This 97% Animated Movie Nominated For Two Oscars Is A Great Watch After Moana 2

Published Dec 7, 2024

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Moana 2 is the direct sequel to Disney's beloved modern animated film about a young woman who ventures deep into the seas of Oceania, and already proving to be one of 2024's biggest hits. Moana 2 opened to an excellent box office performance and is being praised by critics and audiences as a suitable continuation of this popular family-friendly story, developing the universe's mythos with new characters, new music, and some familiar returning faces. The film's success is a welcome reminder that there's always a place for fun, creative sequels in today's filmmaking landscape.

But Moana 2's success is also an excellent excuse to return to some films from previous years that have adopted shared themes and navigated them with similar characters. Kubo and the Two Strings is a perfect example of this: the stop-motion project has lots in common with both Moana movies, and while it was overshadowed by the louder, more popular Disney releases, the film deserves much credit for its buckets of creativity and rich storytelling. It's one of the best animated movies of the 2010s, and Moana 2's success marks the perfect time to rewatch it.

Kubo & The Two Strings Has Similar Themes To The Moana Movies

There are countless similarities between Kubo and the Two Strings and both Moana movies, not just in their target audience and animated medium, but also in the themes that are explored in both narratives. They are each a tale of exploration and magic, following two young protagonists who discover their place in the world by coming face-to-face with creatures and mythologies much larger than themselves.

A composite image of Moana holding an oar in front of Moana and Maui riding on a boat from the poster for Moana 2

Moana 2: Everything You Need To Know

Managing to outdo the extremely popular first film, Disney's Moana 2 is already one of the studio's most successful sequels of all time.

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Despite their epic scales and powerful characters, both films have extremely relatable and intimate stories about family and coming of age. They're down-to-earth and grounded in a way that many films about magic and mythology can't quite manage, which was a key factor in their relative success. This is why Kubo and The Two Strings is still hailed with a 97% fresh success on Moana 2 has broken so many commercial records already. Both films are so easy for younger audiences to attach themselves to and feel seen by with resonant struggles.

Kubo & The Two Strings Has Rich Cultural Commentary Like Moana

The Kubo & Moana Films Are Inspired By Different Mythologies

Kubo and Moana 2 have a source material similarity that binds them together, as they both explore cultural legends that are important to specific locations. The former offers a fresh, innovative look at the enchanting mythologies of ancient Japan, while the latter is an energetic and creative spin on classic Polynesian legends that are still alive today. These huge blockbuster releases give a voice to these myths and legends that weren't previously well-known in the West, which it's so important that they have been widely accepted across the world.