Steven Prusakowski
My recent visit to Disney Animation Studios to learn about the highly anticipated Moana 2 was a truly immersive experience. As soon as I walked through the doors, I was enveloped by the sounds and sights of Polynesia. Rhythmic music filled the shared space where the press and the animation team mingled. Everywhere I looked, artwork conveyed Moana‘s Pacific Island vibe, from coffee cups to tapestries to a 5-foot replica of Maui’s magical fish hook. That was just beginning the immersion. It was quickly clear that authenticity in representing Polynesian heritage and culture was a top priority for Disney in this film.
Moana was more than just a commercial and critical hit in 2016; it was a celebration of Polynesian culture, following the titular character (Auliʻi Cravalho) on her oceanic adventure with the charismatic demigod Maui (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) to save her village on the fictional island of Motunui. To tell this chapter in Moana’s story a new creative crew led by directors David G. Derrick Jr., Dana Ledoux Miller (both with Samoan heritage) and Jason Hand to navigate this new adventure. (Watch my interview with them below.)
Ledoux Miller spoke about how personal the film has become to her, “I’ve always dreamed of being able to truly represent my people and tell stories that were meaningful to us. And there’s really nothing bigger than Moana for us right now. So it’s very exciting to be here.” She continued, “I very distinctly remember sitting in the theater. The lights come out and over the bumper, the first sounds, the first voices are Samoan. I realized in that moment, that the film would forever change the way people saw Pacific Islanders.”
While at the Disney Animation Studios it quickly became evident that the approach to authentic representation was a true collaborative effort of people deeply connected to the culture and were passionate about sharing the beauty, heritage, and pride of the region. Instead of telling an established story, the film weaves a rich tapestry of Polynesian folklore, blending true cultural elements with the creativity of Disney storytelling to allow the film to honor a wider range of Pacific Islander cultures.
“This collaborative process is crucial, ” especially on a huge film like this, where we have over 750 people involved, explained Derrick Jr. “But if we’re all together, then we’re always just talking about the same thing, which is Moana’s journey, the relationships within this film. That’s the core of it all.”
A vital part of doing this was the guidance of those who know it best. The Oceanic Cultural Trust is a group of cultural advisors from the Pacific Islands who helped shape the film’s details. The group included anthropologists, historians, linguists, choreographers, cultural practitioners from the Pacific Islands. They were involved with the film from the very beginning, shaping the initial discussions about expanding Moana’s story and have remained engaged throughout the entire process, providing input on artwork, storyboards, names, character design, song lyrics and more.
During my time at the studio, we were given the opportunity to watch the first 30 minutes of the new film, where Moana embarks on a thrilling new quest. The story follows her as she receives an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, prompting her to set sail across uncharted waters. A journey that has her facing off against new villains and reuniting with familiar faces (beaks and snouts), while Maui navigates his own challenges. It became clear that exploration continues to be a central theme for Moana as she aims to be the chief her island needs.
Joining Moana’s journey are her adorable little sister Simea (voiced by Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda) and a colorful a crew to assist her: an engineer named Loto (Rose Matafeo), the lore-telling local Moni (Hualālai Chung), and cranky farmer Kele (David Fane). Also sailing with her are fan-favorite sidekicks Hei-Hei, the not-so-bright chicken (Alan Tudyk), and her porcine pal Pua.
“This is a film about Moana learning. She’s growing up and learning that you never stop choosing who you are,” shared Ledoux Miller. “That’s what we say in the film, but it’s what we really believe. She went on this journey and now she’s looking towards the future. As we all grow up, we think we know exactly who we are, and then something changes.” For the film she has matured, “Moana learning there are consequences to her actions and her choices she make actually affect other people.”
While Moana discovers new islands, she is also on a journey of self-discovery, aiming to become the chief that her island of Motunui deserves. The film beautifully balances the past and the future, with Moana singing “We’re Back,” a song celebrating her community’s return to wayfinding, as she navigates the waters towards home. The sequence reveals how the island has thrived over the past three years, with families expanding and new ships being built for exploration.
“I think the fact that we were able to continue the story, Moana was given a call by the ocean to become a wayfinder to bring her people back to the sea. But at the end of that film, she actually hasn’t reconnected with other people,” shared Derrick Jr. “So there’s something left to be done in her story. Through her own personal growth, she still has somewhere to grow. She’s still a young person who’s growing up and finding out more about herself.”
“I am really excited about the relationship between Moana and Maui,” expressed Ledoux-Miller. “They were a lot of fun in that first film, and they are a lot of fun in this film. We don’t wanna see them getting along all the time. But, in the first film, they really developed a friendship that was meaningful. It changed both of them and pushed them to new places.”
Music continues to be a central part of Moana’s journey. The directors promise eight new songs for the film from returning composers Opetaia Foa‘i and Mark Mancina, and also from Grammy Award-winning duo Abigail Barlow & Emily Bear, who are new to this film. This include “We’re Back” which celebrates the people of Montouni’s return to wayfinding.
“The music in this film speaks the language of the music in the first film,” explained Ledoux Miller. “It’s very much an immersive experience when you watch that first film. We were intentional about making sure we weren’t reinventing that wheel, but we were expanding on it.”
We were treated to a wonderful live performance from the duo. While I cannot share it, you can get a sample from the film below.
Fans of Maui’s playful tune, ‘You’re Welcome”, from the original film will be happy to learn that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has a new song for the sequel, that may even surpass it. When discussing the new song, Hand shared this about Johnson’s contribution to the film, “He brings so much to this character. He cares so deeply for the character of Maui. And we have an incredible new song that I cannot wait for everybody to hear, that is a showpiece for all of his incredible charisma and skill.”
“He comes in, and he’s so lovely to us, and then he walks into that booth, and he is suddenly Maui. It’s incredible,” added Ledoux Miller. “It’s a testament to how much this story means to him, but also how much he embodies Maui in so many ways. We take Maui to completely new emotional levels in this film, and we really push him to go farther than he’s ever gone before.”
It was a real treat to experience this Moana 2 sneak peek, surrounded by the music, dancing, art, heritage, and people the film’s team so meticulously worked to represent in the film. I found myself even more eagerly anticipating the film’s release, even with a two-month wait ahead of me.
The studio visit also included some hands-on experiences including a participating in a foley session, stepping into the sound studio and behind the mic for an ADR recording, a fascinating interactive lesson about traditional wayfinding across oceans, a conversation with the lead animators, and my attempt at drawing Mini Maui. All ofwhich will be shared at a later day on Awards Radar and my social media.
Moana 2 is out in theaters on November 27th.
Photos from my visit to Disney Animation Studios.
Visual Development and Concept Art from Moana 2.
When is the Moana 2 going to be out