Let out the sail and join Moana on her journey across the sea in “Moana 2.” After receiving a sign from her ancestors, Moana is called to unite her people by finding a lost tribe in the far reaches of the ocean. Setting sail on her canoe, StreamSafely’s favorite Wayfinder is joined again by the demigod Maui and all-new crew members who must face the dangers of the open ocean. This time, their goal is to survive the towering tempests of the goddess Matangi, who holds the lost tribe and their hidden island under her curse.
After eight long years, our team at StreamSafely is excited to return to Motunui and Disney’s magical Polynesian world. As a Disney property, the original film is available to stream exclusively through Disney+, and we invite you to watch or rewatch Moana’s epic oceanic adventure ahead of the upcoming film. Viewing your favorite films through trusted sources eliminates the risks associated with pirated content and sets you up for smooth sailing.
So, grab your oars, and let’s chart a course to the far seas of Oceania and explore all the official announcements and internet buzz surrounding Moana, Maui, and their expansive new voyage.
Everything You Should Know Before Seeing Moana 2
Ever since the release of the original movie “Moana” in 2016, fans have been clamoring for more. The first film, featuring the voice talents of native Hawaiian Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson, captured audiences with its vivid island imagery, meaningful representation, and iconic plot twists. And in classic Disney style, its soundtrack made quite a splash!
Moana’s composer, Lin-Manuel Miranda, was propelled into superstardom in 2015 for his on-stage musical “Hamilton,” a culturally diverse, hip-hop retelling of the U.S. founding fathers — now available to at-home viewers on Disney+. Miranda had previously created other stage shows, including “In the Heights,” which later became a motion picture, but “Hamilton” truly turned him into a household name. A year later, in 2016, Miranda was bringing his signature mix of cultural eclecticism and Broadway to “Moana” alongside Samoan-born composer Opetaia Foaʻi with songs like “We Know the Way” and the power anthem “How Far I’ll Go.”
Keeping with its goals of authenticity, Disney brought on Dwayne Johnson, who is of Samoan descent, and Auli’i Cravalho to bring these songs and the characters that sing them to life. Voicing Moana was Cravalho’s first major dive into acting, and Disney shared the moment she received the news of her casting in an official YouTube video posted ahead of the film.
Moana (2016) Synopsis — Spoilers
When the Mother Island, Te Fiti, rose from the sea, she used the power imbued in her heart to create the islands of the world. While many monstrous creatures tried to take Te Fiti’s heart and use its power for themselves, it was the shapeshifting demigod Maui who succeeded. In so doing, he unleashed a devouring darkness. As he fled, Maui was confronted by the fire demon Te Kā, who struck Maui down. Both Maui’s magical fishhook and the heart of Te Fiti were lost to the sea.
A thousand years later, the headstrong princess Moana grows restless of her island life and the role laid out for her by her father. When the devouring darkness begins to touch the island, ruining crops and scaring away fish, Moana’s grandmother reveals to her that the ocean chose Moana to restore the heart of Te Fiti and bring life and balance back to the island. Opening her necklace, she gives Moana the missing heart of Te Fiti, which she has safeguarded for 16 years: a small, green pounamu stone.
Taking the stone and the hidden boats her grandmother showed her, Moana prepares to leave. Sadly, moments before she does, her grandmother falls ill and passes away. Determined to carry out the mission her grandmother bestowed upon her, Moana sets sail to find Maui, who knows the way to Te Fiti.
During a storm, Moana is shipwrecked on Maui’s island, and the demigod attempts to take the boat for himself. Seeing that the selfish demigod isn’t the hero she’s been taught to believe, Moana convinces him to help her restore the heart and his reputation among the gods in the process. Maui agrees, but they first set out to receive his magical hook from Tamatoa, a giant crab who Maui suspects collected his hook when it sank in the sea.
After tricking Tamatoa, the two retrieve Maui’s hook and sail to Te Fiti where they are again met by the fire demon Te Kā. Maui uses his hook to protect them, damaging it in the process. Their boat is then hurled out of reach of Te Kā. Feeling outpowered and fearing the loss of his hook again, Maui abandons Moana, leaving her alone in her boat.
In despair, Moana is met by the spirit of her grandmother, who encourages her to continue the journey. As Moana approaches Te Fiti’s island, Te Kā is waiting for her, but Maui returns, buying her time to make it past the demon. However, Moana realizes that the island where Te Fiti should have been is gone and that Te Kā is Te Fiti herself — morphed into a tortuous, fiery form by the loss of her heart.
Moana sets the stone in its rightful place on Te Kā’s chest, and the demon transforms back into the lush and life-giving mother island, Te Fiti. The goddess gifts Maui a new hook and Moana a new boat, and Moana sails back to her island, Motunui, to find the devouring darkness gone. In the ending scene, Moana convinces her people to take up the tradition of their ancestors and sail out to explore new waters.
Moana 2 (2024)
Set several years after the events of the first film, Moana has restored her people’s tradition of sailing, or “Wayfinding,” but she soon learns that they are not alone among the islands. Moana’s ancestors reveal to her that more of her people exist trapped on a hidden island in the far reaches of the ocean — a place cursed and guarded by the evil storm goddess Matangi. Accompanied by Maui, Moana sets sail with a crew of unlikely seafarers named Loto, Kele, and Moni. Together, they venture toward the long-lost waters of the hidden island to find and free her people.
The principal voice cast, including Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson, are returning to reprise their roles. However, although composers Opetaia Foa’i and three-time Grammy winner Mark Mancina will return for the second film, Lin-Manuel Miranda will not join them. The movie’s music department welcomes newcomers Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear to provide the new score, and Disney revealed one of the film’s new songs, “Back to Where We’re Meant To Be,” at the D23 2024 exposition.
Deeper Analysis, Speculation, & Spoilers
Although we at StreamSafely are excited to see Moana back up on the silver screen, the continuation of the Moana franchise was originally announced to be a series on Disney+. The official reason for the change is that Disney CEO Bob Iger was so impressed with the footage that he wanted to take the series to the big screen instead. However, as Variety was quick to point out, theaters have regained popularity in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Coupled with content overload on the streaming platform, Disney may be betting that a full-length feature will have a greater impact both culturally and financially.
Some fans have expressed hesitation, as this is not the first time Disney has pushed out a movie after failing to launch a TV show. This is similar to what is rumored to have happened to the “Team Atlantis” series following the disappointing box office numbers of “Atlantis: The Lost Empire” in 2001. According to online fan pages like Fandom’s Atlantis: The Lost Empire Wiki and The Disney Wiki, the existing episodes were stitched together to form “Atlantis: Milo’s Return,” a full-length feature film that was released straight to video.
The other rumors swirling around “Moana 2” include the new antagonist and an unexplained giant clam seen in the trailer. The movie’s main villain is named Matangi, the god of storms and whirlwinds in Maori mythology. In “Moana 2,”’ Matangi is a goddess who threatens that Maui “will be destroyed” along with Moana.
The trailer shows the goddess in dim light, wreathed in bats and lit by the full moon. However, the scenery behind Matangi in this clip does not look like the open sky; rather, she and Maui appear to be inside a cave. Some fans have guessed that Matangi’s lair may be inside the giant clam seen elsewhere in the trailer, with its central pearl serving at the full moon.
David G. Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, & Dana Ledoux Miller
A trio of directors joins forces to bring us “Moana 2.” David G. Derrick Jr. and Jason Hand are no strangers to animation. Derrick brought his artistic talents to “Megamind” (2010) and “Rise of the Guardians” (2012) before joining Disney on “Raya and the Last Dragon” (2021). Similarly, Hand worked in the art department on “Encanto” (2021), “Zootopia” (2016), and “Big Hero Six” (2014). Ledoux Miller has less experience with Disney but has served as a producer and writer across shows like “Designated Survivor” and “Kevin Can F**k Himself.”
Movie Plot
A few years after restoring the heart of Te Fiti, Moana receives a sign from the ancestors: to find and free long-lost members of her people who are held captive on a cursed island. Setting sail with Maui and an unlikely crew, Moana ventures into the treacherous waters of the storm goddess Matangi to find the hidden island and save her people.
Genre
Keeping with Disney’s magical tradition, “Moana 2” is expected to entertain the whole family. With all-new songs and returning voice talents, this family-friendly animated adventure mixes music, comedy, and action in a way that only Disney can.
Runtime
“Moana 2” is expected to have a run time of 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Rating
“Moana 2” has not yet been rated, but, like most Disney entries before, it is expected to receive a PG rating. 2016’s “Moana” was rated PG for peril, brief thematic elements, and some scary images.
Theatrical Release Date
Moana is expected to sail into theaters in her all-new film on November 27, 2024.
Streaming Options
“Moana 2” is expected to be released exclusively to theaters. Then, look for it on Disney+ so you can take part in the adventure again and again.
Remember, while some streaming services may offer Disney+ as part of a package, sites that offer a smattering of Disney films without the Disney+ label are likely unauthorized to do so. Illegitimate platforms are constantly working to appear more convincing, but there are ways to recognize illegal streaming websites and protect yourself from pirated content.
Moana 2 Official Trailer
Take to the sea a second time with Moana and Maui as they set off to find her long-lost people on a mysterious, cursed island:
Cast & Crew
Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson return as the voices of Moana and Maui in Disney’s continuation of the Polynesian Wayfinders. Cravalho debuted on the world stage as the voice of Moana in 2016 but has since appeared in the 2018 TV show “Rise” as Lilette Suarez and was Ariel in “The Little Mermaid Live!” in 2019. She also starred as Janis ‘Imi’ike in “Mean Girls,” the 2024 movie adaption of the Broadway musical based on the 2004 film of the same name.
Hollywood heavyweight Dwayne Johnson is known for his action films but has appeared previously in Disney films like “Jungle Cruise” (2021) and “The Game Plan” (2007).
Joining them are the returning voice talents of Alan Tudyk, Rachel House, Temuera Morrison, and Nicole Scherzinger. Together, they welcome new cast members like Rose Matafeo, David Fan, and Hualālai Chung, who voice Loto, Kele, and Moni, respectively.
Check out the list below for a more comprehensive breakdown of this film’s voice cast:
Auli’i Cravalho: Moana
Dwayne Johnson: Maui
Alan Tudyk: Hei Hei, Moana’s chicken
Rachel House: Gramma Tala, Moana’s grandmother
Temuera Morrison: Chief Tui, Moana’s father
Nicole Scherzinger: Sina, Moana’s mother
Rose Matafeo: Loto, a brainy and quirky member of Moana’s crew
David Fane: Kele, a grumpy, old farmer who finds his way onto Moana’s boat
Hualālai Chung: Moni, a passionate storyteller and member of Moana’s crew
Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda: Simea, Moana’s new little sister
Awhimai Fraser: Matangi, Goddess of whirlwinds and storms
Gerald Ramsey: Tautai Vasa, one of Moana’s Wayfinding ancestors
The crew includes:
Directors: David G. Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, Dana Ledoux Miller
Writers: Dana Ledoux Miller, Jared Bush
Producers: Jared Bush, Dwayne Johnson, Jennifer Lee
Composers: Opetaia Foa’i, Mark Mancina, Abigail Barlow, Emily Bear
Production Companies: Walt Disney Animation Studios
How To Stream Moana 2
“Moana 2” will arrive in theaters on November 27, 2024. The original film, as well as expansive selections from the Disney archives, can be found on Disney+. Going straight to the official source every time is the best way to ensure you have a streaming experience free of interruptions and spam. However victimless the act may seem, digital content piracy is unethical. Even unassuming sites can pose significant dangers to you, your data, and your device.
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So, as you get ready for “Moana 2,” take time to rewatch the original, other Disney classics, and even some of your old childhood favorites. Our resource inventory is always growing, and we love spreading the joy and adventure of cinema with you. Happy streaming!
