To celebrate the release of Moana 2 (glowing review here), the hugely anticipated sequel to 2016’s monster hit, we had the pleasure of chatting with Moana herself and some of the key creatives behind Disney’s latest animated spectacular.
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ epic animated musical Moana 2 reunites Moana (voice of Auli‘i Cravalho) and Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson) three years later for an expansive new voyage alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced.
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Speaking to Cravalho, we talk sequels, living up to the success of the first, the original films streaming records, its power to celebrate a culture and people we rarely see on screen, re-teaming with Dwayne Johnson, best fan encounters and why she can’t wait to see the live-action remake. Next, we chat all things soundtrack and music with Barlow & Bear – aka Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear – about stepping into the sequel, how the film’s story and animations inspired them, why the setting and themes of the film resonated so much with them, their favourite Disney songs and more.
Finally, two of the film’s co-directors, Dana Ledoux Miller and Jason Hand, discuss the pressures of sequels, why Disney rarely steps into the “sequel game” without a real reason to do so, bringing the original cast back to the project, how the film evolved from the original series idea, how the animators continue to leave everyone in awe, and why audiences have only seen part of the story up to now.
You can watch our full interviews below:
Moana 2 is in UK cinemas on November 29th.
