And of course, what’s a Moana story without Maui? Moana was one of the animations I fell in love with. I couldn't wait for season 2 to drop to watch this brave girl.
You know that familiar feeling of seeing someone you already know but realizing they’ve changed a bit? That was how I felt when Moana appeared. She’s older, wiser, and more sure of herself, but she still has that spark, that stubborn bravery that made us fall in love with her in the first place.
The opening scene showed her on Motunui, but unlike before, she wasn’t just wandering and questioning herself — this time, she was carrying responsibility. The village had grown, there were new challenges, and people now looked to her naturally. I could literally feel the weight on her shoulders through the screen, and at one point I just sighed like, “Yup, adulthood doesn’t spare even Disney characters.” But then things shifted when she started hearing this strange call again, almost like the ocean was trying to whisper another secret to her. That moment gave me goosebumps, because it was like déjà vu but scarier — you just knew it wasn’t going to be a simple journey.
Next was the twist of the first twist, which was the ocean showing that there was more to the sight of the land than even Moana had before, places that were shrouded by shadows and protected by creatures not exactly friendly. And rather than an exploration, Moana was being appointed to bring balance once more, only this time not of Te Fiti or her folk but of the unification of islands that neither knew nor cared about the existence of islands elsewhere. I liked that the film connected it to legacy and leadership. I found myself thinking,; Wow, sometimes we are called to things that are far bigger than we are, and we are not even given a choice.
The first major action scene is now that Moana leaves again, and of course, the ocean is in a good mood with her and throws her boat around like in old times. However, then BAM — the initial monster attack occurs. The sea serpent is huge and ghastly, and suddenly emerges. The action that was done here was crazy, as though you were almost feeling the splash of water on your face. Moana did not panic, she stood up and even ordered the ocean to protect her. I sat there with my mouth open, since this was not our girl, this was a leader who had gained the trust of the ocean. But I was hurt, too, at the same time, with this achiness in my chest, because you know she was wearing courage even when she was frightened inside.
And of course, what’s a Moana story without Maui? When he reappeared, I swear I had the biggest grin. His entrance was hilarious as usual — shapeshifting gone wrong, jokes about being rusty, and teasing Moana about how much taller she’d grown. But beneath the humor, there was this bittersweet vibe. He wasn’t just the cocky demigod anymore, he was carrying his own scars from the past. One scene really hit me — he admitted to Moana that even though he’s powerful, he sometimes feels useless without people believing in him. That moment got me in my feelings, because haven’t we all been there? Feeling like our worth is tied to what others see in us.
In the second act of the film, there was a new aspect which
was introduced, the shadow islands and I can say, this scene was chilling. These were not the colorful and vibrant places such as Motunui. They were dark, cloudy, as though the sea were taking a breath. Moana and Maui met the tribes who had lost their sense of belonging to the sea due to their fear of it. One scene in particular made me shudder, when an elder was describing how darkness infiltrates when people lose memory of who they are - and I kept on remembering that line a long time after watching the movie. I was sitting there muttering to myself things like Damn, Disney, why are you hitting so deep?
The final showdown though? Whew. I was on the edge of my seat. It was not merely an unthinking monster of any kind that was the big villain but a living embodiment of all the fear and neglect of the people made flesh; a malevolent spirit of the sea itself. So put yourself in the position of Moana, who is not only struggling against waves and shadows, but is literally fighting doubt. It sent shivers through me that she cut that darkness with her voice and her song. And you know what broke me? In the moment that Maui relinquished the lead to Moana and demonstrated his total trust in her. He could not have grown that way.
The ending tied it all beautifully. Moana didn’t just save her people — she connected different islands, proving they were stronger together. The last shot of her standing at the edge of the boat, looking out at an endless horizon, gave me such a mix of hope and sadness. Hope because she was still chasing new horizons, sadness because it reminded me of how journeys never really end; there’s always another challenge waiting.
Honestly, Moana 2 didn’t just feel like a sequel. It felt like a life update from someone you love. It made me laugh, made me tense up, and even made me tear up in a few places. And the whole time, I kept thinking about how we all get those “calls” in life — scary, unexpected, but necessary. Watching her answer hers gave me the courage to think maybe I can answer mine too.
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