At the end ofMoana 2, the titular princess successfully revives the island of Motufetu, leading to the arrival of several boats full of strangers, and though they remain unknown to audiences, they will undoubtedly play a roleinMoana 3.Released at the tail end of 2024,Moana 2is the long-awaited sequel to Disney’s 2016 hit,Moana.In the new movie,Moana acts as the wayfinder of Motunui, and is tasked by the gods to seek out the lost island of Motufetu. By doing this, Moana can reunite the peoples of the ocean, thereby securing their futures.

Without a doubt,Moana’s adventure inMoana 2is just as dangerous and high-stakes as her first. Although she has help from her peers on Motunui, the risks the crew must face are deadly and seemingly impossible. Moana and her crew must not only pull Motufetu from the bottom of the ocean, but also face off with the island’s keeper, the evil Nalo. Ultimately, Moana succeeds at her mission, andthe end ofMoana 2implies some new changes for the franchise’s future, such as Moana’s demigod status and various boats of mysterious newcomers.

Moana clutching her necklace and looking to the horizon in Moana 2

People From Other Islands Are On The Boats In Moana 2’s Ending

Why The Other Islands & People Are Exciting

The boats at the end ofMoana 2are filled with people from other tribes around the ocean. This is the ultimate goal of Moana’s mission inMoana 2, as Motufetu connects Moana’s Motunui with other Oceanic islands, so pulling it to the surface allows these islands to be reconnected. According tothe goddess Tautai Vasa, Moana must reunite these people so that her own people can survive. Isolated as they are, it would be impossible for them to continue living without the help of other tribes. Thus,Moana’s success at Motufetu leads to these new tribes hearing Moana’s call.

The appearance of these new tribes may seem random or arbitrary to some viewers, butthey actually set up an exciting future for theMoanafranchise.Moana 2raised the stakes of the first movie by giving Moana a life-or-death task and adding even more characters from Motunui and from Polynesian folklore. Now, with the introduction of these new islanders,Moana 3has the chance to buildeven more new characters, and more importantly, new dynamics. It is no longer just Moana and her family, but people with different customs and beliefs.

Moana and Matangi during “Get Lost” in Moana 2.

Why All The Boats Are Coming To Motunui

What The Boats Symbolize For Moana

Moana 2not only shows the arrival of these boats, but also sees Moana leading them to Motunui. The reason for this is that the new islanders need to meet Moana’s people in order to create a tight-knit community. As Tautai Vasa warned, Motunui needs to unite with other tribes for survival, so it makes sense that they would try to create this connection right away.Moana 2shows through ceremony how Moana’s people and those of the other islands uniteas a single unit. By leading the boats to Motunui, Moana ensures the future of her people.

Thus,Moana 3can finally show Moana traveling to a new island just like Motunui and learning about its people, its culture, and its history.

Simea, angry with Moana for being gone for days in Moana 2

The arrival of the islanders via boats also hints at another possibility forMoana 3,which is travel to new islands. The crux of Moana’s story is her desire to see the world beyond Motunui. In the first movie, she overcomes the dangers of the ocean, and inMoana 2,she successfully reconnects Oceania. Thus,Moana 3can finally show Moana traveling to a new island just like Motunui and learning about its people, its culture, and its history. This gives the franchise far more subject matter to work with in terms of other real-life people and groups.

The People On The Boats Set Up New Characters For Moana 3

Moana 3 Will Be Very Different From The Previous Movies

The most obvious change that comes fromMoana 2’sboats is that new characters will be inevitable inMoana 3.If the franchise continues, it will have to expand on these new people and show how they are different and similar to the tribe on Motunui. Obviously,this could lead to interpersonal conflicts that would be at the center ofMoana 3,or could give Moana’s people more power against more omnipresent threats. Either way,Moana 3will have a lot more story to flesh out.

Disney Is Surely Already Setting Up Moana 3 With New Moana 2 Character

The introduction of one key character in Moana 2 seem to be Disney’s way of setting up Moana 3, continuing the story in a new yet familiar way.

Furthermore,Moana 3will be quite different from its predecessors because ofMoana’s new status. Not only did she reunite the people of Oceania, but she is now a demigod. This will undoubtedly give her new responsibilities, and may change the way people view her. She was already famous as the wayfinder, but will probably be an even bigger deal as a demigod. Thus,Moana 2sets the stage for a very interesting sequel that will be far bigger than its predecessors.

Moana 2 (2024) official poster