At the Annecy Animation Festival, Disney's "Moana 2" made waves with sneak peeks, catchy music, and stunning storyboard art. The sequel's directors, David Derrick Jr. and Jason Hand, gave fans an exciting glimpse into the new adventures awaiting Moana and her friends.
Set to hit theaters on November 27, this highly anticipated sequel welcomes back Auli’i Cravalho as Moana and Dwayne Johnson as the hilarious demigod Maui. Familiar voices Temuera Morrison, Nicole Scherzinger, and Alan Tudyk are also returning for this oceanic odyssey.
In "Moana 2," our fearless heroine is on a mission like never before! Three years after the original, Moana is charting new waters, seeking undiscovered islands, and hoping to find other civilizations. The people of Motunui haven’t seen outsiders for generations, and Moana is determined to uncover the mystery of the ocean's connections. Directors teased that Moana is on the lookout for proof that others are out there – but who are they, and why haven't they been found?
The presentation kicked off with Moana's opening song, a fresh tune from songwriters Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, capturing her return to the village after a jaw-dropping discovery. The crowd was also treated to a dramatic scene where Moana's ceremony gets rudely interrupted by a lightning strike – definitely not a good sign!
New characters were revealed, including Moana’s adventurous younger sister and a vibrant crew that now includes more than just the goofy rooster Heihei and adorable pig Pua. A standout is Moni, the island’s most passionate storyteller who is totally obsessed with Maui – though he’s MIA at the start of the movie.
The panel also showcased some hilarious moments featuring Heihei and Moni that had the audience in stitches. Fans of the tiny yet fierce Kakamora tribe won’t be disappointed either, as they’re back to cause more chaos in Moana's new journey.
Directed by Derrick, Hand, and co-director Dana Ledoux Miller (who couldn’t make it to the festival), "Moana 2" is produced by Christina Chen and Yvett Merino. Interestingly, the project began as a streaming series before morphing into a full-fledged feature film.
Get ready to set sail with Moana once more this November – it’s going to be an epic adventure filled with laughter, mystery, and heart!