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Disney has used Moana 2‘s story to set it up as the perfect replacement for a different, massively successful franchise. The 2025 film has performed well at the box office and with critics, ensuring that the House of Mouse will continue diving deeper into this tale. What’s more, Moana 2‘s success couldn’t have come at a better time for Disney since the animation studio had been hit or miss with its recent releases. It’s been tough for anything to stack up to the kind of profit and social impact resulting from the Frozen franchise, but it certainly seems that Moana 2 is on its way.
Very few Disney Princess (or adjacent) movies get theatrical sequels, and Moana was initially meant only to get a Disney+ spinoff series rather than a feature film continuation. However, the House of Mouse changed gears at the last second, and the TV show project was made into a new movie. Moana 2’s post-credits scene implies that further movies are also on the way. It seems Disney is going all in with Moana’s story, just like it did with Elsa and Anna in the Frozen franchise. In fact, Moana 2 has already set up some similarities.
Moana & Simea Makes The Franchise Incredibly Similar To Frozen
A Magical Girl With Her Normal Sister
Moana 2 revealed that Chief Tui and Sina had another daughter in the years since the 2016 Moana‘s ending. Moana shares a deep connection with little sister Simea, and though quite different in many ways, this sororal relationship is reminiscent of Frozen‘s Elsa and Anna. One sister is magical, while the other is normal. One frequently places herself in danger, while the other is forced to watch and wait. Finally, one sister in both Moana and Frozen has a deity-like destiny, while the other is meant to play a more traditional leadership role (eventually, in Simea’s case).
Moana’s Movies Have The Box Office Success To Rival Frozen
Moana Has A Promising Future
Overall, it’s no big surprise that Disney would attempt to bring subtle elements and dynamics of one successful franchise into the sequels of another. Frozen is Disney’s central animated studio’s most profitable franchise, grossing about $2.7 billion at the global box office between Frozen and Frozen 2. Moana certainly ranks high as well, with the 2016 movie bringing in $643 million globally, while Moana 2 has so far managed another $617 million. This success doesn’t quite stack up against Frozen, but these numbers are no slouch either. What’s more, there’s still plenty of time for the Moana franchise to catch up.
The end-credits scene of
Moana 2
sets Nalo up as a recurring villain, implying more sequels of spinoffs are in the works.
There’s not much word about what Disney plans to do next with Moana, but the ending of Moana 2 more than implies that more sequels are on the way. The Frozen movies, on the other hand, have never so overtly set up sequels. Both movies were ended as if that would be the end, thus ensuring that the franchise didn’t get left in a perpetual cliffhanger if it didn’t perform well enough. The fact that Disney is obviously counting on more Moana sequels implies confidence in the franchise and story, which means future sequels could eventually bring the franchise’s box office numbers higher than even Frozen.
Frozen’s Franchise Future Explains Why Disney Is Making Moana Its Replacement
Frozen 3 & 4 Will Be The End
Disney has confirmed two more sequels for Anna and Elsa’s stories in Frozen, but it appears this will be the end. Both films are in the works and expected to be released fairly close to one another (2027 for Frozen 3 and within a few years from that for Frozen 4). Of course, this means there are still a good handful of years before the Frozen franchise comes to a definitive close. Still, Disney must plan ahead. This has been the company’s most lucrative franchise for years, so it’s wise that something else is lined up to take its place.
By giving Moana a sister, the winning element of Frozen has been carried over from one franchise to the other.
The first Moana movie was not only successful at the box office, but its social and streaming impact has been out of this world. It is one of the most streamed movies on Disney+, beating out the Frozen movies in this regard. There is clearly potential in Moana’s story, and Disney is smart enough to take advantage of this. By giving Moana a sister, the winning element of Frozen has been carried over from one franchise to the other. Still, there are enough differences that Moana remains unique. While only time will tell what direction this franchise will go, it’s certainly on the way to becoming Disney’s new figurehead.
6/10
Moana 2
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.
- Release Date
- November 27, 2024
- Runtime
- 100 Minutes
- Cast
- Auli’i Cravalho , Dwayne Johnson , Alan Tudyk , Rachel House , Temuera Morrison , Nicole Scherzinger , Hualālai Chung , David Fane , Rose Matafeo , Awhimai Fraser , Gerald Ramsey , Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda
- Character(s)
- Moana , Maui , Hei Hei , Tala , Chief Tui , Sina , Moni , Kele , Loto , Matangi , Tautai Vasa , Simea
- Director
- David G. Derrick Jr. , Jason Hand , Dana Ledoux Miller
- Writers
- Dana Ledoux Miller , Jared Bush , Jason Hand , Ron Clements , John Musker
- Studio(s)
- Walt Disney Pictures , Walt Disney Animation Studios
- Distributor(s)
- Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
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