Moana is a Disney Princess unlike many of her predecessors.

She is not waiting for Prince Charming.

Instead, Moana takes the helm of a large catamaran-style wooden vessel and skims atop the waves as she searches for a way to bring her ancestral Polynesian people together.

Moana is a so-called way finder. It’s an appropriate name. “Moana 2” found its way to the top of the movie box office, where the feature animated film has been No. 1 for three weeks in a row and has out-grossed the original “Moana,” released in 2016, and is still counting.

There are numerous reasons for the success of ”Moana 2.” The Walt Disney Animation Studios animation is superb. The character animation is vivid, especially the facial expressions. The movie-goer can relate to the emotions of the lead characters.

Bright colors enliven the screen with splashes of aquamarine for the anthropomorphic sea, which reaches out, touches, teases and playfully envelops Moana, her family and friends. The island stretches as far as the eye can see. The green jungle foliage is lush. Islands rise in the mist in the midst of the ocean.

The animation is a work of art. Scenes shift, camera angles in the animators’ eyes and hands and through computer-generated imagery are bold and the editing is swift. The overall sensibility is one of joy, triumph and is uplifting.

The exception in “Moana 2” are mid-film sequences, which plunge the characters into a dark, other-worldly vortex where they are attacked by bats and a hideous sea creature that resembles the “Alien” (1979) xenomorph inspired by Swiss surrealist artist H. R. Giger (Oscar recipient, visual effects, “Alien,” 1980).

Another weird, if comically-weird, element in “Moana 2” are the Kakamora, pirates in the shape of coconuts. One of them, Kotu, helps Moana.

The storyline for the “Moana” movies is based on Polynesian mythology. Moana is a tribal chieftain. Maui is a mythical Polynesian demigod. The setting is the Pacific Ocean on the fictional island of Motunui. The island nations of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga lend elements to the story and inhabitants. The story takes place about 2,000 years ago.

In “Moana 2,” Moana (voiced by Auliʻi Cravalho, reprising her role) is reunited with the demigod Maui (voiced by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, reprising his role).

Moana and her crew, Loto (Rose Matafeo), Moni (Hualālai Chung), Keke (David Fane) and pet pig Pua and rooster Heihei (Alan Tudyk) sail on an ocean journey to discover the lost island of Motufetu, which has a curse and has sunk to the bottom of the sea.

Moana and her crew battle the sea, its creatures, the storm god Nalo, tangle with Matangi (Awhimai Fraser) and, of course, perform several Broadway style production number show tunes.

Notable characters include Moana’s father Chief Tui (Temuera Morrison), Moana’s mother Sina (Nicole Scherzinger) and grandmother ghost Tala (Rachel House). A cute addition to the cast is Moana’s younger sister Simea (Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda).

“Moana 2” is directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller (their feature directorial debuts) from a screenplay by Jared Bush (screenwriter, “Zootopia,” 2016) and Miller.

Auliʻi Cravalho is splendid in voice and song as Moana, including “We’re Back” (music and lyrics by Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear) accompanied by the Pacific Choral Vocals (written and arranged by Opetaia Foa’i.) “Moana 2” has several Polynesian songs by Opetaia Foa’i.

Dwayne Johnson is terrific in voice as Maui. Johnson has a voice of remarkable range and expression. He has some of the film’s best laugh lines. He also gets to sing and rap the fun tune, “Can I Get a Chee Hoo?” (music and lyrics by Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear). I would love to see and hear The Rock perform the song on the Academy Awards ceremony TV show.

Look for an Oscar nomination, animation feature, and possibly several other Oscar nominations, for “Moana 2.”

“Moana 2” fares well. This is no farewell for Moana. A scene during the movie’s end credits foreshadows a new challenge for Moana and Maui, and a sequel, “Moana 3.”

Also in the offing is a live-action version of “Moana” (2026), starring Dwayne Johnson.

“Moana 2,” MPAA rated PG (Parental Guidance Suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children. Parents urged to give “parental guidance.” May contain some material parents might not like for their young children.) for action, peril; Genre: Animation, Fantasy, Adventure, Comedy; Run Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes. Distributed by Walt Disney Motion Pictures Studios.

Credit Readers Anonymous: “Moana 2” was made at Walt Disney Animation Studios, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and Walt Disney Animation Studios, Burbank Calif. The film was planned as a television series in 2020 for Disney+. In February 2024, the series was turned into a theatrical sequel.

At The Movies: “Moana 2” was seen in the standard format at AMC Center Valley 16.

Theatrical Movie Domestic Weekend Box Office, Dec. 20-22: “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” opened at No. 1, with $60.1 million in 3,761 theaters, zooming past “Mufasa: The Lion King,” opening at No.1 with $35.4 million in 4,100 theaters.

3. “Wicked” dropped one place, $14.1 million in 3,296 theaters, $384.5 million, five weeks. 4. “Moana 2” dropped three places from three weeks at No. 1 with $13.2 million in 3,600 theaters, $359.1 million, four weeks. 5. “Homestead,” a post-apocalyptic drama, $6 million in 1,886 theaters, opening. 6. “Gladiator II” dropped two places, $4.5 million in 2,397 theaters, $154 million, five weeks. 7. “Kraven the Hunter” dropped four places, $3 million in 3,211 theaters, $17.3 million, two weeks. 8. “Red One” dropped two places, $1.4 million in 2,002 theaters, $95.4 million, six weeks. 9. “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” dropped four places, $1.2 million in 2,602 theaters, $7.3 million, two weeks. 10. “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” stayed in place, $780,000 in 861 theaters, $38.4 million, seven weeks.

Movie box office information from Box Office Mojo as of Dec. 22 is subject to change.

Unreel, Dec. 25:

“A Complete Unknown,” R: James Mangold directs Timothée Chalamet, Monica Barbaro, Elle Fanning and Edward Norton in the Biography Music Drama. The early days of singer-songwriter Bob Dylan from Greenwich Village in 1961 to the Newport Folk Festival in 1965 are told.

“Nosteratu,” R: Robert Eggers directs Lily-Rose Depp. Nicholas Hoult, Bill Skarsgård, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Willem Dafoe in the horror film.

“Babygirl,” R: Halina Reijn directs Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, Antonio Banderas and Sophie Wilde in the Mystery thriller. A corporate CEO puts her career and family on the line.

Movie opening-date information from Internet Movie Database as of Dec. 22 is subject to change.

Four Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes