Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Moana was more than a commercial and critical hit of 2016; it was also a celebration of the Polynesian culture. Set on the fictional island of celebrates Motunui, the film followed the title character (Auliʻi Cravalho) who embarks on a oceanic adventure with the mighty demigod Maui (Dwyane Johnson) to save her village from a blight.

Five years later, the studio repurposed a sequel series originally meant for Disney+ into a full-length theatrical feature titled Moana 2. They even brought a new creative crew to navigate the waters of bringing a sequel to audiences worldwide.

With Moana being directors John Musker and Ron Clements last film, Moana 2 is a return to a world and characters that we love, as well as an opportunity to expand upon a mythology inspired by the legends and stories of the Polynesian Culture. As such, directors David G. Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, Dana Ledoux Miller — Derrick Jr. and Miller are of Samoan heritage — were tapped to take Moana and Maui on a brand new adventure that would have them sail uncharted waters explore, explore mysterious new islands, and encounter dangerous new antagonists.

Moana 2‘s first full trailer sees Moana receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors. They ask her to embark on a dangerous quest across uncharted waters. While Moana is an experienced wayfinder with a strong connection to the ocean, she needs a crew to help her on this adventure. As such, she brings the mighty shapeshifting demigod Maui, alongside brilliant engineer Loto (Rose Matafeo), the storytelling local and Maui fanboy Moni (Hualālai Chung), and the elderly and dutiful Kele (David Fane). Of course, they can’t forget Heihei the chicken and Pua the pig.

The Nerds of Color joined their fellow journalists for a 30-minute preview of the upcoming animated musical sequel at Walt Disney Animation Studios in Burbank California. There, we got to hear from the filmmakers that helped make what was supposed to be a streaming series into a full-animated feature.

Exploration has always played a huge role in Moana, as the title character sails across the ocean to discover what’s out there, she also is on a journey of self-discovery. However, it’s a never-ending journey as the ocean is fast and Moana still has a lot to learn about her self if she is to become the chief the island of Montuni deserves and the wayfinder that she is destined to be. So if Moana was about reconnecting with the past, Moana 2 is about her and the people of Montuni’s future.

The film opens with a beautiful scenic shot of a remote island. The sun is shining and the ocean waters are gently washing ashore. The camera closes in on two shells, one of which is a crab shell. The macro details are amazing as you can see the grains of sand the textures of the shells. That’s when we see Moana pick up the empty shell, and rushing head first into the jungle. With her trusty oar in hand, she does the parcore equalitivant of traversing the jungle. The camera movement and edits hint that she is being chased by something we cannot see. After successfully leaping across two ledges, we come to find out that Pua was merely trying to keep up. “Almost there. Just an easy little hope,” Moana encourages.

But Pua is too exhausted to continue onward, leaving Moana to carry him the rest of the way. “You’re the one who wanted to come,” she said — as a snide little joke about Pua being left behind in the first film. As she climbs to mountain top, she finds out that Heihei already arrived. Moana isn’t on this island just for another adventure, she is searching for other people on other islands. So when she blows into a conch, the sound carries over. At first she doesn’t hear anything, but then she hears another conch — at least she thinks she does when Heihei is tooting his own horn. Disappointed that she may have failed her mission, Moana accidentally slides off a ledge and back into the jungle below.

Frustrated, Moana has no choice to but to return home. That is, until, Heihei emerges with a partially broken ceramic bowl over its head. The bowl has markings that confirm that there were people on the island and gives Moana hope that she can find and connect with them. Upon her return home, Moana sings “We’re Back,” a song celebrating the people of Montouni’s return to wayfinding. “Sailing from the horizon back to our home, our island coming into our view, beneath the morning star from the source we’ve been exploring returning to tell our story,” she sings as her boat slices through the ocean waters before arriving to a hero’s welcome.

The song helps get the audience caught up with what has been happening on the island since we last left the film. Set three years after the first, we see the island is thriving. Families are expanding. They are building new homes. And they are building new ships that will help them explore uncharted waters. The sequence also introduces us to Kele, Loto, and Moni. And now that they are connected to the land and sea, they are back to who they are meant to be.

Moana 2 will have eight new new songs, five of which will be from the Grammy Award winning duo Abigail Barlow & Emily Bear, and three new songs from returning composers and co-songwriters Opetaia Foa‘i and Mark Mancina.

Much has changed since Moana brought wayfinding back to the island. Chief Tui (Temuera Morrison) is not the rigid and overcautious chief that he once was. Now he’s more playful and loves to follow trends like a hair whip. And Moana has earned herself some superfans. A trio of them has even gotten their own pig, one that is bigger and meaner looking than the innocent Pu’a. They named him Bu’a.

An excited Moana then shows her father what she discovered on her voyages. She doesn’t know what the ceramic bowl is made of, but it proves that other people are out there. So she takes it upon herself to find this island and its people.

Moana is also a big sister to Simea (Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda). The three-and-a-half-year-old who wants to be just like her big wayfinding sister.  Although she hasn’t fully grasped the concept of time since she believes Moana took forever to return from her voyage, when it actually took three days. Moana also shares her discovery with Simea. The sisterly bond is touching and sentimental for those who have a similar relationship. We later see Moana teaching Simea about their ancestors by taking her to the cave where she found the boat that would take her on her first quest.

“This is the place of our ancestors, where I learned our people are voyagers,” Moana tells Siema. This is an important moment as signfies one of the major themes of the sequel about the younger generations learning about their past and how it will help them sail into the future.

As Moana narrates, we are introduced to Tao Tai Vasa, one of Montouni’s most legendary navigators. Before Maui stole the heart of Tefiti, Tao Tai Vasa wanted to connect our island to all the people of the entire ocean because he believed the islands could accomplish so much together. Now it’s Moana’s job to continue what he started. Simea suggests that Moana ask Maui to help her on her journey. To which, Moana says Maui has important things to do but if he ever did show up, she should grab him by the ear and tell him that.

Cut to Maui breaking into a fortress where he is looking to enter a mysterious portal. He claims he isn’t there to cause trouble, but being the mischievous shape-shifting demigod that he is, we know that’s not true. The mysterious Matangi (Awhimai Fraser) is quick to remind Maui that he needs Moana because he wouldn’t be where he is now without her. Maui brushes such an assertion saying he was using her to get her hook. Mini Maui, a tattoo much like Jimmy Cricket, slaps Maui to accept the truth. Of course, things between the two get physical.

That’s when Matangi reveals if Maui or Moana ever try to connect the people of the ocean, he will destroy them both. As such, Maui becomes protective of Moana, saying that this is between him an me. That’s when Matangi overpowers Maui and the screen cuts to black.

The film returns to Montouni where the island celebrates Moana’s return home. It’s a captivating and high-energy feast filled with song, dance, and plenty of delicious looking food. There’s even a dance off between the three Moana superfans, one of them being the kid who win her heart from the first film. Not one to take it sitting down, Moana shows off her own dance moves.

Capturing the spirit of the Lu’au — but with a sprinkle of Disney magic – the celebration isn’t just a feast. Chief Tui is making Moana chief of Montouni because she, like the last great wayfinder, had dreams of connecting the people of the ocean. A mission that has been on hiatus until she courageously went against her father’s wishes and restored the heart of Tefiti by venturing out into the ocean on her own with no wayfinding experience. She is the first person to do so in a 1,000 years, and now by accepting the honor, she can show them how far they’ll go — see what they did there?

Moana is honored to accept the title of chief. During a ceremony, Moana kneels before a bowl of water. Before the ceremony could proceed any further, a storm gathers from above and the ground beneath her starts to rattle causing the bowl of water in front of her to ripple — much like when Lex and Tim saw the cup of water ripple when T-Rex approaching their jeep in Jurassic Park — and flash of light takes her to an abyss where she has a vision of Tao Tai braving treacherous ocean waters with his crew.

In her vision, Tao Tai is heard saying that Motufetú should be under the stars. Images of the storm ravaging their boat flashes before her. Then silence. Images of desolation and isolation on the island strike fear into Moana, and Tao Tai warns the newly named chief that if she cannot successfully reconnect the people of the ocean together, this will be how their story ends.

Confused, Moana tells Tao Tai that she doesn’t know how to reach the lost island of Motufetú. He tells her that a fire in the sky will help guide her there. Not knowing how far it is, Tao Tai says the island’s location is even farther than he could. Now there’s something larger at stake than just a mission Moana chose fore herself, because if she can’t reconnect the islands in time, she and her people are doomed.

Researcher and storyteller Moni helps find Moana any clues that would help her on her journey. It’s beautiful art woven into the fabrics of large tapestry. He tells the history of how the channels of the ocean came together but was ultimately lost cause of a curse cast by Nalo, the storm god. The power-hungry Nalo believed he would be stronger if he seperated the people of the ocean, but if one found the ancient island of Motufetú, it would lift the curse and restore the channels, thereby bringing the people of the ocean together again.

The stakes are high, but Moana needs to go on a quest that she may never come back from. A scared Simea tells her older sister that she doesn’t want her to leave. Chief Tui is worried that such a quest could take a lifetime and Moana may meet Tao Tai’s fate of never returning home. Simea overhears the consequences of Moana embarking on a journey and asks her big sister what Tui means by “never see you again?”

As Tui consoles her youngest daughter, Moana looks to her mom for reassurance that she is making the right decision. Sina tells her oldest daughter that she is Tao Tai now. “For some things, you never feel ready,” she tells her. Moana then looks to the sky, seeing how the bright shooting star that is meant to guide her is on the verge of disappearing.

That’s when Moana breaks out into her second song, “Beyond.” The Disney signature “I Want” song, is all about finding the answers she is looking for in a time where there is so much at stake. In the first, Moana’s “How far I’ll Go” was more personal as opposed to “Beyond” where she is now chief of Montouni and bares the responsibility of keeping her people safe from danger.

“I know the path that must be chosen, but this is bigger than before,” Moana sings as she traverses the the island seeking answers. “What waits for me, forever far from home from everything and everyone I’ve ever known. “So the song is more about the uncertainty that awaits her on new journey to reconnecting the people of the ocean and asking herself if she has the strength to go beyond what she already knows.

The first half of the song finds Moana on the beach, contemplating if she can complete the task. Suddenly, the spirit of Grandma Tala (Rachel House) appears on the and offers her guidance. She asks Moana what she is worried about. Moana says this isn’t like the last time. Grandma Tala then tells Moana she wasn’t old enough to understand and that she could lose or learn. Either way, the family and community are still together and that things are a little different from before. “I can’t see where your story leads, but we never stop choosing who we are,” Tala says to Moana. After hearing that, Moana knows what she must do.

At a gathering, Moana tells the villagers that this mission is bigger than Montouni. So she will sail to the new sky to reconnect the people of the entire ocean and return home.

With a newfound confidence, Moana then breaks into “Beyond” once more but with a different tone. “I will reach the sand again, because I know who I am,” she sings.

However, before Moana can embark on this journey, her mom reminds her that she needs a crew and that Hei-hei and Pua don’t count. Moana agrees. So she first asks Loto, an engineer with a big heart and a desire to help with designing a canoe. Although, settling on a final design could prove difficult considering that she is constantly changing something she built. According to Bush, she is comfortable in chaos.

Moana will also need a master farmer to feed the crew more than fish. So she asks Kele, a curmudgeon who knows his plants and produce. He isn’t the type to head out to sea. He knows what the crew would need but isn’t confident that even his first apprentice could help. In fact, he is sure that they would all starve. “Exactly, we need a master,” Moana says. “Yes…” Kele agrees. But before he could finish his sentence, Moana takes that as an affirmative he will join her crew.

Finally, Moana looks to a Maui tapestry and asks him for help. An excited Moana feels as though her call was answered when she hears footsteps. However, it turns out to be Moni, who is creating a tapestry series called “Maui and Me.” “It’s too bad Maui isn’t here. You really need someone who knows all the old stories, someone who’s like, super strong and has great hair,” a humble Moni says without realizing he is talking about himself. Moana says, “I think I know someone already like that.”

Moni is overjoyed that he gets to be a part of the crew and document everything that happens on their journey.

The scene then cuts to a prepared Simea who tells Moana that she is coming with her. Moana promises she will be back home as soon as she can and introduces her little sister to the playful sentient ocean. Moana tells Simea that the ocean is their friend and that it connects us. “So there is nowhere I could ever go. I won’t be with you.” In return, Simea gives her a starfish from her anklet which fits in Moana’s necklace so that her big sister will will have a part of her where ever she goes.

The crew gets a emotionally powerful ceremonial send off to wish them a safe journey. As Moana begins to set sail, she tells Kele, Loto, Moni, and Pua that they might want to hold on to something knowing that they’ve been on the ocean.

We then return to a captured Maui who is dangling like bait. Unable to break free because he is tied by fishbones, the demigod tries to rally his own crew to inspire him to break free. “This is not where our destiny is denied. Together, we rise as one. Together, we take our freedom,” he exclaims. Although, he isn’t inspiring humans. He’s actually trying to get mudskippers to pile on each other and reclaim his hook that is being used to dangle him. He thinks they are listening but they stop midway because a giant ocean creature is then to feed them whatever it is spitting out.

Covered in slimy goo, Mini Maui looks at Maui with disappointment. Maui tells him not to worry and that he will get them out of here and that he doesn’t need her to save him, again, because if she does, she will die. He tells his tattoo that Malo hates humans more than he hates him. That’s when Matangi reappears tells Maui that she could let him out but she hopes to meet Moana first as she has plans for the both of them.

The scene cut to black once more than took us a few minutes into the film where Moana and her crew confront the troublesome Katamora. The sentient coconuts have a bigger and badder ship, one that could be mistaken for another island that could split into two and hide other ships within it.

So the crew scrambles to their positions knowing they need to make haste and leave or get caught by the Kakamora. “Embarassing, a farmer murdered by coconuts,” Kele says in a cranky tone. As the ship gets dangerously closer to them, Moana stores Hei Hei and Pua into the cargo hold, and she begins to make some heroic manuevers to steer the ship away from the Kakamora.

Loto is excited to see Moana in action and explains how the wayfinder is using centrifugal force to increase their velocity. It’s at that time when the Kakamora begin to use their blowdarts to target the crew and animal companions. Of course, Moana is able to block the darts while giving a taunting wave to them. But she missed one as a Kakamora stowed away and struck her with its dart, leaving her incapacitated because of its paralyzing poison.

A sizzle reel closed out the footage preview and ended with Moana and Maui facing off against a towering force, and the demigod saying: Now I kind of miss the lava monster.

One thing is for sure, Moana is back!

Moana 2 opens in theaters on November 27, 2024.