★★★★

Warmly received by kids and critics alike, Moana proved the perfect antidote to Frozen fever back in 2016. The long, icy shadow was strong but Musker and Clements’ sun kissed, Oceanic adventure provided both a brief thaw and the opportunity for parents to finally…let it go. You’re welcome. Decent box office returns didn’t immediately set the sequel train rolling, though. For all Disney’s market leading prowess in IP monetisation, follow ups have rarely been the animation studio’s modus operandi. Just three in a hundred years. It was the race for streaming content that commissioned Moana 2, though initially as a long-form limited series. Ostensibly, quality alone inspired the cinematic upgrade, although one suspects a financially disappointing 2023 played a hand. This one, at least, is going to be huge.