‘Moana 2:’ A Look Into Its New Music & Characters With Its Directors | Billboard News - video Dailymotion

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‘Moana 2’ is in theatres this week, and we go behind the scenes with directors Dana Ledoux Miller, Jason Hand, David G Derrick who share more about new characters, new music and more!

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00:00I sat down with the directors of Moana 2 to talk about new characters in the film.

00:04And I love that we have Simea and she is both an emotional connection for Moana

00:10but a symbol of the future for her people.

00:12How it shifted from a TV series to the big screen.

00:16I can't wait for everybody to see it. Honestly, it's awesome.

00:18And I turned into a voice actor for the day.

00:22It's Motu Fetu. We found it.

00:26Really quickly.

00:30I know what I have to do.

00:33Mowi, I could really use your help.

00:40Can I get a chee-hoo?

00:42Now, I'm going to start off with something hopefully simple but challenges you a little bit.

00:46Describe Moana 2 in one sentence.

00:48Mali, Moana and a crew go on an epic new journey together with some new friends.

00:54Those aren't people.

00:57Kakum.

00:58There's so many new amazing characters.

01:00So the first one I want to talk to you guys about is her little sister.

01:03Because Moana is such an iconic character.

01:05So to bring a little sister in is a big deal.

01:07So how did you approach bringing her character to the screen?

01:10We really wanted to show a way that Moana could have

01:13something for her people to look forward to in the future.

01:17And I'd love that we have Simea and she is both an emotional connection for Moana

01:22but a symbol of the future for her people.

01:25And then let's talk about the music, obviously.

01:26I'm here for Billboard.

01:27So talk to me about the soundtrack.

01:29And of course, Lin-Manuel was at the helm at the beginning.

01:31And now we have these bright new talents that did an amazing job.

01:34So tell me how it was to approach the writing of the music with a different team this time.

01:38We're so fortunate to have Abigail Barlow and Emily Fair as our songwriters.

01:42But they're working hand-in-hand with Mark Mancina and Opetiah Fawai

01:46who really were integral in creating the sound of the first film.

01:50They write incredible songs but it comes from a place of real,

01:54they immediately said to us that they understand Moana

01:57because they are literally living this same aspect of their lives.

02:01They've had this incredible success and now there's pressure that comes along with that.

02:06And they really tapped into that.

02:08And I think through that, they were able to write incredible songs for Moana

02:12and for these incredible new characters like Matangi,

02:15who you didn't hear today but you will hear

02:17and everybody is going to love this new song that they wrote.

02:20When they brought back,

02:21I am Moana.

02:22I am Moana.

02:26Chills, chills, chills. So good.

02:28What's one of your favorite musical moments in the movie?

02:30There are two very powerful moments that Opetiah Fawai has written.

02:36One that you saw, Farewell to Thee, the entire community,

02:41wishing and giving Moana the strength to go on this voyage.

02:44And there's another one towards the end of the film that is so powerful.

02:48And those are like my favorite musical moments.

02:51Finally, we're back to who we're meant to be.

02:55We know that this came from a series and was adapted to a movie.

02:58So tell me what changed or what was one of the bigger parts

03:01that you saw when you transitioned it to the big screen?

03:03A lot of work was done on the series.

03:05And what was so exciting about that is that's where we discovered all these new characters.

03:09And it was really just about the shift to making the feature

03:13was really just about pushing everything to be bigger, to be funnier,

03:18to really live up to the biggest screens in the world.

03:22Were the songs in the original series?

03:24Some of them were.

03:24And then there were some that were obviously written as we evolved the story going forward.

03:28I think that's the other aspect of the songs that are so incredible is

03:32from a visual standpoint, we get to really go crazy with the visuals.

03:35We have an incredible new Maui song that we just have been finishing up in production.

03:40And it's so freaking fun.

03:41And at the same time, just a visual feast.

03:45So I think the songs not only tell the story, but allow us to really push the visuals.

03:49And as we were able to transition this from a series to a feature,

03:53we were able just to put as much just firepower behind all of these moments.

03:57So I can't wait for everybody to see it.

03:59Honestly, it's awesome.

04:01And I want to take you guys out of your job for a second,

04:03because I said earlier, I'm a Disney adult.

04:05You know, we all are very happy to be there.

04:07And I think about my moments with Moana, whether in a parade in the park or the fireworks.

04:11So what's a real-life moment that you've encountered a fan or in the parks,

04:15maybe, that really stuck out to you that you realized, wow, Moana is like a massive deal?

04:19I was going to the theater the other day.

04:21And right in front of me was this little girl and her dad.

04:24And she saw the poster.

04:25I knows nothing about me standing behind them, walking up to the movie theater.

04:29And she just grabbed her dad's arm and yanked on it.

04:31It's so excited.

04:32Said, I can't wait to see Moana 2.

04:34That was incredible.

04:35It was seriously such an amazing moment to just witness.

04:38And I felt so proud, honestly.

04:41I've seen a bunch of my cousins recently and a bunch of family members.

04:44And they are so excited about this film because they love Moana.

04:49But they're also just so excited.

04:51I don't come from a community that knows anyone that makes big movies.

04:54And so the fact that we get to share this together, it changes the way we think about things.

04:59And I think it's incredible when you're in the park

05:02and you see how people interact with Moana there.

05:05It really is something that even my seven-year-old son, he's a little boy.

05:12But he looks up to Moana.

05:13And he'll say, I'm strong like Moana.

05:15And I love that Moana can be that for everybody.

05:18So you can take a piece from home.

05:24After chatting with the directors, I got the chance to jump into the recording booth

05:28to see what the life of a voice actor is really like.

05:31Do I need a new job?

05:32All right, let's do it.

05:33Let's go.

05:34Yes, sir.

05:35It's Motu Fetu.

05:47We found it.

05:49Really quickly.

05:50Do I hear people?

05:55That's no island.

05:58And those aren't people.

06:02Kakamora!

06:06Okay, we've got to go.

06:24I know I can't wait for Moana 2.

06:26Make sure you check out the film when it hits theaters on November 27th.

‘Moana 2:’ A Look Into Its New Music & Characters With Its Directors | Billboard News

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