Moana 2 ends on a huge turn for the тιтular character, giving her oar and new tattoos a deeper meaning. The 2024 sequel is largely focused on Moana and her crew’s efforts to lift a curse that keeps her tribe from finding more people. During the ending of Moana 2, Moana and her allies struggle against the dangerous deity Nalo to reach Motufetu. Raising it out of the ocean will break Nalo’s curse on the oceans and allow different tribes to reunite. Moana reaches the island and ends the curse, but seemingly at the cost of her own life.

Luckily, the magic of Moana 2‘s world allows for her prompt restoration. However, she’s not just resurrected as a regular person, but seemingly as a demigod similar to Maui. This provides her with some new abilities, amplifies her oar, and even gives her tattoos that seem to share a nature with Maui’s own tattoos. It’s an exciting development for Moana 2‘s main characters and could be a crucial turn in her overarching story if the film has a sequel.

How Moana Becomes A Demigod In Moana 2

Moana’s Demigod Boost At The Climax Of Moana 2 Sets Her Up Plenty Of New Abilities

Moana’s self-sacrifice to raise the island of Motufetu leads the ocean and her ancestors to elevate her as a demigod, giving the Disney hero new abilities to rely on in future adventures. After being killed by Nalo’s lightning, Moana is restored to life thanks to the ocean and the spirits of her ancestors. However, she doesn’t just get to go back to being normal. Rather, Moana is restored as a demigod, seemingly similar to Maui. The film ends before it can explore what that means for Moana, but Maui’s status and abilities do imply some clear elements of Moana’s upgrade.

Maui has lived for over a thousand years without aging, suggesting Moana may have gained a similar form of immortality. She has also likely gained the enhanced endurance that Maui can boast of, making her more immune to damage from external sources. However, this doesn’t mean she can’t be killed. Maui has been shown overwhelmed before, even if only by extremely powerful figures like Nalo or Te Kā. Nalo attacking Maui and stripping him of his abilities also suggests that a sufficiently godly force can strip Moana of her new powers.

Moana’s Oar, Tattoo & New Powers Explained

Moana’s New Abilities Could Make Wayfinding Far Easier

Although the full effect of Moana’s demigod upgrade isn’t revealed in the film, Moana does utilize some of her newfound powers in the ending. Moana’s oar is shown to effectively serve as her equivalent of Maui’s fishhook, serving as a conduit for her amazing abilities. Using the oar, Moana is shown shaping the tide of the ocean and moving by force of will. As a Wayfinder who ends the film embarking on a new voyage, this could be a crucial power. Moana also now can make a golden thread in the ocean, creating a path to follow.

It’s possible that, like Maui, she can only use these powers when she has the oar. The most overt example of Moana’s power boost comes in the form of a new tattoo that appears on her arm. Similar to Maui, this is seemingly a physical reminder of a great deed. As Moana continues to venture into the larger world, she could gain more tattoos charting her grand adventures. Moana may even end up with her own Mini Moana, similar to Mini Maui. These new powers give Moana a more direct connection to Maui, her ancestors, and the ocean.

How Moana’s Demigod Power Boost Could Set Up Moana 3

Nalo’s Revenge Could Become The Plot Of A Possible Moana 3

Moana’s power boost may have saved her in Moana 2, but it could also become a much more important attribute in a prospective sequel. While there has been no confirmation of Moana 3 at the time of this writing, the post-credits scene of Moana 2 heavily suggests that a vengeful Nalo will soon move against Moana and her loved ones. A powerful deity with the ability to compel other seemingly mystical figures like Matangi and strip demigods like Maui of their powers, Nalo’s vow of revenge might make Moana’s power boost crucial to her survival.

There’s also the potential effect Moana’s newfound demigod status could have on her life. If Moana is indeed ageless like Maui, then she might end up outlasting her family. Considering the important role her family plays in her motivations, this could have some serious repercussions for Moana in the future. Moana’s demigod status could be crucial to her further adventures around the world, but it could also cost her the humanity that defines her, similar to how Maui became distant from the humans he wanted to impress. Moana’s big boost in Moana 2 could reshape the future of the franchise.

What The Filmmakers Said About Moana Being A Demigod

The Stage Is Set For A New Chapter For Moana

The decision to turn Moana into a demigod does seem like a big one for the movie to make as it changes the character in some huge ways. Part of what made audiences fall in love with Moana in the first place was her bravery and determination to step into this bigger world as a young woman who has never left her community. To now have that same grounded character transformed into a powerful demigod risks losing a lot of the charm she had.

However, it turns out it was a decision the filmmakers were excited about from the beginning. Directors Jason Hand and David Derrick Jr. also felt that it was a big change for Moana that does not just give her new powers, but also presents her with a new path in life that is filled with possibilities (via The Wrap):

We set out to tell a story about ongoing evolution and growth. [The movie] starts with that hermit crab that is brave enough to leave its shell to find a new one. What this new role is for Moana, nobody knows fully yet. That’s part of the beauty of life, is that we never know truly what we will become, but every day, we get to choose who we are. But I love that we leave that door open.

Indeed, despite Moana losing aspects of her grounded beginnings, the fact that Moana 2 was willing to see her grow in such a significant way is exciting. Rather than the character remaining stagnant, she now has a very clear path of new experiences and responsibilities ahead of her. It also seems like a development the filmmakers themselves are eager to explore, which makes Moana 3 all the more likely.