Moana (2016) was a smash hit for Disney when it released, the franchise’s popularity wavered slightly in 2024 when Moana 2 released, and now that we’ve got the live action remake of the first movie, people are questioning if this was really needed.
Film News Blitz writer Jude Chisman asks the question, was it too early for us to see the world of Moana come to life, and if so, why?
Why are fans saying it’s too soon?
Well, for a start, the sequel to Moana came out just two years earlier in 2024, making for an incredibly quick turn-around, the sequel and the original had an eight-year gap between the two which is in comparison: a pretty respectable time difference.
This newest installment is also only 10 years after the original, this is unusually soon for a Disney live action film.
The live action Alice in Wonderland released 59 years after the animation, Mulan was 22 years, Cinderella 65 years and Beauty and the Beast starring Emma Watson came out 26 years later.
Obviously those animations are all a lot older than Moana, and Disney have entered a phase of wanting a live action of all their classics, but there are still many Disney films waiting to receive an adaptation that came out before Moana.
2009’s Princess and the Frog, 2010’s Tangled, 1995’s Pocahontas (this one may never see the light of day, and for fair reason), and 1997’s Hercules to name a few.
Alongside wanting these earlier films adapted first, fans have jokingly claimed that if you can have the original voice actor for Maui (Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson) reprise his role in live action, then it’s too early.
Audiences haven’t had time to miss the series yet and this extra addition feels unnecessary and more like a cash grab rather than a reinvention of a beloved film for new audiences.
What has been the reaction to the film?
It’s fairly safe to say that the main reception of the film has been negative, but this isn’t just about the date of release.
Audiences have critiqued the ‘overuse’ and reliance on CGI to capture the essence of the original.
The ‘artificial’ feel of the film works strongly against the very core idea behind the film in the first place.
Moana plot
If you’re unfamiliar with the story of Moana – it follows a teenage girl (Moana) and the demigod Maui on their journey to restore the ‘Heart of Te Fiti’.
Te Fiti is a sentient island who serves as a Mother Nature figure in the story.
She has the power to bring life to the land and the ocean, and restoring the heart restores life on the island in the form of lush vegetation and overall peace.
This works for the animation as of course it looks artificial – no one goes into that film wanting realism, but the live action falls short as the colours look desaturated and the island looks painfully out of place.
Not to be ignored, the wig they placed on Johnson’s head may also take you out of the immersion.
Talking about capturing the essence of the original, fans have stated that the film appears to be a ‘lazy’ shot-for-shot remake of the animated version, begging the question: what does this version add on to the story?
This certainly isn’t the first Disney live action film to come under fire in recent years, considering the reactions to both The Little Mermaid (2023) and Snow White (2025), and will undoubtedly not be the last.
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