For years, Disney has built upon its empire of beloved Disney princesses, yet with the recent release of Moana 2, it seems as though the company may be heading in a new direction with its female characters. Premiering at the end of 2024, Moana 2 is the long-awaited sequel to 2016’s Moana. In the latest installment, Moana teams up with a group of her friends to go on a quest to revive a sunken island that will reconnect the people of the ocean. Along the way, the тιтular character reunites with her old demigod pal, Maui.
It is no secret that Disney has shifted its storylines over the years, opting for more diverse and character-centric stories rather than plain tales of romance and damsels in distress. For the most part, these have proven to be great changes. Frozen, which focuses on sisterly love and personal freedom, is one of Disney’s most popular IPs. Yet, it seems that the company isn’t done tweaking its formula. With the release of Moana 2, it appears that Disney’s female characters are reaching heights that far surpᴀss just being a princess.
Moana 2 Is The Latest Example Of Disney Turning Its Princesses Into Superheroes
Other Disney Princesses-Turned-Heroes Explained
After years of Disney’s female characters being princesses, they are now turning into something much more powerful: superheroes. In Moana 2, Moana is the chief’s daughter and Motunui’s wayfinder, which already puts her in a position of power. Her people are counting on her. However, the end of Moana 2 sees her go even further when she becomes a demigod. Now, Moana’s already impressive powers have been amplified, and she will presumably gain even more abilities, such as immortality. Moana may just be the strongest Disney princess out there.
Moana’s transition into a fantastical superhero isn’t the first example of this change either. Frozen revolves heavily around Elsa’s ice powers, which she eventually learns how to control through love and honesty. However, Frozen 2 does not stop there. In the sequel, Elsa becomes even more powerful than before, gaining the ability to ride the wind like a horse and connect with the powers of her land. In this way, Elsa and Moana become more than just princesses: they are some of the most powerful enтιтies in their worlds.
Disney’s Princesses Becoming More Powerful Helps The Movies Go Bigger Than Before
The Drawback Of Princess Superheroes
The move from princess to superhero is very compelling for Disney for a mulтιтude of reasons. First and foremost, focusing on these characters’ powers and independence is a great theme for young audiences. It is a significant improvement on Disney’s more romance-focused stories, which saw female characters in more vulnerable roles. On top of that, Disney’s movies now have the opportunity to raise the stakes higher and higher. With more power comes more risk, but also more epic journeys. Moana 2 and Frozen 2 have already proven this positive change in Disney’s storytelling.
Plus, Moana’s immortality creates a bleak challenge for Disney, as Moana cannot outlive everyone she loves.
Of course, most good things also have a downside, and Disney’s is quite obvious. If the corporation wants to turn its characters into demigods, then they will have to figure out how to get bigger from there. Now that Moana is a demigod, it seems difficult for Moana 3 to make her even more impressive. Plus, Moana’s immortality creates a bleak challenge for Disney, as Moana cannot outlive everyone she loves. Thus, Moana 2 is a signal towards improvement and new challenges for Disney.
