By Samantha Ofole-Prince
Walt Disney’s “Moana 2” is an inventive animated musical which is deeply rooted in mythology and culture. A film about an adventurous young woman on an ancestral voyage, Samantha Ofole-Prince breaks down the reasons why this sequel is a must see.
1. Dwayne Johnson’s back. He reprises his role as the voice of Maui, the charismatic demigod who wields a magical fishhook. “With Maui, what you see is what you get. There’s not a lot of hiding his emotions,” shares Johnson, “and what I love about Maui is the dude is just fun.” This sequel also sees the return of actress Auli‘i Cravalho who voiced Moana in the first film and there’s great chemistry between the two leads.
2. It’s a cultural masterpiece which captures the true essence of the Pacific Islands. As was done on the first film, the filmmakers assembled a team of cultural experts in anthropology, history, dance and movement, canoes and navigation linguistics, and various cultural practices from the Pacific Islands. “I am Samoan,” shares director Dana Ledoux Miller, “and it’s not often that we see Pacific Islanders on screen.”
3. Music plays an important role. Grammy winners Abigail Barlow, Emily Bear, Grammy nominee Opetaia Foa‘i, and three-time Grammy winner Mark Mancina create the catchy music and songs for this new big screen adventure. “Music is one of the biggest components of the ‘Moana’ universe, so it was very important to us to have songwriters who understood the assignment,” adds Miller.
4. It’s consistent with the Disney style of storytelling. Taking slices from classics “The Lion King” and “The Little Mermaid,” it has awesome characters, explores familial relationships and is very contemporary and relevant.
5. Dwayne Johnson sings. If you’ve ever wondered what Dwayne Johnson’s singing voice really sounds like or enjoyed hearing him belt out the catchy tune in the first film, you are in for a treat. Foa‘i wrote a special song for Dwayne, who’s half Samoan, that calls on him to sing in Samoan. Called ‘Mana Vavau,’ the song is about ancestors.
6. We can never have enough female protagonists in Hollywood films. The female lead, Moana, is again voiced by Auli‘i Cravalho who really embodies the character. Older and wiser, Moana is now a leader in her village and is a powerful role model.
7. It’s grounded in research. Disney filmmakers are notorious for conducting extensive research to bring their stories to life. They studied wild animals to prepare for “The Lion King” and “Zootopia” and for “Moana 2,” which is inspired by the cultures of Oceania, the team traveled to the Pacific Islands to learn as much as possible about the culture. Everything from the tattoos, the ceremonial practices, choreography and environments seen in the film was all deeply influenced by the research.
8. It’s a visual feast. With culture, music, laughter and endearing visuals, it’s one of those movies that completely immerses you and there is the sense that not a single frame has been compromised because of the cost of animation.
Directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller, “Moana 2” sails into U.S. theaters on Nov. 27.
Photos: Disney
