For years, Disney has built upon its empire of beloved Disney princesses. However, with the recent release of Moana 2, it seems as though the company may be heading in a new direction with its female characters.
Moana 2 is the long-awaited sequel to 2016’s Moana. In the latest installment, Moana teams up with a group of her friends to go on a quest to revive a sunken island that will reconnect the people of the ocean. Along the way, the titular character reunites with her old demigod pal, Maui.
The move from princess to superhero is very compelling for Disney for a multitude of reasons. Focusing on these characters’ powers and independence is a great theme for young audiences, and it creates a significant improvement on Disney’s more romance-focused stories, which saw female characters in more vulnerable roles.
The end of Moana 2 sees Moana go even further when she becomes a demigod. Now, Moana’s already impressive powers have been amplified, and she will presumably gain even more abilities, such as immortality. Moana may just be the strongest Disney princess out there.
Moana’s transition into a fantastical superhero isn’t the first example of this change either. Frozen revolves heavily around Elsa’s ice powers, which she eventually learns how to control through love and honesty. However, Frozen 2 does not stop there. In the sequel, Elsa becomes even more powerful than before, gaining the ability to ride the wind like a horse and connect with the powers of her land.
The Drawback Of Princess Superheroes is that Disney may struggle to keep their characters interesting and powerful, as Moana’s immortality creates a bleak challenge for the company, as Moana cannot outlive everyone she loves.
In conclusion, Disney’s princesses are no longer just princesses, they are superheroes. The move from princess to superhero is a great step forward for the company, providing a new theme for young audiences and creating new opportunities for Disney’s movies.
