SPOILERS forward for Moana 2, now on Disney+!
Now that Moana 2 has been a record-breaking field workplace hit and dominated on Disney+ with the largest numbers on the streaming service since Encanto, we will say this overtly: Moana is a demigod! On the finish of the 2024 sequel, Moana dangers her life to save lots of her individuals by diving into the ocean, however moderately than dying endlessly, her ancestors give her the present of being given the divine standing Maui has. When CinemaBlend spoke to the Moana 2 administrators in regards to the film’s ending once we had been at Walt Disney Animation earlier this month, they expressed the cultural motive why the ending was so essential to The Rock.
Previous to Moana changing into a demigod, you’ll be able to really feel the worry from Maui’s finish at first that he’s simply misplaced a good friend. When CinemaBlend spoke to administrators Jason Hand and David Derrick Jr about what it was prefer to document the emotional scene with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, they spoke about their insights into the filmmaking course of for that scene. As director Jason Hand shared:
I imply, actually, I feel it form of proved that Dwayne’s vary is unbelievable and the truth that he is in a position to put a lot emotion by means of his voice work there was actually highly effective. I feel that second, actually, it is one in every of our favourite items in the entire total movie. It is one thing that is so glad to speak about lastly as a result of it actually it is this concept that he is been stripped of all of his demigod powers stripped right down to his core and he is misplaced. He does not know what to do at that second. And that, that the music that he sings, the invocation to ask for assistance is such a robust second, that basically speaks to one thing we by no means seen him do earlier than. In order that was extremely emotional.
In the important thing Moana 2 scene, Maui, Moana and her crew are trying to lift again up the island of Motufetu from beneath a storm of waves attributable to the storm god, Nalo. As Moana dives into the ocean to the touch Motufetu, they each get struck by Nalo’s lightning.
Whereas the bolt strips Maui of his powers, it’s a lethal blow for Moana. When Maui rushes to search out Moana useless, he calls on the spirits of Tautai Vasa for assist in the music “Manu Vavau”. Director David Derrick Jr then mentioned this of the scene:
The factor I like about ‘Mana Vavau’ is it is an authentic music written by Opetaia Foa’i. He grew up in Tokelau, simply north of Samoa, and he at all times talked about how essential it might be for Dwayne to sing it in Samoan and to sing it, you already know, in his mom’s language, his grandparents’ language. And, it was so essential to Dwayne to get it proper, to get the pronunciations proper and to really feel the emotion that comes by means of that. For me it truly is type of the top of Maui’s efficiency and Dwayne’s efficiency as Maui, but in addition simply within the movie. It is a number of the most emotional moments we’ve got.
Whereas a lot of the viewers who watches could not know the precise phrases Maui says to the spirits throughout the music, it is clear he’s utilizing them to ask for assist. It’s lovely to get to listen to Dwayne Johnson converse in Samoan for the music, which was written by Samoan songwriter Opetaia Foa’i for the movie. (Plus, do you know that The Rock’s character of Maui was influenced by his grandfather?) It sounds prefer it was an particularly emotional scene for The Rock, given he had the prospect to sing within the native language of his ancestors for a Disney film.
Along with Emily Bear and Abigail Barlow writing the soundtrack (following Lin-Manuel Miranda doing the primary film), Opetaia Foa’i wrote a collection of authentic songs Samoan singers carry out all through mentioned soundtrack to make the film true to Moana’s origins. How unbelievable is it that Moana 2 can expose audiences all world wide to Samoan language, tradition and mythology?