In a candid and insightful conversation, I spoke with directors David Derrick Jr. and Jason Hand about the creative journey behind Moana 2. From worn-out VHS tapes to reimagining a global Disney franchise, their behind-the-scenes experiences offer a deeper look at how a story evolves, adapts, and ultimately finds its truest form.
Disney Nostalgia That Sparked a Dream
We kicked things off by diving into their earliest Disney memories. Both filmmakers grew up during the VHS era, completely enamored with Disney classics.
“Yes, we’re old. VHS. For me, the connection is the Ron and John film, who also directed the first Moana, is The Little Mermaid. I watched that movie. I know every word. I loved it so much that I wore out my VHS for sure. And it sort of becomes like a part of your life, honestly. It’s like, you know, when a great song happens and is incorporated into your life. I feel that way about films as well, and so I think that really happens once it’s released for people to have at home and be able to watch on repeat or watch their favorite parts.”
For David Derrick Jr., the impact of The Little Mermaid was lifelong. That kind of deep emotional connection to animation planted seeds that would one day grow into the very work he now creates. It’s a poetic full-circle moment—a child rewinding a tape until it breaks, now directing stories that today’s children will rewatch endlessly on Disney+.
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“Growing up, for me, it was Bambi, Jungle Book, even Lion King, 101 Dalmatians. Oh, man, I watched those just nonstop. And when DVDs came out, it was Tarzan. I was like a student, and then I realized, like, oh my gosh, they’re sharing so many behind-the-scenes moments. I realized, wait, artists make this. And it actually helped me find my path, ultimately, you know, to CalArts, where you and I met.”
Jason Hand had a similar awakening—but it came from DVD special features. The bonus content didn’t just entertain; it inspired him to become a storyteller. His love for process and artistry began with watching “how it’s made” clips and evolved into making Disney magic himself. And something you can feel influenced Moana 2.
Deleted Scenes, Two-Headed Birds, and Bonus Gems
As someone who grew up obsessed with DVD extras, I asked if they ever imagined those while creating. David shared how those moments emerge organically.
“I don’t think about it in the process. Like, you know, I think we are so present in the making of it and the creative wrestle. I’m so glad that, you know, people are recording things and, you know, like, you know, keeping it for posterity. But yeah, I just get obsessed with just the problem at hand, and I can’t see too far ahead.”
They may not plan them, but the deleted scenes often reveal a different side of the creative process. One of the wildest ideas that didn’t make the final cut? A bird with not one—but two heads.
“There are some real gems, like, there is this giant two-headed bird that falls in love with the canoe. It was the weirdest scene, very comedic, ultimately didn’t fit. But you can see how, you know, we were finding out who the crew was and how they could work independent from Moana. Because, you know, in the first film, it was really just Moana and then Maui and how they fed off of each other. And so to figure out how the others would thrive on the screen was very important.”
This moment may have been cut from Moana 2, but it reveals something critical: their focus on giving the supporting characters real agency and dynamic roles in Moana’s world.
Another gem lies in the music.
“If you love the songs of Moana, to see a couple of the sequences that we had to change and cut, there’s an incredible song, ‘Two Pieces of Me,’ that Moana sings that was pretty far along, but we ultimately had to change it. But that’s such an incredible song still to this day. I love it. So I would recommend, especially if you love the songs, to go watch that and listen to that one.”
Fans who connected with the original soundtrack should make a point to seek out this number. Even though it didn’t make the final film, it’s a powerful expression of Moana’s internal journey.
The Moana TV Series That Became a Feature Film, Moana 2
Perhaps the most fascinating part of our conversation was the reveal that Moana 2 wasn’t always meant to be a feature film.
“It was interesting because when we were working on the series, that was new for us. We had worked our whole careers in feature film. We were very excited to expand the literal world of Moana and her story in that format. But then ultimately, as we kept screening our story that we thought of just as an overarching story that had all the main elements that the movie has of Moana finding Motufeitu, reuniting the ocean and the peoples of the ocean, her little sister.
It really wanted to be a movie. Everyone would say after we would screen it, this is a movie. Ultimately, we agreed with that and we’re so glad everyone else at Disney did too because it allowed us to make the biggest movie possible.”
Moana 2‘s shift to feature format wasn’t just logistical—it was organic. The story insisted on becoming something bigger. But that didn’t make the transformation easy.
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“It wasn’t too much of a leap for the idea of it to become a feature, but then there was a lot of hard work and streamlining we had to do to really get the best version of that story, really had to pare it back to really what Moana is going through in her point of view. But I ultimately think all of those pieces ended up being what they should have been all along.”
Refining episodic beats into one cohesive narrative took time, intention, and bold decisions. The result, though, is a sharper, more emotionally resonant story that centers on character and purpose.
“We were trying to get to that core of why each one of these crew members is on the journey, why Simea is such an important character, and all those pieces just ended up being their best self in the feature version, the film version of it. But yeah, there was a great deal of work that Dana and Jared as writers had to do to reorganize what we had to make it fit into that format.”
By focusing on character motivation and relational dynamics, the team turned a multi-episode arc into a story worthy of the big screen.
The Story That Found Its True Form
Our conversation was filled with deeply personal stories about the movies that shaped them, rare insight into what it takes to transition a story from TV to film, and the creative heartbreak that comes with letting go of something you love for the sake of a better whole.
From a hilariously bizarre deleted scene featuring a two-headed bird to a stunning Moana solo that didn’t make the final cut, David Derrick Jr. and Jason Hand offered a rare look into the soul of Moana 2. If you’re fascinated by the creative process or just want to understand how great stories become unforgettable films, you’ll want to watch the full interview.
Figure out if that scene would be better yourself now that Moana 2 is now streaming on Disney+ and available to bring home on 4K, Blu-Ray, and DVD.
About Moana 2
U.S. Release Date: Now Streaming on Disney+ and Available for Home Media
Directed by: David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, Dana Ledoux Miller
Produced by: Christina Chen, Yvett Merino
Executive produced by: Jennifer Lee, Jared Bush and Dwayne Johnson
Music by: Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, Opetaia Foa‘i, Mark Mancina
Voice Cast: Auli‘i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Rachel House, Temuera Morrison, Nicole Scherzinger, Hualālai Chung, David Fane, Rose Matafeo, Awhimai Fraser, Gerald Ramsey, Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda
SYNOPSIS:
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ epic animated musical “Moana 2” reunites Moana (voice of Auli‘i Cravalho) and Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson) three years later for an expansive new voyage alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers. After receiving an unexpected call from
Are You Ready for Moana 2? What song are you most excited to hear? What are your favorite DVD extras? Share your thoughts, your food recs, and your favorite moments with us on social media.
KEEP READING: MOANA 2 REVIEW – A Captivating Return to the Seas with Stunning Visuals and Heartfelt Adventure
