ComingSoon’s Jonathan Sim recently flew out to Burbank, California, to visit The Walt Disney Animation Studios for a special press day for Disney’s upcoming movie, Moana 2. From live music to a screening of the first 30 minutes of the film, it was a day to remember. The highlight was interviewing directors Dana Ledoux Miller, Jason Hand, and David Derrick Jr.
“Moana journeys to the far seas of Oceania after receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors,” reads the official synopsis.
Jonathan Sim: Moana 2 has this crazy production because it started out as a TV series before turning into a film. When you guys were restructuring it, did you ever have to change anything about it as a story in order to make it work better for film as a medium?
Dana Ledoux Miller: I think what we’re so fortunate is that changing it from a TV series to a film just allowed us to go bigger. We really got to, we have 750 incredible artists, and we get to let them shine on the big screen in ways that you can’t when you’re watching it on a TV.
One of the best things about Moana 2 is that we have all these incredible characters. I want to talk to you guys about my favorite one, Hei Hei. More specifically, Alan Tudyk as Hei Hei. What a legend. How do you direct Alan Tudyk and all of his noises? Do you have to give him specific direction?
Miller: I will say directing Alan as Hei Hei was maybe the highlight of my career. Yeah. But truly he is such an incredible professional and brings so much life to this, but we had conversations about Hei Hei’s motivation. We talked about what do you think Hei Hei’s thinking in this moment? He takes this role so seriously, which I think is what gives it so much life. And he’s a Disney legend. The fact that we get to work with him is incredible.
Yeah. I was wondering, do you have to tell him, more chicken-like on this one?
Miller: He brings the chicken on. He knows his own. It’s more like, you know, Hei Hei’s feeling a little more lost than usual in this moment, or, Hei Hei’s, you know, he’s really a little bit afraid, but also has no idea what’s going on. You know, it’s that balance. He finds that nuance.
Now, I want to do some rapid-fire questions with you. Favorite Moana 2 character?
Miller: Kele.
David Derrick Jr: Loto.
Jason Hand: Maui.
Favorite classic Disney movie?
Miller: The Little Mermaid.
Hand: The Jungle Book.
Derrick: The Lion King.
The Disney character you’d most like to spend an entire day with?
Miller: Moana.
Derrick: Same.
Hand: Baloo.
Favorite Disney song?
Derrick: Can it be from Moana 2?
It can be, yes.
Derrick: I love “Beyond.”
Hand: “You’re Welcome.”
Miller: “Part of Your World.”
Now I feel like every single movie ever made has that crazy story behind it where it was something that you never saw coming when you were making it. Was there ever a story about Moana 2? What was the craziest thing that happened behind the scenes of this film?
Hand: You already said it. It went from a series to an incredibly huge feature.
Miller: It doesn’t get much bigger than that.
Derrick: Yeah, that was crazy.
So when you guys were developing the sequel, what was the thing that was the hardest to make different about this film compared to the first one? Because I’ve seen the first 30 minutes, and it seems like it’s gonna be very different, but in your words, what do you think separates Moana 2 the most from the original Moana?
Miller: Well, if the first film was about Moana reconnecting to her past Moana 2 is about Moana building a new future for her people.
