What happens to Moana and how it sets up Moana 3

The following contains spoilers for Moana 2, now playing in theatersMoana 2The ending is an explosive big finale that radically changes the hero and sets the stage for a future Moana 3. Building on the success of 2016 Moana, Moana 2 launches the titular hero on a new journey across the ocean. Tasked with restoring a lost island and lifting a massive curse that endangers her tribe, Moana embarks on a mission alongside a crew of loyal villagers, as well as returning from Maui. However, their path leads them directly into the machinations of the villainous god Nalo, who cast the curse in the first place.

Moana 2 is poised to be a box office hit, which may help explain why the film ends with a clear indication of future directions for other possible sequels. Notably, Moana 2 ends with a huge change for Moana and her world, expanding the scope of her world while also unexpectedly amplifying Moana. See how the end of Moana 2 elevates the character and creates new adventures.

Moana dies and becomes a demigod

Moana’s near-death experience ends up making her stronger than ever

The big turnaround Moana 2The ending is Moana’s apparent death during the restoration of the lost island of Motufetu, leading to his restoration and elevation as demigod. Moana 2 is largely focused on the mission to locate the island, with the film’s climax centering on the final race to reach the island. Although Maui manages to locate the island and attempt to pull it out of the water, he is stripped of his powers by the monstrous Nalo before he can complete the mission.

Moana dives into the ocean to reach him, as the curse can be broken as long as she touches the shore – although she is successful, Nalo strikes her with his lightning in the process. Initially, it appears that Moana has been killed. However, thanks to the ocean, the spirits of Moana’s ancestors (including her grandmother and Tautai Vasa) are able to restore her to life. This also apparently turns Moana into a demigod like Maui, potentially granting him the same kind of immortality that allowed Maui to live for over a thousand years and sustain fatal injuries.

Moana Rowing

In the same way that Maui’s most obvious powers are channeled through his powerful hook, The oar, Moana’s trademark, takes on new meaning as a spiritual weapon. The paddle is now adorned with gold lettering and appears to be an extension of Moana’s new abilities. Although it is likely that she, like Maui, benefits from new physical attributes of demigods, the oar is the source of her most evident supernatural powers. This makes the oar an even more important accessory for the hero from now on.

Moana’s powers

Moana’s new powers are likely similar to Maui’s ability to transform through the use of his fishhook. In the first MoanaBeing separated from the hook meant that Maui lost access to his evident abilities, although he retained his ageless body and impressive stamina. Moana’s paddle doesn’t allow her to change shape. Instead, through a golden light emitted from him, Moana can use her oar to shape the tides and create paths in the ocean. As she continues her quest, these skills will likely be crucial to future ocean exploration.

Moana Tattoos

Moana notably also gains some tattoos with this ascension. They appear to depict people celebrating on the island of Motufetu, referencing the events of the film as Moana’s greatest achievement. This is similar to how Maui’s many tattoos were revealed in Moana be references to his achievements as a demigod. It’s likely that as Moana progresses in life and achieves other achievements, she may gain more tattoos. They may even be alive like Mini Maui, assembling a Mini Moana to appear in future stories about the character.

How Moana Reconnects Ocean People

Moana 2 It’s about restoring the entire vastness of the ocean

The reason Moana goes in search of Motufetu in the first place is thanks to a vision from Tautai Vasa, who informs her that the island being sunk and taken over by Nalo has effectively isolated Moana’s corner of the sea from the rest of humanity. If they remain isolated for too long, the ocean people (including Moana’s tribe as well as the Kakamora) will die out. This reinforces Moana’s established efforts to find more tribes, kicking off the film’s adventure. By creating Motufetu and breaking Nalo’s curse, Moana restores the ocean’s connective lines.

This quickly pays off, with other explorers from around the world quickly arriving at Motufetu. This allows Moana to bring them back to her home island, where several Wayfinders from different tribes are shown talking to Tui and likely creating alliances. This is a promising conclusion to the film, as creates many new corners of the world to explore. It could also create potential drama, as the existence of other tribes also means there is room for possible conflict in the future.

What happens to Matangi in Moana 2

Disney’s Latest Villain Twist, Explained

At first glance, Matangi is installed in Moana 2 be a dangerous villain. Able to overpower and capture Maui with relative ease, Matangi initially jokes that she has bigger plans for him and Moana. However, it turns out that Matangi is actually a reluctant servant of Nalo and has been trapped inside the island-sized mollusk for countless years. Hoping that breaking the curse Nalo placed on the ocean will free it from his grasp, Matangi actually gives Moana some crucial advice and helps her (along with Maui and the rest of the Moana crew) to venture to the island.

Unfortunately, Matangi doesn’t get her happy ending in Moana 2. Absent from the rest of the film’s main plot, Matangi is brought back to Moana 2mid-credits scene. This sequence reveals that she is still under Nalo’s control, arguing that she has not broken his rules of control over her. This makes Matangi a potentially reluctant adversary for Moana in the futurefollowing Nalo’s commands even though she wants to get rid of him. However, an empowered Moana may find a way to free her, turning Matangi into an ally.

Nalo’s Revenge and Moana 3 Setting Explained

Moana 2Mid-credits scene teases future conflicts

Nalo is the real villain of Moana 2even though he is practically absent from the film as a whole. Countless years before the events of the film, the god Nalo created the storm that sank Motufetu, as he believed that expanding humanity threatened his power. Nalo actively tries to kill Moana and her crew, sending huge sea serpents and lightning after the group as soon as they get close to the island. Even after being defeated, the appearance of the deity in Moana 2The mid-credits scene reveals an angry god who is bent on revenge.

Nalo’s declaration that this is “just the beginning” sets him up as a recurring threat to Moana and establishes him as a natural candidate for the villain of a future Moana 3. Nalo wouldn’t go after her alone either, as the sequel confirms that he keeps tabs on Matangi. It also teases that Tamatoa, the enormous crab villain and secondary antagonist of Moanahe also still has a score to settle with the young woman for her role in defeating him previously. All of this sets the stage for an epic Moana 3especially given Moana’s massive power boost.

How the ending of Moana 2 builds on the ending of the first film

Both films end with adventures at sea

Moana 2 continues many of the themes from the first filmhighlighting how Moana’s tribe needs to venture out into the world instead of remaining isolated on their peaceful island. In Moanathe curse caused by Maui taking the Heart of Te Fiti was slowly killing all biological life in the world. Likewise, Moana begins her adventure knowing that failure to expand the ocean to its true potential will ultimately lead to the demise of her people.

In both films, Moana succeeds and expands the scope of how far her people can venture into the world at large. While Moana embrace the excitement of countless new adventures, Moana 2The end of Wayfinder and his crew head back to sea to explore more of the ocean. It’s a thematically connected throughline this highlights the importance of exploration and expansion beyond the familiar.

The true meaning of the ending of Moana 2

“Get Lost” becomes a motivational phrase in Moana 2

Moana 2 It’s ultimately about the importance of embracing the new and having the courage to risk everything for exploration. All Moana 2The characters are forced to embrace dangerous new pathswith Moana’s grandmother even communicating to Moana in the first act that she now understands the potential cost of her adventures. The tribe literally needs to expand across the ocean, or they will die. Each member of Moana’s crew grows through acceptance of change, whether it’s Loto embracing constant experimentation, Moni overcoming her fears, or Kele adapting to the ocean.

Moana and Maui also face this challenge, both being forced to accept difficult paths that they are naturally opposed to. Maui’s efforts to protect Moana from danger only prolong the mission until Motufetu, and they win when he accepts that they can take care of themselves. On the other hand, Moana has to learn to embrace a different path, accepting Matangi’s guidance to “get lost” by charting a path different from the one she is comfortable with so she can continue moving forward. It’s an interesting moral to exploreespecially in relation Moanathe twist about Te Fiti.

How many Moana movies will there be?

Moana 3 It hasn’t been confirmed, but the live-action remake is coming soon

At the time of writing this article, there has been no confirmation of Moana 3. Given that it took eight years to Moana 2 To continue the story of the titular Wayfinder, it may be some time before audiences get confirmation one way or another as to whether they will ever see more of the young adventurer. However, the expected box office success of Moana 2along with the sequence’s overt teases in the mid-credits scene, could give Walt Disney Animation enough reason to bring the character back for new adventures.

A prospective Moana 3 could even follow the trajectory of other confirmed Disney animated sequels, like Frozenwhich has already been confirmed to have two sequels in active pre-production. Fans of Moana will also receive a live-action remake in 2026starring Catherine Laga’aia as Moana and Dwayne Johnson reprising the role of Maui. This ensures that even beyond Moana 2there will be more opportunities to see the young hero in movie theaters.

Source: Screen speech