To celebrate the forthcoming release of Walt Disney Animation Studio’s Moana 2, fans are invited to join Disney, National Geographic Pristine Seas, and Polynesian Voyaging Society to celebrate the explorer and Moana in all of us and answer the call to protect our oceans together. And they have released a featurette to help inspire the conservationist in us all.
The featurette blends footage from the film with real-life shots of the ocean. “We imagine a world where our oceans are teaming with life, and our islands are thriving,” a voice-over says. The featurette is an invitation for fans of the film to join National Geographic’s Pristine Seas and Polynesian Voyaging Society to take action and protect the oceans.
In the films, Moana speaks about how the oceans are a connection and provider across cultures and coastlines, so we must do what we can to protect it. “We need the ocean, and right now, the ocean needs us,” the voice over continues.
Footage of Moana saying “we can do this,” is inspiring, while Maui makes a thundering enterance with his signature chee hoo is more than enough to answer the call. By collaborating with Pristine Seas, this campaign supports the team’s work with local communities, Indigenous Peoples, government and partners to protect our ocean because when marine life has the opportunity to thrive, the ocean gives back in multitudes.
Since 2008, Pristine Seas, a pioneering force in marine conservation, has been at the forefront of exploring and researching underwater locations worldwide. Their efforts have led to the establishment of 29 marine protected areas, covering over 6.8 million square kilometers.
Before the invention of the compass, clocks, or GPS, Pacific Islanders navigated open-ocean voyages without instruments, using instead their observations of the stars, the sun, the ocean swells, and other signs of nature for clues to the direction and location of a vessel at sea – just like Moana. These navigational methods have changed with the passage of time and are in danger of being lost due to modernization and technology.
Since Polynesian Voyaging Society launched its traditional voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa almost 50 years ago, the sacred vessel has become a vehicle for exploring the oceans, Earth, and natural world. These voyages are a means to preserve cultural traditions and uncover the vital importance of humanity’s relationship with nature, while also emphasizing the importance of history. Hōkūleʻa has sailed nearly 300,000 miles connecting with Indigenous communities, ocean scientists, educators, and students around the world.
The collaboration is one of several ways that Disney is giving back to Pacifica communities in celebration of Moana 2, a film that brings happiness and a little Disney magic to kids and families around the world. Disney Planet Possible’s is a program that takes meaningful and measurable action to support a healthier planet for people and wildlife. Since 1995, the Disney Conservation Fund has directed more than $125 million to global collaborations to inspire conservation action and positively impact wildlife and their habitats, including oceans. In addition, grants from the Disney Conservation Fund have helped support community-based programs working to expand the appreciation and protection of marine life across more than 40 countries and all five oceans.
Featuring the voice talents of Auliʻi Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Temuera Morrison, Nicole Scherzinger, Rachel House, and Alan Tudyk, along with Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda, Rose Matafeo, David Fane, Hualālai Chung, Awhimai Fraser, and Gerald Ramsey, Moana 2 opens in theaters on November 27, 2024.
