‘Moana 2’ star discusses why the character is a modern-day hero princess
The protagonist of "Moana 2" possesses the extraordinary ability to traverse water and manipulate seas, but does that make her a princess? Auli’i Cravalho, the voice behind Moana in both the 2016 original and the latest sequel, suggests she's much more than that.
"Films are mirrors of their era," Cravalho expressed to EW. "In today's world, audiences yearn to witness a young woman steering the helm of her narrative," she explained. "She's a princess, indeed, but she's equally a hero. It's refreshing that these terms have become synonymous."
However, Moana defies the archetype of a conventional Disney princess. "You won't likely catch Moana clad in a ballgown," Cravalho remarked. "And that's perfectly okay."
The actress, now 24, was merely 14 when she first embodied the character. Moana's evolution in the sequel, Cravalho revealed to People, signifies a groundbreaking moment in Disney's legacy, where a princess is permitted to mature.
"My voice has evolved since portraying her at 15, and so has hers," she noted. "The songs I perform now reveal another facet of myself."
In this sequel, Cravalho shares the screen with Dwayne Johnson, Temuera Morrison, Nicole Scherzinger, Rachel House, and Alan Tudyk. "Moana 2" garnered $13.8 million during preview screenings, as reported by Variety, marking the highest preview debut for Disney Animation thus far.
