Moana 2

The trailer for the plainly-titled Moana 2 dropped this past summer, focusing more on dialogue and exposition than any particular musical conceit or foregrounded editing decisions—as a result, it’s a trailer that feels safe, if not entirely memorable. Still, the music here fulfils its task and gives a clear indication of what people can expect from the soundtrack, so there’s something to be said for an edit and music supervision choices that wear a kind of honesty to them.

The first sequences features a takeout where it sounds like Moana is running from a fearsome creature, which turns out to be a small pig on the run. At 0:14 we get the first track, which sounds in keeping with Moana’s inspiration from diverse Polynesian cultures, and Hawaiian culture in particular. A choir is flanked by tubular bells and other epic accoutrements (such as, of course, percussion), as the trailer follows Moana providing some exposition. Notice how the soundtrack takes a triumphant turn at 0:38 as she blows the conch, only to take an ominous turn at 0:48.

At 0:52 we hear a heavenly, clear major triad in in the upper registers of the choir in tandem with the release date title card (Thanksgiving), reverting to more choral chants with percussive accents as we’re treated to further exposition. Notice the prolonged cadence at 1:33 as Moana promises “I’ll be back”, set against an action montage, leading up to the somwhat humorous introduction of the Kakamora (what looks to be coconuts inhabited by spirits) at 1:44.

Overall, it’s light fare, never veering too far into drama, action, comedy, or otherwise, instead providing some editing markers that touch on facets of these genres without leaning fully into one or the other. Appropriate as franchise family fare, the trailer seems more concerned with (re)introducing some of the key characters, seeing as it has been eight years since the original movie.

Moana 2 arrives in theatres November 27th.

— Curtis Perry