‘Moana 2’ Creators Reveal Unexpected Disney Classics That Inspired the Sequel

Fans of the 2016 movie will get to see the legendary Wayfinder Moana and her demigod sidekick Maui again when ‘Moana 2’ opens. Although the sequel builds on the popularity of the first film, the development team also drew influence from several Disney classics. Disney Animation Chief Creative Officer Jared Bush, filmmakers Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller (who co-wrote the picture with Bush), and songwriters Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear talked about their creative influences at a discussion hosted by the Critics Choice Association.

Both Bush and Hand mentioned ‘The Little Mermaid’ as a major inspiration, praising its rich emotional content and music in particular. The movie stands out in the Disney musical tradition because of the way its musical pieces successfully capture unfiltered emotions, according to the directors. Bush revealed that the film's emotional intensity and breadth left a lasting impression on him, while Hand mentioned that ‘The Little Mermaid’ showed him the value of using the song to tell a tale.

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Despite citing ‘The Little Mermaid’ as an inspiration, Barlow and Bear also cited ‘Beauty and the Beast’, another Disney Renaissance classic, as a significant influence. They especially liked the first song, ‘Belle,’ and used it as inspiration for ‘We're Back.’

The creative process for co-director Dana Ledoux Miller combined her own Pacific ancestry with Disney's previous films. She listed her favourite movies as ‘The Little Mermaid’, ‘Beauty and the Beast’, ‘Aladdin’, and ‘The Lion King’, praising their heart and comedy.

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Working together with the Oceanic Cultural Trust, she made sure the story stayed respectful and genuine to Pacific tradition while also highlighting the significance of cultural authenticity. The Trust's advice helped the producers make significant, considerate adjustments and shaped the film's ethnic diversity.

–Farheen Ali