Moana Makes Waves
Seven years after the release of the groundbreaking film “Moana,” on Feb. 7, the teaser trailer for the sequel dropped, already leaving fans of the original excited but simultaneously disappointed. People were surprised and had relatively high hopes, since there was originally talk surrounding a live action “Moana” and a “Moana” television series sequel that was said to be reworked into a new film instead. Oftentimes, when films are reworked into other versions of media such as television shows, they do not do justice to the original film, leaving people upset by the tarnished image of a movie that they hold an attachment to and may have grown up with. A controversy involving “Moana 2” is the loss of Lin-Manuel Miranda as a songwriter, who was a compelling lyricist in the original “Moana,” creating songs such as “You’re Welcome,” which remain iconic to fans today. Miranda’s absence is expected to be a very noticeable loss as he brings so much to the musical aspect of filmmaking.
Even though the time frame between the announcement of the new film and the release date is already slim compared to typical Disney movie announcements, there is not much information out about the upcoming movie. Scheduled to release on Nov. 27, “Moana 2” will contain a group of new characters alongside the original cast with Maui and Moana who must keep the island safe from a new danger. Little is known about this danger, since the directors must maintain some element of surprise for the plot, but it is said that the movie will dive deeper into Moana’s Polynesian cultural background and mythology. “Moana 2” is supposedly going to confirm the theories of Moana being a Polynesian God of the ocean and in turn will explore her godhood, which would also explain her parents’ overprotective nature in the first film. Senior Praveen Vadlamani is unsure what to expect and is looking forward to finding out.
“Since I have not seen a [movie depicting] Polynesian [culture] before [the first movie], the new concept is nice to see,” Vadlamani said. “I am expecting the movie to provide more backstory on Maui and who he is as a character overall. I am not sure how ‘Moana 2’ will go; it could just be like ‘Mulan 2’ and not necessarily [address] any of the characters’ backstories.”
Fans are mainly worried about this upcoming sequel not having as much impact as the first movie which holds such a dear place in their hearts. On the other hand, many are excited to relive this part of their childhood. Since it has been nearly a decade since the original release of “Moana,” it will gain traction from the grown up teen population as well as the new generation of young fans. Senior Alexsis Green still holds this excitement for the film but has her doubts about its execution.
“I hope the animation will level up and the songs will be just as catchy,” Green said. “I think that seeing Moana’s leadership skills develop will inspire a lot of young viewers, especially now that the little kids that watched the first movie are approaching an age where they are exploring different ways to use their voice to stand up for others. [I believe] the soundtrack will be just as iconic, but I do not know how they are going to do that without Lin-Manuel Miranda.”
It is safe to say “Moana 2” has a lot to live up to, as the original, grossing over $860 million at the global box office, has become a staple in audience members’ lives with its broader scale of representation and important portrayals of female empowerment (Variety). Moana’s Polynesian ethnicity sets her apart from Disney’s typical white princess counterparts, serving as a figure for a wider range of fans to relate and look up to. Having a character whose main defining traits are her fearlessness, strength and independence sets a good example for young girls to decide their own destiny. “Moana” was so revolutionary because Moana does not fall victim to the “male protector” trope, where the main female protagonist needs rescuing from a male character. For these reasons, fans have high hopes for this Disney princess sequel in particular, compared to other sequels with protagonists who do not prioritize personal agency as heavily in their storylines.
The first movie was so well-received because of the way it handled Moana’s character and the attention to detail regarding ethnic backgrounds that Disney included. She rightfully becomes her father’s successor and is not treated unfairly for being a woman, teaching impressionable young girls that women can be in power too. For this reason, “Moana 2” will not be a complete letdown to fans, since she will still remain true to her roots as a character. Although the action and the soundtrack do a great job in elevating the film and securing it as a top tier Disney movie, Moana’s character is what created the foundation for the film’s original appeal. Junior Charlotte Willis agrees and is expecting good things from “Moana 2.”
“It is a combination of the characters, setting and songs that make the first movie so good,” Willis said. “I am expecting great graphics along with another riveting plotline, and I will definitely not be let down since I love all the characters [in the original] so much. The animations will be even better because Disney’s quality has improved over the years and the [possible] introduction of new characters [will be exciting]. The last movie will be hard to top, but I am sure this one will be good.”
