Moana 2 fans are all saying the same thing as the Disney sequel hits movie theaters

The new Moana 2 film has been compared to Disney’s ‘direct to video’ movies by various fans weighing in on the new flick on social media.

Though unclear if they had actually seen the movie, several fans moaned that the new sequel appeared to be the same level of quality as past Disney films that went straight to VHS.

Released in U.S. cinemas today, Moana 2 is the sequel to the beloved animated film Moana, and follows the titular character venturing to the far seas of Oceania.

The sequel was originally intended to be a series on Disney+ but was remade to become a theatrical film, Variety previously reported.

One X user wrote a day before the release: ‘Getting big time “Direct To Video Sequel” vibes from everyone’s MOANA 2 reactions, which is a shame.’

‘the basic consensus I’m getting from Moana 2 is that it’s not as good as the first, story isn’t as good but it’s actually very fun and not terrible. wow it really is like a direct to video disney sequel lol,’ another X user posted. 

One X user noted a day before the release: ‘welp, can’t believe Frozen 2 was better than Moana 2. I like more Moana but, that “sequel” that looks like Disney direct to video sequel from the 2000s BUT that should be decent because it was for big screen with another terrible villain should been better…’ 

One viewer said in their review: ‘Close enough, welcome back Disney direct-to-video sequels. #Moana2 has lovely animation and solid voice acting but suffers from a half-baked story, bland new characters, and unmemorable songs. Not terrible but much inferior and not as SHINY as the original.’

Another heard through the grapevine that the film had been compared to ‘direct-to-video effort’.

‘Someone else described it as a direct-to-video effort, or a TV movie. With such a compelling character and franchise here, they shouldn’t have been so lazy on the writing. At least they didn’t have Moana go to America where she quickly hitches a boat back home. #Moana2,’ they noted.

One offered Disney advice on how they ‘should’ have proceeded with Moana 2:  ‘Disney should have done a Toy Story 2 for Moana and scrap the thing made for direct to video to build a proper sequel from the ground-up. It’ll make a billion regardless but it’s kind of insane that was never the plan from the start.’

One X user said after learning Lin-Manuel Miranda had not returned to write the film’s music: ‘Wait wait wait did they not get LMM back to do Moana 2? oh this really WAS a direct-to-video sequel huh.’ 

Another said the film felt like a ‘soulless straight-to-Disney+ production.’ 

On X, various fans moaned that the new sequel appeared to be the same quality as past Disney films that went straight to VHS

The new Moana 2 film has been compared to Disney’s ‘direct to video’ movies by fans weighing in on the new flick on social media

‘#Moana2 is a hollow effort, missing the emotional depth and creative ambition it desperately needed. Clearly aimed at bolstering Disney’s bottom line, it feels like a soulless straight-to-Disney+ production, devoid of the artistry or heart that made the original special,’ the user wrote. 

Another posted: ‘#Moana2 Disjointed, messy, low stakes story; underwhelming songs that unsuccessfully imitate the first’s masterful tunes; forgettable new characters. Feels like a 2000s direct-to-video sequel. Would’ve worked far better as the Disney+ limited series it was originally planned as.’ 

Others stood up for the film: ‘I really don’t think Moana 2 being reworked from a cancelled TV show is gonna put it on a similar level to the direct to video Disney sequels that were literally finished episodes with some framing devices.’

On Monday, one person said the film had ‘a chance’: ‘”Moana 2 was made by the B Team crew! It’s like a direct to video movie set to theaters!” Hey, SOMETIMES it works! (Look it up, made by Disney Movie Toons AND THE TV ANIMATION division!) It’s got a chance!’ 

A fan said the film still had ‘a chance’  

The possibility the film may have resembled a straight-to-VHS Disney film was also not far from mind for several reviewers

The film was released in U.S. cinemas today, November 27

The possibility the film may have resembled a straight-to-VHS Disney film was also not far from mind for several reviewers. 

Rolling Stone, however, assured readers that was not the case: ‘Is Moana 2 better than the straight-to-video sequels Disney used to grant their most popular titles back in the day? Of course it is, and the animation of these sun-dappled Pacific Island landscapes, the aqua-blue gulfs and roiling ocean waves, and the purple-hued meteorological phenomenons couldn’t look more awe-inspiring,’ they wrote. 

The AV Club, however, did say it had similarities with straight-to-video films.

‘The resulting feature debut of directing team David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller is a ramshackle Franken-ship still seaworthy enough to navigate its theatrical release, but it’s got more in common with straight-to-video sequels than the clever original,’ they wrote.