Moana 2 (2024)
While Disney has gained an unfavorable reputation for being a company often willing to put financial gain over quality or morals, there are few cases as dire for Disney's argument against this as the birth and release of Moana 2. Originally announced as a Disney+ series as part of 2020's Disney Investor Day event where Disney tried to wow audiences with a huge slate of upcoming projects including a wide array of Disney+ releases that could be expected over the next number of years, most of which would never see release. As Disney+ originals grew out of fashion for the company and the streaming numbers of the original 2016 film blew up, Disney made a last-minute decision to transform the Disney+ Moana series into a feature film less than a year before the film would be released wide into theaters. If this sounds like a baffling creative move, it is because that is an accurate reading of the situation. A move like this, especially within an animated space, is a recipe for disaster with no other proof as daming as the final result released.
In every possible way, Moana 2 is an incredible step down from the original breakout feature. Picking up 3-years after Moana's original adventure, the film sees the titular character, once again voiced by Auliʻi Cravalho, continue to lead her island while also finalizing her plans to connect with other people across the ocean. Through a vision by her ancestor, Tautai Vasa (Gerald Ramsey), it is revealed to Moana that the reason why there has been no connection between the islands is because the storm god Nalo sunk a legendary island named Motufetu which, somehow, has prevented any communication. Because Motufetu is sunk, Moana's island is also at risk, for an unexplained reason, with her people going to die, for unclear reasons, if she cannot raise this island. Moana gathers a crew of colorful characters and sets out to save her people.
To say this plot is convoluted and forced is the understatement of the century. This entire conflict is haphazardly retconned into existence with zero logic or clarity. The actual core conflict is only explained in the vaguest of terms while the stakes are raised as cheaply as possible. What should be a more simple narrative of Moana seeking her goal of connection is immediately and awkwardly paved over by a world-ending conflict that has never been mentioned before and comes out of nowhere, almost like the project was worried about the stakes being too small for a feature film and trying to quickly figure out something that worked with the large amount of content that was already created and finished for a smaller sized project.
While the journey Moana and her friends go on has some small highlights like Nalo's bat-controlling partner, Matangi, who brings with her some unique iconography and a strong performance from Awhimai Fraser, the film clearly cannot escape its episodic TV layout. Conflicts come in the form of small episode-length vignettes without the normal payoff or narrative build one would expect from a feature production. Audiences have a brief introduction and conflict with a character or element like Matangi only to leave her behind with nothing of substance ultimately forming from their presence. The plot feels disjointed and meaningless, taking on an excruciatingly boring flow and lack of momentum as a result. It is also disappointing that so much of the film feels tied to the original feature, trying to reuse the iconic scenes and characters of the original film rather than craft something new. From multiple retreads of scenes from the first film to shoehorning in various side characters from the first film, Moana 2 cannot shake the shadow of the film it is based on. While this lack of creativity feels more acceptable for a filler television series, it only adds to the underwhelming feeling that comes from the film as it tries to stand as its own feature film.
While it is predictable that the last-minute adjustments to the film's identity would result in a messy narrative, it also was predictable that the animation would suffer as a result. While there are still some exciting moments of color and the occasional introduction of passable iconography, the animation is overall some of Disney's worst. The character animation looks cheap and many of the landscapes feel overly simple. This is largely animation that was never meant to be seen on a big screen and while it is unfair to expect the animation to hold up as a result, it is shockingly unacceptable that Disney would not only allow this but force it. In a time where Disney has struggled to earn the trust of its consumers with lackluster results in nearly every form as a company including the theatrical experience, the idea that they would be willing to deliver a substandard product is a beyond questionable move.
What is new to the film is the characters who join Moana on her journey. There is Moni (Hualālai Chung), a walking Maui stan account, Kele (David Fane) a grumpy old farmer, and Loto (Rose Matafeo), a young genius designer who is not the best socially. These characters are as one-dimensional as they can possibly be with none feeling particularly interesting or funny. Their basic shticks would be barely enough to entertain for a 20-minute episode of television, much less a 100-minute movie. Far too early into the film, their characters feel more annoying than anything with their presence being instantly forgettable before the credits are even done playing.
While Disney was once a golden standard for artistic creativity and pushing the animated world forward, Moana 2 is an honestly haunting example of proof of how far the studio has fallen in merit and respectability. While the studio still produces strong work and gives the chance for exciting creative voices to step up, the cheap and capitalistic intentions of the film paint a damming portrait of the ship these positives are steering. Every immediate concern that comes from the production story of Moana 2 comes to fruition in the final product with Disney ignoring every warning sign in favor of box office profit, something the feature succeeded with. It is a shame that a team of first-time directors, including David Derrick Jr. who was originally tasked with the sole role of director for the animated series, had their product butchered and turned into something so disappointing that has been met with criticism for decisions far outside their control.
Between Wish, Moana 2, and an upcoming slate of sequels that is undeniably a reaction to the disappointing results of their most recent slate of original projects, Walt Disney Animation Studios feels like one of the least inspired studios currently working with every decision feeling more disappointing and puzzling than the last. While one can hope that their future sequels including Zootopia 2 and Frozen 3 will bring more to the table than Moana 2 considering their identity as a feature film is at least known by the creatives making the projects, the future on the horizon for the studio is far from as positive as it was even a decade ago.
In every possible way, Moana 2 is an incredible step down from the original breakout feature. Picking up 3-years after Moana's original adventure, the film sees the titular character, once again voiced by Auliʻi Cravalho, continue to lead her island while also finalizing her plans to connect with other people across the ocean. Through a vision by her ancestor, Tautai Vasa (Gerald Ramsey), it is revealed to Moana that the reason why there has been no connection between the islands is because the storm god Nalo sunk a legendary island named Motufetu which, somehow, has prevented any communication. Because Motufetu is sunk, Moana's island is also at risk, for an unexplained reason, with her people going to die, for unclear reasons, if she cannot raise this island. Moana gathers a crew of colorful characters and sets out to save her people.
To say this plot is convoluted and forced is the understatement of the century. This entire conflict is haphazardly retconned into existence with zero logic or clarity. The actual core conflict is only explained in the vaguest of terms while the stakes are raised as cheaply as possible. What should be a more simple narrative of Moana seeking her goal of connection is immediately and awkwardly paved over by a world-ending conflict that has never been mentioned before and comes out of nowhere, almost like the project was worried about the stakes being too small for a feature film and trying to quickly figure out something that worked with the large amount of content that was already created and finished for a smaller sized project.
While the journey Moana and her friends go on has some small highlights like Nalo's bat-controlling partner, Matangi, who brings with her some unique iconography and a strong performance from Awhimai Fraser, the film clearly cannot escape its episodic TV layout. Conflicts come in the form of small episode-length vignettes without the normal payoff or narrative build one would expect from a feature production. Audiences have a brief introduction and conflict with a character or element like Matangi only to leave her behind with nothing of substance ultimately forming from their presence. The plot feels disjointed and meaningless, taking on an excruciatingly boring flow and lack of momentum as a result. It is also disappointing that so much of the film feels tied to the original feature, trying to reuse the iconic scenes and characters of the original film rather than craft something new. From multiple retreads of scenes from the first film to shoehorning in various side characters from the first film, Moana 2 cannot shake the shadow of the film it is based on. While this lack of creativity feels more acceptable for a filler television series, it only adds to the underwhelming feeling that comes from the film as it tries to stand as its own feature film.
While it is predictable that the last-minute adjustments to the film's identity would result in a messy narrative, it also was predictable that the animation would suffer as a result. While there are still some exciting moments of color and the occasional introduction of passable iconography, the animation is overall some of Disney's worst. The character animation looks cheap and many of the landscapes feel overly simple. This is largely animation that was never meant to be seen on a big screen and while it is unfair to expect the animation to hold up as a result, it is shockingly unacceptable that Disney would not only allow this but force it. In a time where Disney has struggled to earn the trust of its consumers with lackluster results in nearly every form as a company including the theatrical experience, the idea that they would be willing to deliver a substandard product is a beyond questionable move.
What is new to the film is the characters who join Moana on her journey. There is Moni (Hualālai Chung), a walking Maui stan account, Kele (David Fane) a grumpy old farmer, and Loto (Rose Matafeo), a young genius designer who is not the best socially. These characters are as one-dimensional as they can possibly be with none feeling particularly interesting or funny. Their basic shticks would be barely enough to entertain for a 20-minute episode of television, much less a 100-minute movie. Far too early into the film, their characters feel more annoying than anything with their presence being instantly forgettable before the credits are even done playing.
While Disney was once a golden standard for artistic creativity and pushing the animated world forward, Moana 2 is an honestly haunting example of proof of how far the studio has fallen in merit and respectability. While the studio still produces strong work and gives the chance for exciting creative voices to step up, the cheap and capitalistic intentions of the film paint a damming portrait of the ship these positives are steering. Every immediate concern that comes from the production story of Moana 2 comes to fruition in the final product with Disney ignoring every warning sign in favor of box office profit, something the feature succeeded with. It is a shame that a team of first-time directors, including David Derrick Jr. who was originally tasked with the sole role of director for the animated series, had their product butchered and turned into something so disappointing that has been met with criticism for decisions far outside their control.
Between Wish, Moana 2, and an upcoming slate of sequels that is undeniably a reaction to the disappointing results of their most recent slate of original projects, Walt Disney Animation Studios feels like one of the least inspired studios currently working with every decision feeling more disappointing and puzzling than the last. While one can hope that their future sequels including Zootopia 2 and Frozen 3 will bring more to the table than Moana 2 considering their identity as a feature film is at least known by the creatives making the projects, the future on the horizon for the studio is far from as positive as it was even a decade ago.