Moana 2 Was Almost A Disney+ Series, And After Seeing The Movie, I Kinda Wish It Had Stayed That Way

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As a longtime Disney enthusiast and animation aficionado with over two decades of watching Disney classics under my belt, I must say that Moana 2 is a visual treat, but it never quite reaches the magic of its predecessor. Having grown up with the original Moana, I found myself yearning for the rich backstories and character development that were hinted at in this sequel, only to be left wanting more.

The following contains spoilers for Moana 2.

In today’s media world, where streaming is a dominant factor in movie studios’ output, it can be challenging to distinguish between what’s classified as a TV show and a movie. Streaming services offer an abundance of both. Some streamed movies may also appear in theaters, while others do not. Frequently, a fresh television series seems more like an elongated movie divided into smaller episodes. Given this trend, it’s hardly shocking that Disney+’s upcoming Moana 2 originally started as a TV series and was later transformed into one of their upcoming feature films.

When the announcement for Moana 2 came, it was marketed with the concept that the franchise was so exceptional that it deserved a grand cinematic experience. As someone who has watched the movie, I must admit that this claim doesn’t seem too far-fetched to me. After all, Moana 2 is visually captivating. The animation is among the most stunning Disney or any other studio has produced. Watching it on a big screen definitely adds to the impact compared to viewing it at home. On the other hand, I can’t help but wish we could travel back in time and watch the Moana series on Disney Plus, as I believe it might have been even better.

Moana 2 Is Good, But It Never Reaches The Heights Of The Original

From the outset, let me make it clear: “Moana 2” is an excellent film. In truth, it’s really quite good. While some critics argue that the music in “Moana 2” doesn’t match the original’s greatness, the overall movie holds up well. Interestingly, Disney, a studio historically hesitant about producing theatrical sequels to its animated features, has been producing more recently. However, none of these newer sequels have depicted a character evolving and maturing as genuinely as Moana does in this film.

As a dedicated fan, I must admit that “Moana 2” truly resonates with depth and poignancy, yet leaves me yearning for more. It’s as if certain chapters from an engaging six, eight, or even ten-episode saga on Disney+ were compressed into this feature-length film, necessitating some elements to be regrettably omitted, given the constraints of runtime.

It Feels Like There’s An Interesting Story In Between The Edits

Although we’re unsure of the specific details of the planned Disney Plus series for Moana, it’s likely that the show would have consisted of between six to ten episodes. Each episode might have been around half an hour long, or potentially longer. At a minimum, this means the total run time would be twice as long as the 100-minute movie that has recently been released.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but wonder how different the story of Moana would have been if it had evolved into a Disney+ series rather than becoming Moana 2. The transformation undeniably necessitated some tough choices, and it seems those compromises are quite noticeable.

In the movie Moana, the storyline seems to wrap up nicely, but Maui’s narrative remains somewhat vague. At the beginning of the film, he’s already pursuing Matangi, who appears to be the main antagonist. However, the reason for Maui’s pursuit isn’t clearly explained, and later, when we discover Matangi’s true intentions, things become even more unclear. The movie hints at a past relationship between Matangi and Maui, as suggested by interviews with Dwayne Johnson, but we never delve into the details of this history or understand its connection to the ongoing conflict. It appears that some crucial information about their past was left on the cutting room floor.

In the movie, Mantanagi is initially portrayed as the main villain. However, this isn’t entirely accurate. Due to this misconception, she appears sparingly in the film and seems to serve primarily as a means for moving the characters from one location to another. It’s plausible that in an extended version of the story, we would have delved deeper into her character, revealing her motivations more clearly. Instead, she is more of a plot device than a fully-fleshed character.

Moana 2’s New Characters Get The Short End Of The Stick

In this story, Matangi isn’t the only character who could use more development. Unlike in previous instances, Moana now has a team by her side. She takes along three fellow villagers on her adventure: Loto, an ingenious engineer; Kele, a hardworking farmer; and Moni, a robust holographic Maui, who is well-versed in the tales of Moana’s people. This version of Maui is particularly strong and knowledgeable.

In this film, you’ll encounter three lively and engaging characters, yet their roles seem unrelated to the plot. Swapping them out wouldn’t significantly alter the narrative flow or how the story unfolds.

In the narrative, Moana’s boat requires repair at some point, yet none of the crew members’ specific skills are utilized throughout the story. They don’t undergo their own character development arcs. Instead, they appear to serve a comedic purpose, similar to the pig and rooster in the story.

In a scenario where I’m dealing with several scripts for a TV series, and someone instructs me to reduce it to fit into the duration of a feature film, I’d first focus on eliminating unnecessary backstories and subplots involving secondary characters. It appears that this approach might have been applied in creating Moana 2.

I’m eager to delve into the personal histories of these characters. I’d love to understand their struggles, witness their transformations, and observe their development throughout the narrative. They piqued my interest, leaving me wanting to know more. Unfortunately, the film didn’t provide enough depth to satisfy my curiosity.

Maybe We’ll Get A Moana Series After All?

I’m still hopeful that maybe someday we’ll get the Moana series that Moana 2 was originally going to be. The movie does have a mid-credit sequence that teases a follow-up. Had this been the Moana Disney Plus series, then this clearly would have been a setup for a follow-up season of the show. With it occurring in a theatrical film, this could potentially set up an actual Moana Disney Plus series or possibly a third Moana theatrical release.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’m game for both versions of Moana! The original Moana holds a special place in my heart, but I must admit, there’s something about the sequel that piques my interest. If we’re lucky enough to delve deeper into these characters’ stories, perhaps we’ll uncover the richness and depth that Moana 2 seemed to have missed initially.

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2024-12-02 17:08