional depth. In a virtual press conference, the creative team — including executive producer and screenwriter Jared Bush, directors Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller, and songwriters Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear — offered an exclusive look into the making of this epic sequel.
Originally conceptualized as a Disney+ series, Moana 2 transitioned to a feature-length film after internal screenings revealed its cinematic potential. “The resounding note we got pretty much every screening was, ‘Man, we love this. Also, it should be a movie,” Bush explained. “Once we knew we were designing this movie for the biggest screens in the world, you see it in the third act especially — it’s massive.” This shift allowed the team to fully explore the story’s scale and beauty, pushing the boundaries of animation.
Miller noted the freedom the feature provided. “It really meant that we could just go bigger and bolder at every turn. There was never a concern that we were condensing anything,” she said. “If anything, we just got to do whatever we wanted.”
A pivotal addition to Moana’s (Auli’i' Cravalho) life is her younger sister Simea (Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda) who symbolizes the future of her people. “She really speaks to what is going to be the future of the people. Moana wants to give her the entire ocean,” Hand shared. “That’s a really powerful thing.” This familial bond adds new stakes to Moana’s voyage as she ventures into uncharted waters to unite her people.
Another key challenge comes in the form of a massive storm, described by Miller as a trial larger than anything Moana has faced before. “She has to go into this monster storm where the stakes are really high and her crew’s lives are literally at stake in those moments. And I think as a leader we have to make tough choices for the people that we’re leading and the people that we love the most, and it was exciting to see what Moana would do in a situation like that,” she explained.
Music continues to be at the heart of Moana’s story, with Barlow and Bear crafting songs that capture the film’s emotional journey. From the exuberance of “Can I Get a Chee Hoo?” to the introspection of “Beyond,” the soundtrack blends traditional island sounds with innovative twists. “It was important for us to have one foot in, one foot out and pay homage to the world of Moana that we know and love, while also allowing the characters’ voices to grow. We wanted Moana’s voice to evolve and Maui’s voice to evolve,” Bear said. “As she sets out on the new waters and is going into uncharted territory, we want the soundtrack to expand, and when we meet new characters we want it to sound different.”
The film also features a standout track “Get Lost,” sung by the enigmatic new character Matangi (Awhimai Fraser). “We wrote a pop banger and getting to craft her sound, while also staying within the realm of Moana and her world, that was really exciting,” Barlow said with a laugh. “Matangi is such a showgirl. She’s very elusive and very multilayered and loves to be dramatic. I feel like her number needed to be bringing out the drama and so do the vocals and she just nailed it.”
The Ocean Cultural Trust, which was pivotal in the first film, returned to ensure Moana 2 authentically represents the Pacific Islands. “Our trust is made up of experts from across the Pacific, from multiple cultures and islands, and they’re experts in everything from dance to language to botany to navigation,” Miller emphasized. “And so we were able to work with them throughout the film-making process and really have conversations with them.”
“So many of the moments in this film and so much of Moana’s journey is directly inspired by these conversations that we were having with our consultants. They were also not afraid to tell us when they disagreed with the direction we were going and the details that were going on,” she shared. “It was so great to have that kind of feedback because I think when they saw that we were listening to them and that we were taking what they were saying to heart and we were making changes to better fit the cultural specificity that we were going after, it built a trust that was kind of unparalleled. I think that’s why we see such a rich texture of culture throughout our film.”
A ceremonial chant performed by Moana’s community before her departure was inspired by traditional practices shared by the trust. “It’s a really special moment that I think we all really love, where the community is sending her off with their love,” Miller shared. “They’re imbuing her with their power and they’re calling on the gods to protect her and her crew as they go off into the ocean.”
With its lush animation, unforgettable music, and emotionally resonant story, Moana 2 is poised to captivate audiences once again. “Moana’s pretty incredible across the board. She’s adventurous, she’s courageous, she loves her people,” Miller noted. “Everything she does is truly for the people that she loves the most. Each of the journeys she’s gone on in these films has been because she wants to create a better world for the people that she loves, and that’s really aspirational and admirable.”
Dive back into Moana’s world with Moana 2 in theaters.
