For the first time, Disney is set to premiere the highly-anticipated Moana 2 in both English and Te Reo Māori, simultaneously.
On November 28, Moana 2 Reo Māori will release in participating cinemas across the country at the same time as its original voice cast version.
Returning for the ride are The Voice Australia finalist Jaedyn Randell and Piripi Taylor who have reprised their reo Māori roles of Moana and Maui respectively.
Moana 2 Reo Māori is the latest project by Matewa Media. In association with Walt Disney Animation Studios, the company is expanding the collection of animated Disney movies that have been dubbed in Te Reo Māori, which features the first Moana film, The Lion King, Frozen, Coco, and most recent release, Encanto.
Pere Wihongi has worked on all six films as music director, even lending his voice in Frozen as Olaf the enchanted and optimistic friendly snowman. For Moana 2, he was back behind the scenes.
“He ‘family reunion’ kē te hopu i ngā reo, ina rā hoki kua hoki mai ngā reo motuhake o te kiriata, (With the original [Reo Māori] cast returning it was like a family reunion),” said Wihongi.
The story takes place three years after the events of the first film, following Moana on a quest to find people beyond the shores of Motunui.
“Taihoa ake ka kite i te roanga ake o tōna haerenga, engari koia te tino ia kei tēnei o ngā kiriata, te tuarua o Moana (You’ll have to wait and see just how long a journey she makes, but that is the essence of Moana 2),” said Wihongi.
When the trailer for Moana 2 dropped in January, it broke the record for Disney’s most-watched animated trailer in its first day of release.
