Moana is back for another adventure in “Moana 2,” alongside Maui and a bunch of unexpected travel buddies. This time around, Moana gets an urgent message from her ancestors that sends her off to explore the distant seas of Oceania. It’s a wild journey through mysterious waters like she’s never seen before.

The saying goes, “The ocean doesn’t separate us; it unites us.” That pretty much sums up what this movie is all about. Originally meant to be a Disney+ series, they decided it was way better as a big-screen adventure. And honestly, isn’t it great to hit the theaters for animated fun again?

So, here we are with “Oceania 2,” exploring fresh challenges that build on Moana’s first awesome story. A team of writers, including Jared Bush (who also worked on the original), Dana Ledoux Miller, and Bek Smith, cooked up this thrilling sequel where Moana’s journey continues to grow in scale—and she kind of wraps up her coming-of-age tale.

Our heroine Vaiana—yeah that name switches back and forth depending on where you are—has grown into quite the leader at home. She’s confident and grounded now after everything she went through—which is pretty clear when you see her striding around the village with such purpose!
Alright, so here’s the deal: Vaiana, who we call Moana in America, is basically on this epic journey to figure out if there are other people besides her island folks. Imagine her world stretches out like a giant ocean map paired with the stars that we humans are always looking at when dreaming about new discoveries. It’s like this big old paradox of wanting to explore but being super nervous about what else (or who) might be out there.

Now, since this is Disney and they’re all about family vibes, Moana’s meeting with these “alien” islanders isn’t just about fear—it’s got more of a friendship or sibling-like vibe going on. Meanwhile, there’s this grumpy god named Nalo who’s not sold on humans making chummy relations across islands. He was so against it in ancient times that he went and sank a whole island! This is the place Moana needs to find since it’s key to connecting all the others by some mystical sea routes.

Her journey is no walk in the park given the few resources she’s got, but watching her and her crew tackle these challenges makes us feel all kinds of things—especially for young adventurers. Joining her onboard are some quirky companions: there’s Loto the super smart inventor; then you’ve got Heihei, a ridiculously clueless rooster; Pua, an adorable pig; and Kele, a friendly farmer dude. Together they’re tuning up an adventure filled with loads of obstacles while sending positive vibes your way!
We’ve got this old guy who’s a bit of a grump, and he’s all about growing food to survive. Then there’s Moni, this big dude who shows up when you need him but doesn’t offer much in terms of personality. Joining the crew again is our friend Maui, the demigod from before, who’s sporting lots of cool tattoos and can shape-shift like it’s no big deal.

To keep things lively in Oceania 2, you’ll love getting more antics from those Kakamora warriors. They’ve cranked up the comedy by giving more spotlight to one particular dude named Kotu—he’s like a ninja wrapped up inside a coconut body.

Back on dry land, Vaiana’s folks make their return. The story spends some time introducing her little sister Simea. She’s got these super cute chubby cheeks that animation made simple yet charming. The magical vibes are strong with Grandma Tala’s spirit keeping an eye out, and Tautai Vasa sharing tales about other people beyond the coral reef. Plus, there’s Matangi shrouded in mystery with flying foxes floating around him that challenge everything Vaiana thought she knew.

There’s also this standout musical bit from Vaiana called “Perditi,” among five fresh tracks for this movie. Though some might say the songs don’t quite hit as hard as they did in the first flick, at least the visuals continue to dazzle!
This animated movie is a visual treat, mixing together the elements of water, earth, fire, and air in some surprising and cool ways. Directed by David G. Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller, who brings a unique touch from her Samoan roots. You’ll notice how they make the ocean feel alive—like it’s got its own personality—and responds to people just like it’s another character in the story. The way it looks both solid and flowing at the same time is pretty impressive. It’s all about capturing the magic and power of nature through animation!