From CNBC:

Disney Animation has announced a sequel to the hit film “Moana,” set to be released in theaters over Thanksgiving. The decision to make a sequel comes after the original “Moana” was named the top-streamed film aimed at kids and families in 2023, with 11.6 billion minutes of viewing.

The untitled sequel to “Moana” was originally developed as a series, but Disney CEO Bob Iger was impressed with what he saw and decided it deserved a theatrical release. This announcement comes as Disney’s animation studios have struggled at the box office in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The decision to focus on streaming content on Disney+ during the pandemic has trained parents to seek out new Disney titles on streaming platforms, rather than in theaters. This has led to no Disney animated feature from Pixar or Walt Disney Animation generating more than $480 million at the global box office since 2019.

The new “Moana” sequel will arrive about six months after the theatrical release of “Inside Out 2,” a sequel to the hit 2015 animated film “Inside Out.” The move to focus on beloved sequels and revamp their approach could be the transformation needed for Disney’s animation studios to regain their previous success.



Read more: Disney is releasing a ‘Moana’ sequel in theaters this Thanksgiving