Moana 2 (2025)

Description

Moana 2 – Blu-ray Disc Review

Disney / Buena Vista | 1080p Blu-ray (Part of 4K UHD Combo Set) | Released: March 18, 2025

Disc Specs (Blu-ray)

• Disc type: BD-50
• Resolution: 1080p HD
• Aspect Ratio: 2.00:1
• Codec: AVC MPEG-4
• Region Coding: Region Free
• Audio:
  • English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
  • French, Spanish, Japanese: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
• Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish, Japanese.

VIDEO QUALITY: ★★★★★ (5/5)

Though not in 4K, the 1080p Blu-ray presentation of Moana 2 is absolutely gorgeous, with top-tier clarity, bold colors, and impeccable animation detail.

Highlights:

• Sharpness & Detail: Fine texture on Moana’s clothing, sand granules, Maui’s tattoos, and water animation are remarkably crisp for HD.
• Color Reproduction: Bursting with vibrant hues—brilliant teals, lush greens, and glowing oranges dominate without oversaturation.
• Compression: Absolutely no artifacts. This is a clean, high-bitrate encode that handles even complex sequences like ocean swells and fast sailing without breaking a sweat.
• Black Levels & Contrast: Excellent — shadows look rich and natural, and bright skies are luminous without blooming.

A demo-quality Blu-ray for animated content — families and animation lovers will be thrilled with the results even without 4K.

AUDIO QUALITY: ★★★★★ (5/5)

The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 mix on the Blu-ray is dynamic, immersive, and emotionally engaging, even if it lacks the verticality of the 4K disc’s Dolby Atmos.

Audio Experience:

• Musical Sequences: Full-bodied, with wonderful separation of instruments and vocals — very theatrical.
• Ambient Sound: Surround channels are alive with weather, animals, and sea sounds.
• Dialog Clarity: Excellent mix placement, always centered and clear.
• Bass Impact: Powerful, especially in large set pieces and action-driven moments.

For 7.1 setups, this track delivers the goods with energy and precision, worthy of the film’s sweeping scale and musical storytelling.

SPECIAL FEATURES (Blu-ray Disc Only)

All bonus content resides on this Blu-ray disc (the 4K disc includes only a song-selection menu).

Featurettes & Extras:

• Call of The Wayfinder (12:17)
  A heartfelt documentary highlighting real-life seafaring traditions and how they influenced the movie’s portrayal of Polynesian navigation.
• A New Voyage (15:36)
  Reflections on the impact of the first film and the aspirations behind this sequel.
• Songs of the Sea (13:28)
  A behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the soundtrack, vocal sessions, and musical influences.
• Join the Crew (11:40)
  Explores the new ensemble of characters and the expanded adventure dynamic.
• ️ Kakamora Chronicles (4:33)
  A whimsical animated short focused on the pint-sized pirate tribe — fun for younger viewers.
• ️ Fun in the Booth (3:08)
  Lighthearted bloopers and antics from the voice cast during recording.
• ✂️ Deleted Scenes (14:35)
  Includes optional intros from the film’s three directors — a peek at ideas that didn’t make the final cut.
• Song Selection Menu
  Instantly jump to any musical number with a “Play All” option — very family friendly.

OVERALL SCORE: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)

Final Thoughts

While Moana 2 may not rewrite the Disney formula, it celebrates it beautifully with stunning animation, memorable songs, and a warm message about identity and community. The Blu-ray disc is top-tier, offering near-reference HD visuals, robust audio, and a solid slate of extras for fans and families alike.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for Disney collectors and home theater enthusiasts—even if you don’t have a 4K player, this Blu-ray will more than satisfy.