The sequel to the 2016 Disney animated film Moana, which was released in 2016, will be released this November. This is even more surprising news as there was no prior information about it.

Disney released the first teaser trailer and still cuts of Moana 2 yesterday. Originally, the film was planned as a TV series that would follow the story of Moana from 2016. However, Disney CEO Bob Iger was impressed with certain scenes and decided that it was better to release the movie than the series.

The first teaser shows Moana blowing a large conch shell to summon her sailors. The beautiful sea, a major feature of the previous film, also appears in this teaser. The still cut shows Moana and Maui on a boat, looking down at a whale with a mysterious glowing tattoo.

According to information released by Disney, Moana sends a message to her ancestor, Motunui, who had set out to find a new path. Moana, Maui, and unexpected sailors embark on a voyage where even greater threats await than in the previous film.

Moana 1 was released at the end of 2016 and earned over $640 million worldwide. It received critical acclaim for its beautiful depiction of the sea and its adaptation of New Zealand indigenous myths into a Disney animation. Personally, it reminds me of the Bionicle I used to play with as a kid, and the visuals are so beautiful that it's my favorite Disney animation.

However, some analysts believe that the announcement of Moana 2 is due to Disney's poor performance in 2023. The Disney 100th anniversary animated film "Wish" was a resounding failure at the box office, and "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" and "The Marvels" also underperformed in theaters. Disney is desperate for a return to theaters with its core franchises, like Moana 2.

In addition to Moana 2, a live-action film starring Maui will be released in 2025. The live-action Maui will be played by Dwayne Johnson.