Moana 2 spoilers follow.
Since the first Moana movie was released in 2016, Moana has been considered a Disney Princess, even if – in her world where she's Chieftess of Motunui – she's not a princess.
Moana 2 makes a clear point to address the 'is she or isn't she a Princess' debate after the first film with a fourth-wall gag, where Moana states she's "not a princess" to which Maui replies: "I know, but a lot of people think that you are."
However, in the real world she is an official Disney Princess.
"For today's day and age, we want to see a young woman being the hero of her own story. So, yeah, she is a princess, but she's also a hero. I like that those two words are now interchangeable," Auli'i Cravalho told EW.
And Moana 2 now confirms that she's not only a Disney Princess – she's the best Disney Princess.
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Unlike other Disney Princesses (Frozen's Elsa, The Little Mermaid's Ariel or The Princess and the Frog's Tiana), Moana's story isn't anchored or validated by a love interest.
Moana is the saviour of Maui, the restorer of Te Fiti's stolen heart and ultimate hero of her island Motunui and that's just in the first movie.
The heroism and strength of Moana is even more prevalent in Moana 2 where she receives an ancestral call from Tautai Vasa, who we were introduced to in the original movie when Moana learnt of her wayfinding legacy.
He urges her to sail across the ocean and connect with other people of the Pacific by finding the underwater island of Motufetu. Otherwise, her island and people are unlikely to survive due to their isolation.
After receiving a hero's send-off, Moana and her crew Hei Hei, Pua and new additions farmer Kele, engineer Loto and story-keeper Moni – who on first introduction could have been a potential love interest, but thankfully turns out to be a Maui-obsessed superfan – set sail on a path that sees them encounter mysterious characters on her quest to finding Motufetu.
Moana doubts herself at one point, and she's reminded just how strong and courageous she is with Maui's 'Can I Get a Chee Hoo?' musical number.
In an interview with the LA Times, songwriter Emily Bear shared how Maui's number provides support to Moana enabling her to believe in herself.
"Maui essentially tells Moana, 'Stop doubting yourself, because the enemy you're up against doesn't doubt you. He wouldn't waste his time trying to stop you if they didn't think you were capable of beating him'," she explained.
After escaping mysterious Matangi's hidden clam cave, and with a song of encouragement from the bat lady, Moana fights off sea monsters sent in to destroy her by God of Storms Nalo, in waters where the ocean cannot help her.
Initially, Maui seems to think Nalo is trying to fight him off, but Moana soon realises that Nalo doesn't care about Maui; it's Moana he wants to stop as she's the true threat, whatever Maui wants to think.
Moana has to draw strength from within and use her wits to lead her team to combat the storm in order to raise the island of Motufetu from the depths of the ocean. (Sure, she needs Maui's help a bit for this, but it's Moana who breaks Nalo's curse.)
The sequel reinforces the message to young girls of the first movie that they can be the heroes of their own stories and become the leaders they're destined to be, and that even princesses doubt themselves sometimes.
This is the Disney Princess message that needs to be seen, heard and loved by all, and Moana is an inspirational Disney Princess and role model that all young children can look up to.
She might not be a princess (Moana might even be a demigod now, too), but she's definitely the best Disney Princess.
Moana 2 is out now in cinemas.
Photo Director, Hearst UK
Shyvonne Thomas is Digital Spy's Photo Director, looking after Digital Spy's and Hearst's digital brand visuals across the board. She also writes and conducts interviews specialising in the Power shows, anything Beyoncé, family days out, as well as championing content across Black TV shows and movies.
Having started her career as Shopping Assistant for Mother & Baby and Pregnancy and Birth magazines in 2010, Shyvonne moved on to become Picture Assistant at heat magazine in 2012, before joining the Daily Star, Express and OK! websites as Galleries Editor in 2014.
Shyvonne is an NCTJ-accredited journalist and studied an honours degree in Journalism. In 2021, Shyvonne was shortlisted for the PPA Unsung Hero Award. Shyvonne is also a proud mum.
