Moana (Auli’i’ Cravalho) is now a wayfinder, searching the ocean for signs of other people. Whilst Maui (Dwayne Johnson) is finding himself in a spot of bother with a God who commands Bats named Matangi (Awhimai Fraser). But they will have to team up again, along with a new crew to help sail the oceans to answer the call of their ancestors and try to unite the ocean tribes. 

Moana 2 was originally going to be a TV series but later became a film. Something I find a little odd given how fantastic the original was and how beautiful the animation is here. Why would they bury something that looked like this on the small screen when you could bathe (yes that is a pun!) in it at a cinema? Thankfully Disney saw what they had and changed course (yes that is another pun!). 

The result here is a film not quite as “shiny” (on a roll now) as the first film but one well worth your time. Its flaws are few. Firstly, chief songwriter of the original, Lin Manuel Miranda was not involved and the songs here are much weaker. With only “Beyond” packing the sort of emotional punch you might expect. Secondly, it feels slightly episodic with its antagonist a little intangible as a gigantic storm. Which I guess is apt for a seafarer. Otherwise it hits all the right marks for a family animation. 

Moana is still an engaging hero. She has grown up much since the original and there is a knowing joke to her not being a Disney Princess. She has two anthropomorphic animal sidekicks in Pua the pig and Heihei the chicken. Both hilarious in their own right. Whilst Maui is definitely Dwayne Johnson’s best ever role and his moving tattoos and shape shifting Demi-God is lots of fun. Even the addition of the new crew introduces some fun with a grumpy farmer who cannot swim named Kele (David Fane) and a ship builder named Loto (Rose Matafeo). 

The songs do not hit the same but the humour, message and animation are all worth it. Stick around for a mid credits scene that suggests we may be getting more Moana adventures in the future.