Warning: There are spoilers ahead for Moana 2.
Moana 2stars Auliʻi Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson and co-director Dana Ledoux Miller address if Moana is a demigod now and what this may mean for her future. Theending ofMoana 2sees the titular hero sacrificing her life to restore the island of Motufetu, which can reconnect all people from across the ocean. Thanks to the spirits of the ocean,Moana’s life is revived, and she comes away with intricate tattooson her skin representing her accomplishment, suggesting that, like Maui, she is now a demigod.
While speaking withEntertainment Weekly, Johnson says that"it’s safe to assume…that she becomes a demi-god. I really appreciate how it was executed and how it was written.“Miller, who is also one of the animated movie’s co-writers, confirms thatMoana’s tattoos are meant to communicate that she is now a demigod. However, Miller added that"we don’t know exactly what that means for her future yet.“Cravalho shared her thoughts about Moana being a master navigator known as a Tautai, along with her character’s ongoing evolution. Check out Cravalho’s comments below:
That means she’s a master navigator. I love that we have this Indigenous history on the big screen, but without spoiling too much, Moana’s title changes a few times. Is she a princess? Is she a Tautai? Is she something more?
What This Means For Moana 3
Moana Is Now Powerful Enough To Take On Nalo
WhileMoana 3is not yet confirmed, it seems all but guaranteed given the movie’s box office success and the setup for a sequel.Moana 2’s mid-credits scenefinally reveals the villainous Nalo (Tofiga Fepulea’i), who is looking for revenge after Moana broke his curse and restored the sunken island of Motufetu. Now that Moana is confirmed to be a demigod,she and Maui are poised to be an even more formidable threat to Naloand his sinister machinations.
Moana 2’s Lightning God, Nalo, Fully Explained
While largely off-screen, Moana 2 features the overarching antagonist Nalo, a god of storms and lightning seeking power over the People of the Ocean.
Moana will likely have new powersthat she will use to protect her people and all the people of the ocean against Nalo and his minions. Just as Maui channels his powers through his magical fishhook,Moan’s new oarwill be how she channels her new power. In terms of Cravalho’s comments about how Moana changes, she will probably be grappling with the meaning of her newfound demigod status. Not only will she likely have new powers, but she will also have to reconcile with the fact that she is now immortal, and will outlive her family and her people.
Our Take On Moana Being A Demigod
Moana’s New Status May Make Her Less Relatable
Moana becoming a demigod helps set up an epic confrontation with Nalo inMoana 3and allows her to be further embedded into the movies' Polynesian mythology. However, being an immortal demigodtakes away some of the relatable elements that helped make Moana a beloved character. A young and courageous woman craving adventure and wanting to help others inMoanaandMoana 2is relatable, but as an immortal demigod, it is more difficult to relate to her. The stakes and any sense of real danger may feel less real in future stories as well.
Moana 2
Cast
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.
