Disney The Art of Moana 2

Good book
Very beautiful

Moana 2 Artbook Promises Depth—But Is It Just Shallow Waters on Green Screen? Brutally Honest Review
Sometimes I think that after 2020, the world took a wrong turn, and now we’re living in an alternate timeline where everything we once loved has changed… or maybe mutated? Many beloved franchises have lost their authenticity, depth, and emotional resonance, and nowhere is that more apparent than in Disney’s animated films. Raya and the Last Dragon (2021), Encanto (2021), Strange World (2022), Wish (2023)—each one felt weaker than the animations from the past decades, lacking the magic that once defined Disney’s golden era. They follow the trends, but somehow, they end up out of the trend. So, is Moana 2 any different? I turned to The Art of Moana 2 to find out, hoping for a glimpse into the creative heart of the film. Unfortunately, what I found instead was a book that, much like the movie itself, struggles to recapture the magic of its predecessor.★★★★☆ ArtFrom the cover, it’s unmistakably Moana—a tribute to the ocean’s vastness and beauty. The pages are filled with vibrant, richly colored images, yet something feels missing. Compared to The Art of Moana (2016), which I flipped through right after this one, the uniqueness and visual storytelling are dialed down. Many images are printed across two-page spreads, yet they don’t have the level of intricacy that justifies such treatment (you can see it in a couple of attached images). The first book had an abundance of character development sketches, showing how Moana, Maui, and the rest of the cast evolved through multiple iterations. Here, we’re mostly looking at the same characters, just three years older, and the updates are underwhelming.The new additions, like Matangi and her flying fox Peka, are described as iconic Disney archetypes, yet they don’t leave a lasting impression. Meanwhile, the extensive focus on traditional Polynesian clothing designs—while a testament to cultural authenticity—sometimes makes the book feel more like a Pacific fashion catalog than an adventure film companion. And then there’s the main antagonist, Nalo, the god of storms and the storm himself—a presence so forgettable that you could easily flip past his pages without noticing. A far cry from Te Kā, the visually stunning volcanic villain from the first film.That said, the book isn’t completely devoid of interesting designs. The Giant Clam, Kotu is intriguing, a couple of monster concepts stand out, and the blobfish—yes, a blobfish—wins my personal award for best design. But overall, I felt starved for standout concept art, particularly the fascinating work-in-progress sketches that make other Art of Disney books so compelling.★★☆☆☆ TextIf I had to sum up the writing in this book in one phrase, it would be reluctant storytelling. Yes, the main focus of an Art of book is the visuals, but the best ones also tell a story, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process. This book does the bare minimum.The first Moana art book detailed the creative team’s research trips to the Pacific Islands, their immersion in the culture, and the painstaking effort that went into shaping each character and setting. Here? A handful of short quotes, mostly consisting of self-congratulatory statements about how wonderful it was to work on such an amazing project. There’s little insight into the development of the characters, the struggles of the animation process, or the deeper storytelling choices. If you’re looking for a rich, immersive look into Moana 2’s creation, you won’t find it here.★★★★☆ Book DesignOne thing Disney and Chronicle Books consistently get right is the design of their Art of books. Or is it better to say they don’t break what works? This one matches the format of previous releases, making it a seamless addition to any collection. The layout is clean, the font selection fits the theme, and the images are well-placed.However, the flimsy dust jacket remains a persistent issue in this series. It wears out quickly, and without it, the hardcover beneath is disappointingly plain—just an embossed logo with no title. Given how stunning Disney’s animation is, you’d expect a little more effort on the physical presentation.★★★☆☆ PriceThe book is currently priced at around $35, which is standard for a new Disney Art of book. However, if you’re willing to wait a few months, pre-owned copies will likely drop to $20–$25. I bought mine for $22.49 + tax and shipping, which felt more reasonable given the content.★★★☆☆ Overall ImpressionsEvery year, I come back to the same realization: after 2020, pop culture entered its own “Phase Four” of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Disney and other major companies seem creatively lost, recycling old ideas instead of pushing boundaries. And The Art of Moana 2 is a perfect example of this struggle.It’s not an original masterpiece. It’s a sequel, and while it looks impressive—Disney’s animation tech remains top-tier, water here is as as believable as in real life and it is a whole new character—the soul, the depth, the meaning just aren’t there. The ocean, which once felt infinite and full of mystery, now seems strangely shallow.And I wanted to be wrong. I wanted this book to prove me wrong. But instead of uncovering a treasure trove of creative insights, I found oversized images that didn’t need to be that big, a lack of raw concept work, and a text section that treacherously says almost nothing, especially if compared to other Disney art-of books had, just remember The Art of Up or even the first Moana’s book. Sure, there are some bright spots and Don Quixote-like rays of creativity—glowing whale sharks, a blobfish, an eerie two-headed bird monster named Sisters—but in the end, I felt like the book would unveil all the secrets of the deep blue ocean, but it only gave me a sneak peek at how the creative team was swimming near the coast while developing Moana 2.