Cold winter weather is the perfect time to cozy up with some popcorn and watch a new movie in theaters. “Moana 2” was released just in time to give its viewers a tropical get away through the screen and warm them up during this chilly season.
Released to theaters on Nov. 27 and having a run time of one hour and 40 minutes, this film has already made over $600 million in box office worldwide, beating the very popular musical adaptation “Wicked,” which has made $455.5 million.
After finding proof of other villagers on the sea, Moana returns to her island Motunui where new, integral characters are introduced such as, Moana’s little sister Simea, an old farmer named Kele, an engineer who builds boats named Loto, and a historian named Moni. Upon her return from the first movie, Moana is visited by the ancestors who tell her that she needs to restore an island that used to connect all of the people of the ocean and has been cursed to separate these communities. After struggling with the idea of leaving her village and having a difficult time with where she belongs, with her village or sailing, Moana curates a crew including Kele, Loto, and Moni to find Maui and reunite the people on the ocean.
The Walt Disney Company shared that when making the film the animation team had to work tirelessly to incorporate hand drawn animation with the CG animation. This is a difficult yet rewarding task that allows the film to have a dynamic look. One classic example of the hand draw animation is Maui’s living tattoos.
For a movie like “Moana 2” that includes a lot of culture from the Pacific Islands it was important to the film’s creators that they were as detailed as possible. In order to achieve this, Disney Animation estabiled the Oceanic Cultural Trust, which was integral in inspiring and helping to detail the film in a range of ways including costuming and mythology. Through constant collaboration with the Oceanic Cultural Trust, Moana’s story included dance, music, language, and much more from the Pacific Islands in which the film is set. “Moana 2” was respectfully and stunningly put on the big screen.
“Moana 2” is enjoyable for all age groups, with its beautiful animation and color palettes, comedic timing, and strong themes that are impactful to everyone who watches the film. The movie explores the theme of identity through Moana’s difficulties of becoming a wayfinder and acknowledges challenges that viewers may experience throughout life, providing a relatable story for movie watchers. “Moana 2” also explores the importance of community, which is an important topic for everyone watching both young and old.
Although there may be altering opinions regarding the success of “Moana 2,” the messages of identity and community are strong. This film is a valuable watch for its deep themes and its inclusion of culture all while being enjoyable visual and musically.
