When Moana was released 8 years ago, it was an instant classic. A non-princess story for audiences who wanted adventurers and culture. Does Moana 2 find its own way? And in a time when Disney films are becoming edgier is Moana 2 kid friendly? Here’s what parents need to know in this Moana 2 Parents Guide.
Moana 2 Parents Guide
Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) and friends are back for another adventure 3 years later after the timeline of the first film. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters unlike anything she’s ever faced. In addition to Maui, Pua, and Hei Hei, she recruits a few others for her crew to help navigate the seas and face unknown foes.
Parents should know that Moana 2 is a little darker than Moana but is still kid friendly for ages 6 and older.
Age Rating of Moana 2
Moana 2 is rated PG for action and peril which means some content may not be suitable for all ages. Parental guidance suggested.
Sex/Nudity
You can see the top (and crack) of an old man’s bare butt. A character starts twisting a male’s nipple and he responds with, “no purple nurples.” Characters put their hands on another man’s bare chest.
Violence: Is Moana 2 Too Scary for Kids?
There are several scenes that show characters in peril and even presumed dead. These scenes may be upsetting to young children.
Moana also has some frightening scenes where dark storms put characters in peril. Some sea monsters are large and scary while chasing characters. Scary and loud bats may cause jump scares. Lightning strikes characters and injures some.
The kokamara spit darts which make characters’ bodies go limp and turn soft like jello.
Just like Frozen 2 was a little darker and scarier than Frozen, the same goes for Moana 2 and Moana.
Language
There is no profanity in Moana 2. Someone mentions a butt dial. A character tells another he looks like a kidney stone.
Is Moana 2 Appropriate for Kids Under 6?
Moana 2 is cute enough to entertain families and kids especially, but it may not satisfy the adults who fell in love with the first. With a runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes, it may be a little long for young kids. However, there are plenty of laughs and songs to keep them engaged. Due to some scary elements, Moana 2 is kid friendly for ages 6 and older. Kids younger than that will also be ok if they’ve seen other Disney films with villains and dark elements.
All the returning characters are fun, lovable, and you remember why the world was enchanted with Moana. But it’s also difficult to recreate that same magic. Moana 2 definitely tried, but without the songwriting skills of Lin-Manuel Miranda, some of the authenticity felt forced. Maybe it tries too hard.
I don’t want to diminish the artistry of songwriters Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, because the music isn’t bad. It’s just not fair to compare them to the original soundtrack, which I’m doing, and I feel like a real jerk for doing it.
Moana’s motley crew of super smart canoe maker Loto (Rose Matafeo), Moni (Hualālai Chung), a Maui admirer, storyteller, and resident strong guy, and Kele (David Fane), a curmudgeonly farmer, are adorable and work well together. However, there isn’t a ton of character development to make you really fall in love with them. Another addition is Moana’s little sister, Simea. She really doesn’t add to the story except to add cuteness, and well, mission accomplished.
We see Moana grow up and take her role as wayfinder seriously. She looks to her future to connect her people and find others to make sure their stories continue. Moana is brave and courageous and a good role model for young audiences as the village looks to her as a leader.
Moana 2 was originally supposed to be a series for Disney+ and later reworked into a film. There are a lot of different arcs and characters crammed into these 100 minutes. For example, we have a villain – Nalo – who we don’t even see until credits roll after the film. There’s also a secondary villain (maybe) named Matangi that we meet. By the end of the film I asked what happened to her. Another reason to stay for the credits.
There are a lot of weaknesses in Moana 2 but enough positives to outweigh them. Watch for the incredible visuals, the funny lines, and a kick-butt female protagonist who is not a princess. She may not always know the way, but a more mature Moana is always willing to find one.
