Moana 2 premiered on November 27, 2024, with Moana and the demigod Maui saving the world. But how does it compare to the original 2016 film? Let’s Review!
The film introduces a fresh team of directors and composers, building anticipation and uncertainty about its direction. John Musker and Ron Clements originally directed the movie, but the project is now led by Dana Ledoux Miller, David Derrick Jr., and Jason Hand, who brings a new vision of Moana’s story. The changes have made audiences curious about the plot’s evolution, so let’s recap on the first Moana.
The first Moana (2016) follows a young girl from Montunui who sails across the ocean to save her people while discovering her inner strength and leadership with the help of Maui. She saves the world by restoring the heart of Ti Fiti and then returns home to become a legend. But how does her story change in Moana 2?
The plot of Moana picks back up in Moana 2 three years later, with Moana now being the official Wayfinder and leader of Montunui. The sequel introduces her younger sister, Siema (voiced by Khalessi Lamber-Tsuda), who looks up to Moana while finding her a path to make for herself. As Moana faces challenges and explores uncharted lands, she must also guide Siema and balance her leadership responsibilities. The film initially goes more in-depth with family, leadership, and environmental care.
Lilly Ballard, a 16-year-old sophomore at Ridge View High School, shares her thoughts and emotions about the movie.
“I think the movie wasn’t as bad as people made it out to be. The songs were impactful, and they had a somewhat stronger emotional pull than the first Moana, with a much more reflective tone that suited the plot. I also enjoyed the villains, but I did feel like there was a missed opportunity with Matangi. They gave us only a brief glimpse into her backstory without explaining much about where she came from or why she was trapped. It left me wanting more depth on her character.”
“Overall, I thought the movie was still pretty good. It wasn’t as funny as the first one, but the plot made sense to me, and I felt it still captured a lot of the heart that made the original one really good.”
Ultimately, while the film may not have reached the same heights as the original, it offered a thoughtful and emotionally charged narrative that still captured the essence of what made the first movie so special, proving that sometimes a more reflective tone can resonate just as deeply with audiences.
Jackson Hunter, a Freshman at Westwood High School, explains how he felt about the movie. “Honestly, the movie was alright. I wasn’t expecting much, especially with the new producers. The original was iconic with not only the music but also the cultural background. I like how they still gave Moana that independent vibe from the first one but with more of a twist with her crew. The music wasn’t as catchy, but I think it was alright for kids who like to sing a lot.”
Although the movie isn’t exactly what many people would have expected, it opens up more opportunities for new adventures. It introduces fresh characters, which can add an exciting dynamic to her growing story. This allows Moana to evolve and make her even more relatable while keeping the themes of exploration and resilience intact. Meanwhile, with the live-action adaption, we can look forward to more surprises in the growing Moanaverse.
