Who Are On The Boats In Moana 2’s Ending? What It Means For Moana 3

At the end of Moana 2, the тιтular princess successfully revives the island of Motufetu, leading to the arrival of several boats full of strangers, and though they remain unknown to audiences, they will undoubtedly play a role in Moana 3. Released at the tail end of 2024, Moana 2 is the long-awaited sequel to Disney’s 2016 hit, Moana. In the new movie, Moana acts as the wayfinder of Motunui, and is tasked by the gods to seek out the lost island of Motufetu. By doing this, Moana can reunite the peoples of the ocean, thereby securing their futures.

Without a doubt, Moana’s adventure in Moana 2 is just as dangerous and high-stakes as her first. Although she has help from her peers on Motunui, the risks the crew must face are ᴅᴇᴀᴅly and seemingly impossible. Moana and her crew must not only pull Motufetu from the bottom of the ocean, but also face off with the island’s keeper, the evil Nalo. Ultimately, Moana succeeds at her mission, and the end of Moana 2 implies some new changes for the franchise’s future, such as Moana’s demigod status and various boats of mysterious newcomers.

People From Other Islands Are On The Boats In Moana 2’s Ending

Why The Other Islands & People Are Exciting

The boats at the end of Moana 2 are filled with people from other tribes around the ocean. This is the ultimate goal of Moana’s mission in Moana 2, as Motufetu connects Moana’s Motunui with other Oceanic islands, so pulling it to the surface allows these islands to be reconnected. According to the goddess Tautai Vasa, Moana must reunite these people so that her own people can survive. Isolated as they are, it would be impossible for them to continue living without the help of other tribes. Thus, Moana’s success at Motufetu leads to these new tribes hearing Moana’s call.

The appearance of these new tribes may seem random or arbitrary to some viewers, but they actually set up an exciting future for the Moana franchise. Moana 2 raised the stakes of the first movie by giving Moana a life-or-death task and adding even more characters from Motunui and from Polynesian folklore. Now, with the introduction of these new islanders, Moana 3 has the chance to build even more new characters, and more importantly, new dynamics. It is no longer just Moana and her family, but people with different customs and beliefs.

Why All The Boats Are Coming To Motunui

What The Boats Symbolize For Moana


Moana clutching her necklace and looking to the horizon in Moana 2

Moana 2 not only shows the arrival of these boats, but also sees Moana leading them to Motunui. The reason for this is that the new islanders need to meet Moana’s people in order to create a тιԍнт-knit community. As Tautai Vasa warned, Motunui needs to unite with other tribes for survival, so it makes sense that they would try to create this connection right away. Moana 2 shows through ceremony how Moana’s people and those of the other islands unite as a single unit. By leading the boats to Motunui, Moana ensures the future of her people.

Thus, Moana 3 can finally show Moana traveling to a new island just like Motunui and learning about its people, its culture, and its history.

The arrival of the islanders via boats also hints at another possibility for Moana 3, which is travel to new islands. The crux of Moana’s story is her desire to see the world beyond Motunui. In the first movie, she overcomes the dangers of the ocean, and in Moana 2, she successfully reconnects Oceania. Thus, Moana 3 can finally show Moana traveling to a new island just like Motunui and learning about its people, its culture, and its history. This gives the franchise far more subject matter to work with in terms of other real-life people and groups.

The People On The Boats Set Up New Characters For Moana 3

Moana 3 Will Be Very Different From The Previous Movies


Moana and Matangi during "Get Lost" in Moana 2.

The most obvious change that comes from Moana 2’s boats is that new characters will be inevitable in Moana 3. If the franchise continues, it will have to expand on these new people and show how they are different and similar to the tribe on Motunui. Obviously, this could lead to interpersonal conflicts that would be at the center of Moana 3, or could give Moana’s people more power against more omnipresent threats. Either way, Moana 3 will have a lot more story to flesh out.

Furthermore, Moana 3 will be quite different from its predecessors because of Moana’s new status. Not only did she reunite the people of Oceania, but she is now a demigod. This will undoubtedly give her new responsibilities, and may change the way people view her. She was already famous as the wayfinder, but will probably be an even bigger deal as a demigod. Thus, Moana 2 sets the stage for a very interesting sequel that will be far bigger than its predecessors.

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