Summary

Moana 2 started as a limited series, impacting its quality and appearing pieced together at the last minute.
Moana 3 should be a blockbuster priority to avoid a quality dip and retain fans' interest.
Bringing back Lin-Manuel Miranda for the soundtrack can ensure Moana 3 is not viewed as a cash grab.

Moana has become one of Disney's most successful franchises, with the two movies combined grossing over $1.5 billion at the global box office. That's why there have been plenty of rumors regarding the possibility of Moana 3 being created. While it's not been officially announced yet, there's no doubt that it would be a massive success.

A live-action version of Moana has already been filmed, and Dwayne Johnson will reprise his role as Maui. While that will be released on July 10, 2026, to grow the franchise even more, if Disney wants to ensure that the third film in the animated film series is a hit, then there's a crucial mistake that Disney needs to avoid.

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By Matthew Wilkinson

Moana 2 Was Originally Slated To Be A Limited Series On Disney Plus

There Was A Notable Drop In Quality For Moana 2 Because Of The Late Switch

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Moana 2 was a success for Disney, but that was mainly due to audiences simply loving the original and blindly accepting that it would be just as good. Unfortunately, the reality was that Moana 2 was nowhere near as good as the original because it was initially slated to be a limited series on Disney Plus. They had been putting together the story with that in mind, which is why there are clear points in the movie where it appears that an episode would end and naturally transition to the next stage. It hurt the quality of Moana 2 as it was a pieced-together film at the last minute that felt like a cash grab rather than a labor of love in making a legitimate movie. That's a mistake that Disney can't make again, just because people accepted it this time as fans will stop caring about the franchise if it becomes a trend.

Moana 3 Needs To Be Treated Properly As A Legitimate Blockbuster

Lin-Manuel Miranda Should Be Brought Back To Create The Soundtrack

Moana is one of Disney's most significant intellectual properties at this point, with the financial success of both movies highlighting that. However, a potential Moana 3 needs to be showcased in the same light, ensuring that it is pushed as a major priority for the company to make it just as good as the original movie. If Disney is looking to turn this into a trilogy, then the dip in quality cannot continue, as it will simply be unacceptable. Fans want the movie to be treated as a major blockbuster, and that's what Disney needs to deliver, even if it means taking more time.

An example of how Disney didn't treat Moana 2 on the same level as the original is that they didn't bring back Lin-Manuel Miranda to create the soundtrack. The music in Moana has become iconic, which is key to any great Disney animation, yet the same cannot be said about the sequel. While there were some good songs, it was clear that Disney wasn't treating it with the same level of importance, and that has to change for the third installment.

Disney Needs To Prove Moana 3 Isn't Just A Cash Grab

Disney Must Remind Fans Of Its High Standards To Maintain Trust

There's no question surrounding whether or not Moana 3 will be a success financially, as it's almost guaranteed that the movie will perform well at the box office. Young audiences will beg their family to take them to the cinema when this movie is released, while people who grew up with the original will also return. It's a movie that is fun for the entire family, which should lead to Moana 3 being a hit no matter what Disney does. However, that shouldn't lead to them putting in the bare minimum when it comes to effort. Fans don't want to see another film that is cobbled together at the last minute, taking what is obviously set episodes of a show and attempting to stitch them together. Moana 2 was so successful because people automatically assumed it would be done to the same standard as the original. Given that wasn't the case, a specific section of people will question whether or not they should return to watch a third movie, which is why the quality must be high.

Disney prides itself on creating the very best animated movies, which is a reputation Walt Disney himself created with the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves back in 1937. Since then, Disney has produced many of the best films ever, and the original Moana certainly sat among the greats such as Aladdin and The Lion King. Audiences trust Disney to deliver a premium product, and while not every movie will be perfect, it's important that Disney at least puts in the effort to get close to that level. That was missing in Moana 2 and is ultimately why Disney cannot afford to put a half-hearted effort into Moana 3, as they can ill-afford to lose their fanbase.