Disney’s ‘Moana’ was a huge hit when it was released in 2016, captivating audiences with its stunning animation & catchy songs. This month the long awaited sequel arrives in cinemas reuniting Moana & Maui for a brand-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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178 : ‘Moana 2’ set the record for the most-watched trailer in Disney Animation and Pixar’s history. It was viewed by a whopping 178 million people across all of its online channels in the first 24 hours, more than any other Disney film ever!
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63 : ‘Moana 2’ is Walt Disney’s 63rd full-length animated feature.
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1 Billion : “The original ‘Moana’ film from 2016 is still hugely popular. It recently crossed 1 billion hours streamed on Disney+, and last year it held the title of the most streamed movie on any platform in America.
TIK TOK & THE MUSIC FROM MOANA 2
Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, two songwriters whose careers kicked off on TikTok, will make history as the first female duo of Disney composers with their songs in ‘Moana 2’. In 2021, the duo broke the internet with their Bridgerton-inspired ballads that went on to win a Grammy Award for Best Musical Album. Disney are so confident in the songs from ‘Moana 2’ that they’ve already announced they will submit the duo’s songs “Beyond” and “Can I Get a Chee Hoo?” for the 2025 Oscars.
CABARET
Moana actress Auli’i Cravalho is straddling two very different worlds this month. Not only does the 23-year-old actress reprise her breakout role as the audacious, seafaring Disney princess she’s currently in the midst of her Broadway debut, starring in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club.
BUCK TEETH
‘Moana 2’, introduces a host of fresh faces, but perhaps the most important one of all is Simea, Moana’s baby sister, a rambunctious 3-and-a-half-year-old who wants to be just like her big sister. Kevin Webb, one of the head animators on the film revealed that he used his own teeth as inspiration for the character, giving her glorious buck teeth. Webb told EW that he grew into his teeth at a very late age. “My daughter has the same thing, and it’s something that I find very charming and endearing”.
MOANA MONEY
The film has already been dubbed “Moanapocalypse” by box office pundits. American retailer Fandango has reported that the film has broken records for the first day of advance ticket sales, selling more tickets than any other 2024 animated film.
LIVE ACTION
Disney’s plans for Moana don’t just stop with animation. Dwayne Johnson will be reprise the role of his animated character Maui in a live-action film version scheduled to hit cinemas in 2026. “This story is my culture, and this story is emblematic of our people’s grace and warrior strength,” shared Johnson who doubles up as a producer and creative lead on the film.
THE DISNEY CONSERVATION FUND
As well as making a splash in cinemas Disney is making a splash for our real-life oceans. For ‘Moana 2’ they’ve teamed up with National Geographic Pristine Seas and Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS) to celebrate the Moana in all of us by helping to protect special underwater areas, like national parks for the sea. Since 1995, the Disney Conservation Fund has directed more than $125 million to global collaborations to inspire conservation action and positively impact wildlife and their habitats, including oceans.
BIGGER, AND BIGGER, AND MORE EPIC!
‘Moana 2’ was originally developed as a television series before being reworked as a theatrical sequel. “It was getting bigger and bigger and more epic, and we really wanted to see it on the big screen. It creatively evolved, and it felt like an organic thing.” shared Disney Animation’s chief creative officer Jennifer Lee. “We have the best artists in the world… why are we not letting them shine on the biggest screen in the biggest way?”