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Auli’i Cravalho Reacts to New ‘Moana 2’ Toys Before the Sequel Splashes Into Theaters in November (Exclusive)

Danielle Directo-Meston

Sun, September 29, 2024 at 11:00 AM UTC

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Auli’i Cravalho is giving Moana fans a sneak peek of the Disney film’s newest merch before the wayfarer princess of Motonui sets sail for the big screen this fall.

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Ahead of Moana 2‘s theatrical release on Nov. 27, Cravalho (who returns as the voice of Moana) unveils the sequel’s upcoming toys with no shortage of “oohs,” “ahhhs” and “wows” in an unboxing video premiering exclusively on The Hollywood Reporter above. The 23-year-old Hawaii-born star showcases a slew of holiday-ready products, including a new version of the Disney princess’ light-up shell necklace and a squeaking figurine of Moana’s pet rooster, Hei Hei (“Alan Tudyk would be proud!,” she exclaims), by Jakks Pacific; and a singing Moana doll and canoe playset by Mattel.

“Okay, first of all, she has a lei po’o on [and] the iconic necklace,” Cravalho says of the traditional Hawaiian floral crown on her singing Moana doll. As for the toy’s vocal chops? “Oh! Wow! Ah! You sound good!”

The Mattel and Jakks Pacific items are among the upcoming releases for Moana 2, including a new American Girl doll with accessories, Funko Pop! vinyl figurines, Lego building sets, Popsockets phone accessories and more. Select products are now available online at Target, Amazon, Walmart and other retailers, and will land on brick-and-mortar shelves beginning in October.

Moana 2 follows Moana (Cravalho) three years after the first film and sees her reuniting with the Hawaiian god, Maui (Dwayne Johnson) for an exciting new ocean voyage at the call of her ancestor, Tautai Vasa (Gerald Ramsey). The sequel introduces Moana’s little sister, Simea (Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda) and a new crew of budding seafarers (voiced by Hualālai Chung, David Fane and Rose Matafeo). Per the film’s logline, “After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced.”

Returning stars Rachel House (Tala, Moana’s grandmother), Temuera Morrison (Chief Tui, Moana’s father) and Nicole Scherzinger (Sina, Moana’s mother) also reprise their roles in the sequel. Directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller, Moana 2 will feature music by Grammy-winning musicians Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear (of the TikTok-famous Unofficial Bridgerton Musical album), three-time Grammy winner Mark Mancina and Grammy nominee Opetaia Foa’i.

In May, Moana 2 set the record for the most-watched trailer in Disney Animation and Pixar’s history. Though Cravalho voices the film’s adventurous protagonist, she won’t be playing her in the live-action version. (She did, however, star as Ariel in a live-action special of The Little Mermaid Live! in 2019.)

“As an executive producer on the film, I cannot wait to help find the next actress to portray Moana’s courageous spirit, undeniable wit and emotional strength,” Cravalho announced on Instagram Reels in 2013. I’m truly honored to pass this baton to the next young woman of Pacific Island descent to honor our incredible peoples, cultures and communities that help inspire her story.”

She explained the move earlier this year at the second annual Pasifika Entertainment Advancement Komiti Conversations panel. “Receiving that role when I was 14, I didn’t fully realize how much would be put on my shoulders. For me to be a representative of all the Pacific is simply incorrect, so I look forward to seeing more faces in the crowd, and, importantly, more faces behind the camera, in the writers room, as showrunners, as producers, as industry leaders, because having to answer everyone’s questions is too much,” she said.

Watch Cravalho’s unboxing video above and the official Moana 2 trailer below, and keep scrolling to shop the Disney sequel’s new products, including toys, books, costume accessories and more.