WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Moana 2.
Many of the new characters in Moana 2 add fun and exciting elements to the 2016 original film. Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson lead the ensemble cast of Moana 2, which also features voice performances by Awhimai Fraser, Temuera Morrison, Nicole Scherzinger, Alan Tudyk, and Jermaine Clement. After releasing in theaters on November 27, 2024, Moana 2 earned a five-day Thanksgiving gross of $221 million domestically, which surpassed the record set by The Super Mario Bros. Movie. for the best five-day weekend of all time.
Throughout Moana 2, Moana journeys to the far seas of Oceania after receiving an unexpected call from her ancestors. She leaves her home island of Motunui and sets out to find other people on the ocean with the hope of uniting them once again. It’s revealed that Nalo, a wicked and powerful storm god, had sunk a crucial connecting island called Motufetu deep into the ocean to prevent islanders from connecting. In Moana 2, Moana’s goal is to discover Motufetu and bring all of the oceanic people together. She is able to accomplish this ambition by the end of Moana 2 through the help of her most loyal friends and family members.
Moana 2 is now playing in theaters.
6
Kele
Played by David Fane
Kele is one of the elders from Motonui who makes his first appearance in Moana 2. As a mostly grumpy and nonverbal character, he is easily one of the most forgettable characters in Moana 2, as he really doesn’t add all that much to the movie. Kele is voiced by David Fane, who is best known for his other work in Our Flag Means Death, Next Goal Wins, and The Messenger. According to D23, “Kele isn’t as passionate about adventure as the rest of the crew. But he is passionate about the plants he grows!” It’s unclear whether Kele will be making an appearance in Moana 3 and will perhaps have a reduced role if he does return.
While having a grumpy character like Kele in the world of Moana isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it was an interesting choice to include him on Moana’s journey throughout the highly anticipated sequel. Kele often acted as a stark foil to the rest of the energetic and upbeat characters in the world of Moana, which ended up providing a better sense of balance and realism to the overall movie. That being said, he mostly blends into the background throughout the Moana sequel and has demonstrated very little potential for evolving into a strong or main character moving forward at this point in the growing Moana franchise.
5
Moni
Played by Hualalai Chung
Moni was a great supplementary sidekick to Moana throughout the new sequel movie and is an overall great and memorable addition to the crew. While he is also reserved to having more of a background role like Kele, a fellow native islander of Motonui, he is known for being a passionate storyteller and an avid fan of Maui, almost like his “mini-me”. Played by Hualalai Chung of NCIS Hawai’i, Maui naturally fits into Moana’s wayfinding crew and could become a more permanent piece of her ensemble moving forward based on his great attitude and generally lighthearted charisma.
If the Moana franchise wanted to branch off and create a Maui-specific spin-off movie or television series, it might be a good idea to include Moni in that venture, since he would look up to Maui as an idol and mentor. There is also the natural consideration of Moni becoming a potential love interest for Moana, although that has yet to be introduced whatsoever in the franchise at large. It would make sense of Moni went in either of these directions or both moving forward. Because there are several intriguing possibilities for his character, he remains one of the most memorable of Moana 2 who also has a giant question mark over his head.
4
Matangi
Played by Awhimai Fraser
Matangi is the secondary antagonist in Moana 2 and is mostly the only villain seen in the majority of the sequel. According to Disney Wiki, Matangi “is an eccentric, bat-themed demigoddess who serves as an enforcer for Nalo, the God of Storms.” Voiced by Awhimai Fraser, Matangi essentially acts as the face of the opposing forces working against Moana and her counterparts throughout the movie. Matangi has been held for centuries in imprisonment, which has left her bitter and scarred. She is an unwilling ally to Nalo, the mostly unseen villain throughout Moana 2.
One of the most intriguing aspects of Matangi is her superhuman abilities as a demigoddess. According to Disney Wiki, “As a demigoddess, Matangi possesses supernatural abilities. Some of which are vampire-like. She can scale walls and has quick agility and reflexes. She can also fly and levitate.” This opens the door for tons of cool features in Moana 3, which could even see Matangi switch sides and end up on Moana’s team since there already appears to be a wedge between her and Nalo. Matangi also seems to be a more accessible character than Nalo, which could make her into a highly compelling villain in the future. In Moana 2, she was quite intriguing but still underutilized.
3
Loto
Played by Rose Matafeo
Out of all of the wayfinding supporting characters introduced in Moana 2, Loto is by far the most memorable and has the most potential to become a true franchise staple as Moana’s reliable sidekick. Played by Rose Matafeo of Starstruck and Golden Boy acclaim, Loto also has a strong voice actress to back her up as her character evolves alongside the massive Disney franchise. According to Disney Wiki, Loto “is the “brainy but quirky” member of Moana’s wayfinding crew along with Kele and Moni, who designs and maintains the ship during their quest to the mysterious island of Motufetu.”
Loto also has a lot of strong potential to be a more integral player moving forward, mostly because she has her own unique and sharp skillset that have practical uses for Moana’s adventures in the future. She also displays glimpses of heroism throughout Moana 2, which hints that now that Moana herself has become a demigoddess, Loto too could also develop into entering the more mystical realm of Moana’s lore. Loto has a great foundation established by Moana 2 and as Moana’s best female friend besides her family members, she could have an even bigger role in the eventual Moana 3 and beyond.
2
Nalo
Played by Tofiga Fepulea’i
Nalo, played by Tofiga Fepulea’i, is interestingly only seen in human form at the very end of Moana 2 during the mid-credits scene. As the main antagonist of the film, his magical storm powers are not only seen on full display but intensely felt throughout Moana 2, considering that he is Moana and her crew’s greatest threat and strongest motivator. Nalo also had an indirect effect on the first Moana film, since it was his curse that had prevented Moana from meeting other islanders in the first movie, unbeknownst to her or the audience at that time.
Since Nalo gains strength by severing the islander communities, he will face his greatest threat in Moana 3 after Moana successfully unites people together at the end of Moana 2. It was an interesting choice to leave Nalo as a shadowy yet powerful figure throughout Moana 2, since most villains are front and center in the vast majority of Disney movies. Moana 3 should reveal more of Nalo’s personality, since his force and power have already been demonstrated in the recent Moana sequel. There is still, quite literally, an enormous dark cloud of mystery and intrigue surrounding Nalo and his full might. He remains an unmissable character in Moana 2 and a highly intriguing prospect for Moana 3.
1
Simea
Played by Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda
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Moana’s younger sister, Simea, is a great new addition to the Moana universe. Unfortunately, since she stayed behind on Moana’s home island of Motunui while Moana set out on her wayfaring adventures in Moana 2, she was unable to be featured in a very strong role in the film. Even though she is just above toddler age, Simea is a funny and sassy character contrasted with Moana’s bright and inspiring personality. The two sisters work well together in the few scenes they have, especially during their heartwarming reunion in the final moments of the blockbuster sequel.
After introducing her character in Moana 2, it nearly feels certain that Simea will come to have a bigger role alongside her sister in the eventual Moana 3. The deep love and connection between Simea and Moana are well established in Moana 2 and should be the key foundation and launching pad that Moana 3 should take off from. Considering the age and inexperience of the voice actor, it makes more sense why Simea did not have a bigger role in Moana 2. It does, however, appear to be the beginning of a promising acting career for Lambert-Tsuda, who could very well be approaching adolescence by the time Moana 3 comes out.
Simea could have a more integral role in Moana 3 if the franchise underwent a major time jump and made her part of the crew. The franchise could set Moana 3 sometime in the future to allow Simea to grow up and have a bigger role next to her sister. Her small yet unforgettable impact made her the best new character addition in Moana 2 by a long shot.
Sources: D23, Disney Wiki
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8.3/10
Moana 2
PG
AnimationComedyFantasyMusicalAdventure
Moana 2 is the sequel to the 2016 animated film Moana. Directed by David G. Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller, the film continues the journey of Moana as she embarks on new adventures, exploring the vast Pacific Ocean while encountering new characters and challenges along the way.
Release Date
November 27, 2024
Runtime
100 Minutes
Main Genre
Animation
Franchise(s)
Disney
Cast
Auli’i Cravalho
, Dwayne Johnson
, Alan Tudyk
, Rachel House
, Temuera Morrison
, Nicole Scherzinger
, Hualālai Chung
, David Fane
, Rose Matafeo
, Awhimai Fraser
, Gerald Ramsey
, Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda
Character(s)
Moana
, Maui
, Hei Hei
, Tala
, Chief Tui
, Sina
, Moni
, Kele
, Loto
, Matangi
, Tautai Vasa
, Simea
Director
David G. Derrick Jr.
, Jason Hand
, Dana Ledoux Miller
Writers
Dana Ledoux Miller
, Jared Bush
, Jason Hand
, Ron Clements
, John Musker
Prequel(s)
Moana
Studio(s)
Walt Disney Pictures
, Walt Disney Animation Studios
Distributor(s)
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Where To Stream
Disney+
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