The box office found a new darling this past Thanksgiving weekend in Moana 2, the latest feature from Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The highly anticipated sequel was directed by David Derrick Jr. (Film/Video 04), Jason Hand (Film/Video 02), and Dana Ledoux Miller.
Released on Nov. 27, the film broke the record for highest-grossing five-day opening with $221 million domestically, per CNN. The record was previously held by The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which grossed $204.6 million last year.
Taking place three years after the events of the first film, the titular character and demigod Maui set sail for a new wayfinding adventure after an unexpected call from Moana’s ancestors. In an interview with SciFiNow, Hand and Miller discussed how the ancestral “call” was a deeply spiritual aspect that was integral to the story. Also of note were “the look and the beauty of the film, the natural beauty of [Moana’s] world,” to which audiences were introduced in the 2016 prequel.
Throughout the production of Moana 2, the filmmakers collaborated with several individuals and organizations to capture a vibrant portrayal of ancient Polynesian cultures. Miller said they had worked with experts across the Pacific through the Oceanic Cultural Trust, led by Kalikolehua Hurley. The Trust’s insights also helped shape the first film, which was directed by fellow CalArtians Don Hall (Film/Video BFA 95) and John Musker (Film/Video 77) with Ron Clements. Another major collaborator was Nainoa Thompson, the head of the Polynesian Voyaging Society and a modern wayfinder credited with ushering in a resurgence of traditional Pacific Islander navigation methods.
While Moana sets forth on a voyage to find an ancient island and break a curse, Hand said that of equal importance was finding herself:
I think, luckily in this one, and in life, you actually continue to discover more about yourself, so we actually really wanted to continue that for Moana. She made such an incredible declaration of “I am Moana” in the first film, that that can actually change as you grow up or as you change or as new things come into your life. That’s something you can sing about too. It’s a really important part of a musical, something that has such power within you that you need to sing. That idea of continuing self discovery. As Gramma Tala says, “You never stop choosing who you are.”
Watch the trailer for Moana 2 below.
