A small detail from the first film reveals that Disney was preparing Moana 2turnaround 8 years before it happened. Notably having been chosen by the ocean to return Te Fiti's heart Moana was considered capable of more than human feats from the beginning. Even to her surprise, she proved to be truly special by intuitively setting in motion her people's return to their ancient traditions of guidance. Moana 2Reviews of A praise it for effortlessly building on what came before, successfully expanding the heroine's ancestry and confirming that she was destined for a bigger role.
The fate of Moana's demigod also seems to have been written in the stars, as it appears that other Moana 2 characters like his grandmother and the ocean knew this all along. Although Disney confirmed the sequel four years after the first film's release, many shared connections between the two projects suggest the creators always had more in store for Motunui's new Wayfinder. The transformation of the demigod into Moana 2The ending of may have been a shock, but a subtle hint in the first film even foreshadowed that the character would reconnect the ocean in a future installment.
The shell from the first film foreshadows the transformation and powers of Moana's demigod
Moana's shell ends up reconnecting the people of the ocean
In the first film, the Motunui culture in the world of Moana dictates that every new boss places a rock on top of a mountain. After returning Te Fiti's heart, Moana finally assumes her leadership role by placing a shell on top of her ancestors' rocks. Although not explained, it was thought that his choice to wear a shell symbolized his promise to return his people to their guiding ways. However, Moana 2 show the shell had a greater purpose eight years ago.
The first film's repeated emphasis on shells takes on a different meaning by connecting it to Moana's divine destiny.
When the ocean chooses her as a child, it lures her into the water using seashells. Then, it seemed that the ocean chose her to return Te Fiti's heart. However, the first film's repeated emphasis on shells takes on a different meaning by connecting it to Moana's divine destiny. After his transformation into a demigod, Moana uses a shell to reestablish the lines that connect civilizations to Motufeturevealing that the object had a magical purpose. At the end of the first film, the ocean itself gives her the shell which she places on the peak, successfully establishing the purpose and powers of Moana's demigod.
Is the shell now magical like Moana's oar?
Moana's shell can gain greater magical abilities
Just like Maui's hook, Moana gains a magical oar that is connected to her demigod powers. The shell could be Moana's second magical objectconsidering she used it to unite the ocean. This would align perfectly with her responsibility to both her people and the ocean, which has greatly influenced her character's arc since the first film. In one of Moana 2of the best songs on “Beyond,” she finally embraces her double home, explaining “I am Moana / Of land and sea.” Now, Moana's oar connects her to the land, to her people – and the shell, to the sea.
Moana 3 I got to see her use the oar to navigate the oceans and the shell to call upon her family or ancestors when she needs them – allowing her to seamlessly merge the two aspects of her identity. Moana uniting the ocean people is likely just the beginning of her quest, and the shell may even bring more hidden qualities yet to be discovered. Its great purpose in the sequel makes Moana 2 even better, especially because of how cleverly expands Moana's internal conflict from the first film and confirms that she had a greater destiny all along.