"Moana 2" hits theaters the day before Thanksgiving 2024, but select critics are already giving thanks online, praising the sequel to the 2016 Disney smash hit as a worthy follow-up.
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00:00Moana 2 hits theaters the day before Thanksgiving 2024, but select critics are already giving
00:06thanks online, praising the sequel to the 2016 Disney smash hit as a worthy follow-up.
00:11Originally planned as a Disney Plus series, Moana 2 is a full-fledged theatrical release,
00:16and with that upgrade comes an ocean full of expectations that the House of Mouse won't
00:20water down the fan-favorite story of the adventurous namesake teen and her demigod mentor Maui.
00:26The first film was a high-water mark for the CGI era of Disney animation, and according
00:30to early reactions, the next chapter is a welcome entry in the studio's largely sterling
00:35run of theatrical animated features.
00:37You might want to hold on.
00:39Joseph Dechlemeyer from Screen Rant posted a photo from the world premiere in Hawaii
00:43paired with a glowing review that singled out a new scene-stealing character.
00:47I absolutely loved Moana 2.
00:49The animation is breathtaking, and Moana's ensemble crew is fantastic.
00:54Her little sister completely stole the show for me.
00:56The story is strong and well-crafted.
00:59It's a delightful sequel.
01:00Full reviews are embargoed until November 26th, but Tessa Smith of Mama's Geeky couldn't
01:05help but tease a major moment in her tweet, writing,
01:08"'Moana 2' is a worthy sequel — hilarious, great music, and tons of heart.
01:13Another emotional and empowering journey on the sea.
01:16Animation is stunning.
01:17New characters are fantastic, but at its best when Moana and Maui are together.
01:21Their banter is everything.
01:23At mid-credits scene, other early reactions agreed that if Moana 2 has a weakness, it's
01:28the music, which reportedly doesn't quite reach the heights of the original.
01:31As The Hollywood Handle puts it,
01:33"...the sequel reaches higher levels with outstanding visuals and new characters that
01:37worked so well in a story with massive heart.
01:39The songs might not be as remarkable as its predecessor, but there are still some fun ones."
01:44Chris Killian of ComicBook.com also shared high praise for the highly-anticipated sequel,
01:49but was also a bit let down by the music, posting,
01:51While the songs aren't quite as catchy this go-around, Moana and Maui are still an infectious
01:55pair delivering hilarious gags and heartfelt moments.
01:59Brilliant animation and a deeper dive into Polynesian lore, Moana 2 proves it's worth
02:03sailing beyond the reef once again.
02:05Moana 2 is set three years after the events of the first film, which also opened over
02:10the long Thanksgiving weekend.
02:11Deadline projects that the sequel will set a box office record for a release during this
02:15period, besting the original's hefty $82 million haul.
02:19Disney's last major sequel, Inside Out 2, went on to become the highest-grossing film
02:24of 2024, so the Moana follow-up is hardly in unfamiliar waters.
02:28And with early critical reactions like this, it just might become the studio's next animated
02:33triumph, setting the stage for the live-action remake of the original set to release in July
02:372026.