She continued, discussing what she enjoyed about filming Moana 2: “Where do I start? I love that Moana is having such an impact, not only for my community of Pacific Islanders, but even beyond. To see a young Wayfinder on screen using traditional techniques, that’s a source of Polynesian pride, that’s a piece of indigenous knowledge that comes straight from us… To even see folklore and myths about how Maui islands pulled out of the sea – those are myths and mythology that I grew up with.”

“And the fact that Disney has turned this into a musical, which makes us spontaneously burst into song, makes my inner theater child very happy.”

Directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller, the sequel embarks on an adventure to reunite the people of the ocean after receiving a call from Moana’s ancestors. Together with her new crew, voiced by Rose Matafeo, Hualalai Chung and David Fane, the princess soon realizes that this task requires sacrifices in the name of the future of her community.

“We didn’t want to repeat the first film,” Hands said THR. “We wanted to follow Moana from then on, and so we wouldn’t have told the story if we didn’t think it was worthy.

On track for a record-breaking opening of $125 million to $135 million during the five-day Thanksgiving holiday corridor, according to tracking data shared with THRspoke Derrick Jr. on what brings audiences back to the oceanic adventure: “Moana is the best of us. She never gives up. She does everything for her community. She is not afraid to take on the demigod or God. But she’s also goofy and dumb and very approachable. Like Auli’i, she truly embodies her.”

When asked about the possibility of a Moana 3the men were reluctant. “We worked on the first film. We’ve been working on the second film. We are connected, but who knows?” said Derrick Jr.

Composers Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear were also present at the event and discussed what the melody and lyrics of this musical are actually about. Bear explained: “This is the first time we’ve seen a (Disney) heroine age. She’s inspiring and brave and big and all the things we love, but she has some very deeply human moments in this movie… The kids who watch these movies grow up and inevitably screw up, seeing how someone who them looking up to learn from those moments instead of letting them defeat them is really (important.)”