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Moana 2 is homeward bound. The seafaring sequel to the hit 2016 film is now streaming exclusively on Disney+, and we caught up with two of the film’s directors, David Derrick Jr. and Jason Hand, who discussed the “constant evolution” of developing the story from a series to a theatrical release.
At a Glance: How to Stream Moana 2
Streaming: Disney+
Buy on Digital: Amazon Prime, Apple TV
Disney+
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Disney+ is available as part of the Duo bundle with Hulu, which is currently $2.99/mo for the first four months. This deal ends on March 30.
Moana 2, directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller, stars Auli’i Cravalho as Moana, Dwayne Johnson as Maui, and Nicole Scherzinger as Sina, reprising their roles from the first film. The sequel adds Hualālai Chung, Rose Matafeo, and David Fane. The film’s songs were written by Emily Bear and Abigail Barlow, the songwriting duo known as Barlow and Bear.
The story was originally developed as a series before Disney pivoted to a theatrical release, which Derrick described as a “more comfortable” place, adding “We loved the exploration that the series provided us, but as soon as we were allowed to pivot, it really actually is where we’ve thrived for years and years.” Hand explained, “The bones of what we were doing in the series is the same as what was in the film, so we didn’t have to completely revamp everything. What we did was actually clarify the story through Moana’s point of view.”
Hand discussed the process of developing the characters, explaining, “As we work through the script, there’s multiple iterations, and that also continues forward as we do storyboarding. We’re finding out about the characters as we’re doing that. And so it’s a constant evolution and a constant crafting from from the very early moments of inspiration through the hard work of crafting the screenplay. And then ultimately, every single department is crafting a better and better version.”
“It’s absolutely incredible when a rough sketch or an unfinished painting literally is resolved through script, writing, through animation, through effects, through lighting,” noted Derrick. “And it does touch a lot of different hands, and for us as directors, it was making sure we always held on to those thematic goals the character drives.”
With the film hitting streaming, the directors discussed the moments they most look forward to fans revisiting, including the film’s second and third acts (spoilers ahead). “The moment where Moana swims down and touches the island, breaking the curse, but in doing so is ultimately given a sacrifice for her people, and to see Maui stripped down to his just bare essences,” explains Hand. “He has no power, but pushes forward to go to Moana was incredibly powerful. And then to really turn it at the very end, and see that all this was for the better of everybody. We get to see Moana in a new light at the end of the film, reconnected with her sister. So all of those moments, I think, are the thing I’m most excited to have people continue to rewatch and to experience.”
The film is worth seeing in the highest definition possible because, according to Rolling Stone film critic David Fear, “the animation of these sun-dappled Pacific Island landscapes, the aqua-blue gulfs and roiling ocean waves, and the purple-hued meteorological phenomenons couldn’t look more awe-inspiring.”
Moana 2
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Moana 2 will be available on physical formats on March 18, including Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K UHD Blu-ray.
