Moana 2 (2024) Review!!

Synopsis – An unexpected call from her ancestors, finds Moana traveling to the far seas of Oceania for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced.

My Take – Released in 2016, Moana, surprised just about everyone. Offering a fresh take on the Disney animation formula, that instead of the routine damsel in distress setup saw a story about on a strong, independent heroine from Polynesian culture, who goes on a journey of self-discovery and to find her connection to the ocean.

Brimming with the right amount of heart, humor, excellent voice performances (especially from Dwayne Johnson and Auliʻi Cravalho), and some unforgettable songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the film ended up being a big enough critical and commercial smash to find itself a permanent place in pop culture.

But while we have a live-action version set to release in 2026 that has Dwayne Johnson reprise his role, an animated sequel, which aims to expand on the magic of the first film, has arrived first.

Originally set to be a Disney+ TV series, the film was retooled it into a theatrically released sequel by its creators—directors David G. Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller, none of whom has made a feature before, in order to provide a more immersive experience of the next chapter in her journey.

Unfortunately, despite expanding on the scope of the previous film, it doesn’t quite recapture the same magic that made the original such a standout. While the original premise of a young girl and a demigod overcoming challenges was captivating, the sequel feels more like a shadow of its predecessor.

The story lacks depth, the characters feet underdeveloped, and the overall narrative just predictable. Most surprisingly, probably due to the retooling, the film’s pacing feels slightly rushed, resulting in a somewhat condensed narrative.

Nevertheless, though the sequel doesn’t quite reach the heights of the original in terms of its story or music, it still makes for an enjoyable watch. The third act, particularly is quite amazing in terms of scale & emotion!

Simply put, much of the charm of the film is in the vividly realized, self-contained world, that has very little to jar us out of it. And of course, the main selling point remains Moana herself: the sparkiest and most intrepid Disney heroine of them all. For most fans of the first film, that might be enough, even if it doesn’t fully live up to its precursor.

Set three years after the events of the first film, the story once again follows Moana (voiced by Auli’i Cravalho), now a wayfinder, who spends her days exploring other islands near her home island of Motunui in the hope of finding peoples connected to the ocean, with no luck.

After having rescued her people from famine by reversing an ancient curse on the goddess of nature, has gone from being the eldest daughter of the island tribe’s leader to being, in essence, a co-chieftain to her father Tui (voiced by Temuera Morrison). Children look up to her, village elders seek out her advice, and her return from a three-day solo sail to a nearby island is celebrated as if it were a major national holiday.

On one such celebration she receives a vision from one of her ancestors, who reveals why none of those peoples are connected anymore: the malicious storm god Nalo wanted power over the mortals, so he sunk a legendary island called Motufetu —which connected all islands— down to the depths of the ocean. Further warning that the people of Motunui will go extinct in the future if Moana cannot find a way to raise it.

To rectify this glaring injustice, at her parents’ insistence, Moana takes along a crew this time, an unlikely trio of misfits: Moni (voiced by Huālalai Chung), a bulky young artist who idolizes Maui; Loto (voiced by Rose Matafeo), a quirky girl who’s a whiz with a tool kit; Kele (voiced by David Fane), a cranky old farmer who hates the ocean and can’t even swim and of course, Moana’s intellectually challenged chicken Hei Hei (voiced by Alan Tudyk) and her pet pig Pua. During the mission, they re-encounter the demigod Maui (voiced by Dwayne Johnson), who has his own scores to settle with Nalo.

Without delving into spoilers, the story feels like a weaker reflection of the original. The film bears the scars of a mangled conception. Its amalgamation of too many ideas and no clear vision is most evident in the form of Nalo’s enforcer Matangi (voiced by Awhimai Fraser), whose introduction and swift dismissal are a squandered opportunity to provide Moana and crew with a memorable antagonist.

There’s a suggestion that she has a history with Maui, and she gets a musical number, but just as suddenly as Matangi arrives, she vanishes. The same goes for Nalo, who we don’t even get to see except as a snarling voice or a towering silhouette in the sky.

The middle section is too action-packed to be entirely coherent; every other scene contains a near-capsizing or other brush with maritime disaster, and the antagonists keep piling up. But the shipboard banter is often funny, and the frame is always popping with bold, warm color and witty visual ideas.

For example, Maui’s many tattoos still have the ability to move around his body like animated figures, their gestures and interactions at times providing commentary on the main story. When new characters are introduced, like a glum-looking neon-green blob fish who secretes a powerful but not deadly neurotoxin, the designs are reliably clever.

Visually, as expected, this is a feast for the eyes. The animation remains top-tier, with solid visuals of the ocean, lush islands, and intricate details that make the world feel vibrant and alive. Such bright and beautiful visuals are always a welcome treat. For example, I am fascinated by how well they seem to animate water.

One of the biggest differences is in the music employed here. The songs here by Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, are perky and appealing, but they don’t have the catchy, emotionally resonant quality that made tracks like “How Far I’ll Go” unforgettable. While the tunes are pleasant, they fail to leave a lasting impression, making the musical aspect of the film feel less integral to the overall experience.

That said, the ending provides a heartfelt resolution that ties everything together in a satisfying way. Despite losing momentum in the middle, the final act does a great job of recapturing the story’s emotional core, leaving me curious about what future adventures could look like.

The voice acting is still remarkable, with Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson again delivering energetic performances. With his complex mix of humor, arrogance, vulnerability, and charm, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson easily provides comic relief and emotional depth. The two are joined wonderfully by Alan Tudyk, Huālalai Chung, Rose Matafeo, David Fane, Awhimai Fraser and Temuera Morrison. On the whole, ‘Moana 2‘ is a simple and inoffensive yet oddly forgettable sequel that delights as a colorful adventure, but isn’t as inspired as the original.