Moana 2 is very far from the original movie, and the director has explained why without realizing it

Despite being a box office success and the reviews not being entirely poor, Moana 2 is far from being the original 2016 film. The sequel, as almost all critics point out, does not measure up in songs, story, or emotion. And although it has surprised many, the reason for this is very clear: it was initially going to be a series.

In an interview, director David Derrick Jr explained that they were going to continue the world of Moana in a serialized fiction for Disney Plus, but they eventually changed plans… and both he and his team had to adapt. They explored more of Moana’s journey instead of focusing on other characters… but it’s noticeable that many things were lost along the way.

Director David Derrick Jr tells us that when ‘MOANA 2’ was a TV series, there was a greater focus on the crew members on the journey

For the film, they “rightsized” it to focus more on Moana’s journey. pic.twitter.com/rfM9buwJGl

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) December 2, 2024

A new adventure in the Oceanian Sea

The plot of Vaiana 2 takes place three years after the first movie. Vaiana and Maui, accompanied by a new and diverse crew, receive a call from their navigator ancestors that leads them to explore unknown and dangerous waters in Oceania. Although it features a soundtrack by award-winning artists like Opetaia Foaʻi, Mark Mancina, and Abigail Barlow, unfortunately, it does not reach the level of the previous one.