In the Moana franchise, the main character has notably not had a romantic interest, which is quite unexpected after two films. In the first movie, it was logical for Moana to remain without a love interest, as the narrative primarily revolves around her adventures at sea alongside Maui and Hei-Hei, leaving little room for romance.
When the film was released in 2016, it was a breath of fresh air to see a Disney Princess without a love story, especially considering that more recent films like Tangled and Frozen heavily featured romantic plots. Therefore, it seemed only natural to anticipate that Moana 2 would introduce a love interest for her.
In the promotional campaign for Moana 2, it was highlighted that Moana would be assembling a wayfinding team, leading to speculation that one of the team members might become her romantic partner. Yet, upon the film’s release, it became evident that Moana remained without a love interest.
Given Moana’s evolving role in society and the broader cast in Moana 2, introducing a romantic character would have seemed more fitting. Nevertheless, this has not occurred, and the next chance to explore a love interest for Moana is anticipated in Moana 3.
Disney Princesses Typically Feature A Romantic Interest
The Disney Princess franchise features 13 official characters, and a recurring theme among them is their frequent romantic interests. In Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Snow White does fall for a prince, but this love story takes a backseat to the main conflict involving the Evil Queen’s pursuit of her.
Similarly, in Sleeping Beauty, the romance serves as a secondary plot. In contrast, films like Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin are fundamentally driven by their romantic narratives.
In the era known as the Disney Renaissance, the studio started to create more intricate female characters. Nevertheless, many of these characters still had romantic interests, but the relationships were typically nurtured over the course of the film rather than being instant attractions.
For instance, Pocahontas and Mulan encounter significant challenges, with love developing as a secondary aspect of their journeys. In The Princess and the Frog, Tiana initially feels a sense of resentment towards Prince Naveen, and their romance unfolds gradually. Similarly, in Tangled, Rapunzel shows little interest in Flynn Rider at first.
Each Disney Princess has had a romantic partner, starting with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937 and continuing through to Tangled in 2010, highlighting the strong connection between the princesses and their love interests.
This trend has sparked considerable discussion, as it’s evident that many of the earlier Disney films often define their female leads through their relationships with men. In response, Disney sought to deepen these relationships in their more recent films, ultimately shifting away from this narrative approach with Brave.
Moana’s Lack of A Romantic Partner Aligns With The Contemporary Trend of Disney Princesses
Moana’s lack of a romantic interest is not a novel concept for Disney; rather, it aligns with a contemporary trend among Disney Princesses. Following Rapunzel, the next official addition to the Disney Princess lineup is Merida, who, in Brave, is portrayed without a love interest.
Similarly, Raya in Raya and the Last Dragon also navigates her journey without a romantic partner. Although Anna and Elsa from Frozen are not officially recognized as Disney Princesses, they exemplify this trend as well. Elsa remains without a love interest, while Anna’s initial romantic connection is revealed to be a villain, ultimately leading her to find love with Kristoff.
Several contemporary Disney films featuring female leads, which are not classified as Disney Princess movies, have also chosen to omit romantic interests. Notably, Encanto and Wish are prime examples, as neither film includes a romantic subplot for its main characters.
Although side characters in these films may have love interests, they seldom influence the central narrative. Consequently, Moana and its sequel continue this pattern, with the Moana franchise blending in rather than distinguishing itself from other recent releases.
Love Plays A Central Role In The Moana Films, Though Not In A Romantic Sense
While Moana may not have a romantic partner in the films, the theme of love remains central to the franchise. The story highlights Moana’s deep affection for her family, particularly as her determination to ensure their survival drives the plot of the second film.
Additionally, her bond with her grandmother plays a significant role in both movies. Furthermore, Moana’s passion for her culture represents another important facet of love, which is especially prominent in Moana 2.
The Moana films showcase a different dimension of love. While romantic love has been the focus of numerous Disney Princess stories, it’s invigorating to witness Moana explore an alternative perspective.
Although future projects like Moana 3 might introduce a romantic interest, the absence of one in the first two films is not felt as a loss.
Moana has taken center stage in two films, yet she has successfully sidestepped a hallmark characteristic of traditional Disney princesses. The Disney Princess franchise is nearly as legendary for the company as Mickey Mouse, with its roster of princesses tracing back to Disney’s inaugural animated feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
As one of the newest members of the Disney Princess lineup, Moana has had the opportunity to evolve over two films, but neither Moana nor its sequel, Moana 2, has conferred upon her this particular Disney Princess trait.
In 2016, Moana launched a fresh franchise for Disney, perfectly positioned for growth as Walt Disney Animation Studios shifted its focus towards sequels. The release of Moana 2 in 2024 confirmed the wisdom of this strategy. Although the sequel didn’t receive the same level of critical acclaim as the original, it achieved remarkable success at the Box Office.
Currently, a live-action adaptation of Moana is in development, and it’s clear that more films featuring Moana will follow, especially considering the intriguing post-credits scene from the sequel. While Moana 2 has introduced significant developments for the character, it has notably sidestepped one major aspect.