'The ocean unites us

Directors Dana Ledoux Miller and David G Jerrick Jr, along with producer Yvett Merino, get candid about their upcoming animated film Moana 2, its humanistic themes, and more

- AKSHAY KUMAR

Moana and Maui, after eight years, are once again ready to take us on a seafaring adventure. Moana 2 will have the titular character take the help of the shapeshifting Polynesian God, played by Dwayne Johnson, to break the curse of God Nalo on Motufetu Island, which once connected the people of the ocean.

The film's co-director and screenplay writer, Dana Ledoux Miller, explains how the theme of the film draws upon her affinity to her Pacific Island community. She says, "In thinking about what Moana's continued story might be, I thought a lot about what it means to be a Pacific Islander. Our lives are built around community and connection. There's a phrase that's often used in the Pacific, and it's been said by many people: 'The ocean isn't what separates us; it's what connects us.' That always resonated with me." She adds that it is an incredible responsibility, both towards the characters and her community.